An application service provider (ASP) aims to deliver HR all the benefits of technology with none of the headaches
Software Source, 26 Jun 2002
An application service provider (ASP) aims to deliver HR all the benefits of technology with none of the headaches. The acronym has been bandied around the IT sector for many years with diverse company functions being supported in this way.
While arrangements may differ, in general an ASP solution entails the client organisation receiving a desktop solution supplied and maintained by the IT provider. In the case of a HRM system, for example, HR staff would have access to the system through their desktop computers but the programme they use is only the interface of that system - the records database and processing part of the system are held elsewhere by the solution supplier. The client pays a regular amount to the supplier and demands a high level of service, free of system glitches or crashes.
By taking the system in this way, HR retains a good deal of control over how data is managed, processed and used, while benefiting from updates to the overall system as they are brought online. For small operations or specialised functions in HR, ASP is particularly attractive since it provides an efficient way to access cutting-edge technology without having to justify a large capital investment.
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