Wayland, MA - July 10, 2006 - Softscape, the industry pioneer in people management technology, today announced that Edgars Consolidated Stores Ltd (Edcon), the leading clothing, footwear and textiles retailing group in South Africa, has deployed Softscape´s Human Capital Management (HCM) platform, Softscape ApexTM, to enable its strategic people management initiatives. Edcon can now more effectively manage their hiring activities, processing thousands of candidates each year.
Edcon operates 11 retail brands trading in over 900 locations in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho. Additionally, Edcon is the biggest credit retailer in Southern Africa with over 4 million active accounts and over 20,000 employees. In a 2005 survey conducted by Deloitte / Financial Mail, Edcon was named one of the 15 best companies to work for in South Africa and the best company to work for in the retail market.
Edcon has successfully launched Softscape Apex for hiring and competency management across its sizable workforce. The company selected Softscape for its integrated approach to people management. The company plans to deploy additional components of Softscape´s comprehensive HCM platform, including succession planning, performance management and goal management, later in 2006 and 2007.
Softscape´s Hiring Management is a powerful recruiting system that streamlines the entire hiring process from requisition to candidate selection. Combined with Softscape´s Competency Management module, the pivotal element for aligning corporate core values with individual goals and career plans, the system enables Edcon to link every aspect of people management into a single system.
"Edcon is constantly striving to be among the country´s best companies to work for, and a great place for our workforce to learn new skills and develop into future leaders," said Dr. Urin Ferndale, HR Director at Edcon. "With Softscape Apex, we now have a sophisticated hiring management model that streamlines our entire hiring process. In addition, our employees will be better equipped to plan their career goals, thereby increasing employee satisfaction, and improving employee growth and retention."
Softscape Apex is the industry´s most comprehensive human capital management (HCM) system, offering organizations advanced functions for workforce planning, talent acquisition, workforce performance, learning & development, succession planning, enterprise compensation, workforce analytics, collaboration and HR management.
"Innovative companies like Edcon are realizing the countless benefits of automating their human capital initiatives in order to achieve competitive advantage," said Dave Watkins, CEO and co-founder of Softscape. "In order to succeed in today´s business climate, companies must be committed to hiring, nurturing and retaining their valuable workforces. Edcon is a textbook example of today´s committed and visionary company."
In response to increased market demand in the region, Softscape has also expanded with new South Africa operations to support customers locally (see separate release). This latest office follows on Softscape´s global expansion in 2005, in which the company opened strategic operations in key growth regions across Europe and Asia Pacific.
For more information on Softscape´s Human Capital Management solutions, please visit http://www.softscape.com
About Softscape (www.softscape.com)
Softscape is the pioneer in advanced people management technologies providing organizations unprecedented experience in solving complex business problems. Recognized by leading industry analysts as the most comprehensive integrated people management platform, Softscape´s award-winning web-based software enables customers to easily enhance productivity, improve effectiveness, facilitate long-term planning, reduce operational costs, and drive organizational performance. Softscape´s customers represent millions of workers across 46 countries and include Seagate, LandAmerica, Northrop Grumman, Freightliner, Medica, YMCA, the City of Chicago, and the US Department of Homeland Security. Softscape is based in Massachusetts with offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Hartford, Washington DC, New York City, London, Bangkok, and Hong Kong, and Johannesburg.