Powerpay, an Internet-based payroll system for small and medium-sized businesses, is being tested by Ceridian Canada Ltd.
Eight companies have been trying out the first totally Web-based system in Winnipeg, home of Ceridian Canada.
The company expects to phase in the new system beginning in late July.
Employers using system will be able to log on to the Powerpay Web site and enter, change or review payroll at any time of day or night.
The system, offered through an on-line application service provider (ASP) model, includes a secure connection from anywhere with Internet access. This system, increasing in popularity among many software vendors, eliminates the expense of continually upgrading software applications or investing in new hardware. The most current version of the software includes legislative changes required by the federal and provincial governments.
"Powerpay is going to transform the way Canadian companies pay employees," Dave MacKay, Ceridian Canada's vice-president in charge of Powerpay, said.
A major feature of the software, he said, is its ability to review gross and net pay for the entire payroll before the employer submits the finished list to Ceridian for processing.
The Powerpay system also offers a number of new services, such as an on-line employee assistance program that provides employees and their families with answers on a range of personal and job-related issues.
Ceridian also promises to have its technical expoerts available to ease clients into the new system.
"Powerpay is like having my own payroll department," said Terry Stannard, of Winnipeg's Cinema City, which is testing the system. "We're open 365 days a year serving the public, and it's nice to know that I can enter my payroll anytime from any location."
All transactions are secured through any browser that supports 128-bit encryption. The server identification is provided by Verisign. Other security features include firewalls and encryption protocols.
Ceridian Canada operates in 17 centres across Canada, serving more than 37,000 businesses. It offers payroll and related services such as phone-in payrolls for small businesses and customized systems for businesses with high-volume payroll and human-resource management needs. The company estimates it pays 16 per cent of the Canadian working population.
Ceridian Canada is a wholly owned division of Minnesota-based Ceridian Corp.