For many small companies, there’s often a mismatch with the software suppliers whose tools help them to manage their business. Many vendors are set up to serve much larger organisations, which can leave smaller firms feeling unloved, unheard, and adrift.
That’s where Grouper is different – and for Atomic, it was exactly the kind of service and support it needed. Atomic is a 28-person creative client services and strategy agency headquartered in Dublin and with some of its team based in London.
Caroline McAniff, Atomic’s Head of HR, says the company can receive hundreds of applications for a role when it’s recruiting. “It’s a big lift. Those CVs obviously have to be reviewed and decide who to bring in. If we want to hire a new role that leans towards strategy, for example, they might be roles we never would have hired for before. And with the type of business we are, where it’s a lot of project work, we might need to get in extra support, or freelancers,” she explains.
Grouper’s HR service is an online human resources system that Atomic uses to manage its recruitment, saving considerable time in the process. “If I have a position open and I’m reviewing lots of candidates, the system is set up in such a way that I can do that with speed. Instead of every application taking five clicks, it might only take two,” Caroline says.
The cloud-based system stores all relevant employee information in one place, and its self-service features allow team members to book holidays and sick leave. “I’m in the system every day to see who’s available and who’s on leave. Planning is a big part of what we use it for,” says Caroline.
Every team member has assigned goals which are logged in the system, and Atomic uses its reporting features when carrying out performance management and appraisals, based on clear metrics and up-to-date records. “We use the system as a source of all knowledge when it comes to our people,” Caroline says.
The system was already in place when Caroline joined, and she appreciates how easy it was to learn. “I worked with other HR tools in my previous roles and it was horrible, filling in information that’s just not needed, or others that didn’t provide a good candidate journey,” she says.
Caroline also appreciates the close support from Grouper’s assigned account manager when it’s needed. “If I have a problem or if I need help with something, I message him and he comes back to me, usually within the hour. We can arrange a call if it requires a call and if I need to share my screen, he just takes over. He’s brilliant, he’s a great support. I’ve no doubt it’s to do with the size of the business but I haven’t had that kind of support using other HR information systems or application tracking systems. That’s the beauty of dealing with a company like Grouper. My experience is, we’re a small SME and the kind of support that we need is exactly what we’re getting.”
As a busy HR leader in a fast-paced business, that attentive support is important. “It’s just me when it comes to HR and I’m certainly no expert in all areas of HR and I’m no IT whiz, so to have someone to talk me through changes, or who will also make the changes for me, is invaluable,” says Caroline. “I could waste hours trying to do these things and very possibly mess things up on the system. To have someone hold my hand and support me through it, from a time and a confidence perspective… is invaluable.”
