FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Acelero?
Acelero is an Australian owned private company that specialises in the provision of online (SaaS) strategic people management solutions. Acelero has been in business since 2005 under the Acelero brand name and for 3 years before that within a HR consulting business.Our core offerings include performance management, talent management, succession planning, 360 Degree Feeback, Reward and Compensation management and Human Capital Risk Management.
What is the Acelero Philosophy?
Acelero seeks to partner with organisations that understand the importance of their people and want to seek better business outcomes from maximising the performance of their people. We are passionate about helping organisations with their strategic people management activities and issues. We do not seek to be all things to all people. We fundamentally believe in a “best of breed” approach. Accordingly, we constantly seek out other “best of breed” suppliers of software solutions that cover adjacent needs of customers. We can then integrate the whole solution so that from the customer perspective, they have a seamless, fully integrated solution.
Acelero is a highly ethical company that values people and teamwork and is committed to “telling it like it is” and delivering on what we promise.
How does Acelero address my unique needs?
We have a wide exposure to all different types of industries due to the extensive experience and diverse background of our employees and directors.We know the right types of questions to ask in order to understand the value drivers of a business and to identify how to best help an organisation identify and address their issues.
Acelero will always seek to understand your organisation and your issues. We understand what is involved in addressing key strategic people management challenges and what it takes to overcome those challenges. We view the customer as an individual entity with unique issues and challenges and probe them to see how we can best deliver solutions that address their issues.
Who are Acelero’s Customers?
Acelero has a blue chip customer base covering a broad spectrum of industry including: Austrade, KPMG, Blake Dawson, Sparke Helmore Lawyers, Tenix, BAe, Transurban, FuturePlus, Stockland (one of Hewitt’s 2007 Best Employers), sanofi-aventis, Tower Australia and Australian Wealth Management.
How easy is the system to use? Is it user intuitive or is extensive training on the system required?
Acelero’s software platform has been purpose built based on an intelligent and intuitive design. Users immediately relate to and use the system.
Can the software be personalised to the look and feel of your organisation, incorporating your methodology, approach and process?
Yes. The Acelero platform is highly configurable. We don’t change the software code (customise), but set configuration “flags” to get the software to meet your requirements. This means that you obtain a low risk but highly personalised outcome.Systems implementations are always risky and costs tend to blow out. How can I be sure that Acelero will deliver a solution that suits our needs and requirements?
Acelero do understand businesses. We have worked in large organisations with diverse activities. We know what is required to make sound business decisions. But more than that, we are committed to get the right results for each specific customer. We will be tenacious in ensuring that we deliver on our promises. We will also be truthful and honest about what is achievable so that no customer is misled. We can’t promise perfection, but we can deliver what we promise.
We also put our money where our mouth is. In the first instance, we prepare for you a Proof of Concept (PoC) at no cost to you. This is where we take your preferred methodology and approach and your “look and feel” and build them into the Acelero platform. In that way you have something real to view. We then suggest that you use the system for a specified period as a free trial or pilot.
All our standard implementations are completed at no cost so that you can be assured that there will be no cost blowouts.
Finally, we have the” Acelero Promise”: if you are not completely satisfied that the Acelero solution meets your needs, we will refund any money you have paid us.
How well does Acelero know my business/ industry/sector?
We have a wide exposure to all different types of industries due to the extensive experience and diverse background of our customers, employees and directors.We know the right types of questions to ask in order to understand the value drivers of a business and to identify how to best help an organisation identify and address their issues.
Acelero will always seek to understand your organisation and your issues. We understand what is involved in addressing key strategic people management challenges and what it takes to overcome those challenges. We view the customer as an individual entity with unique issues and challenges and probe them to see how we can best deliver solutions that address their issues.
Will the Acelero system integrate into my HRIS or ERP system?
We can transfer information into and out of our system using Excel files. This means that you have a “no cost”, easy to use interface to your other HR systems.Alternatively, you can use “web services” to have an electronic, always on, data feed between systems.
What type of relationship can we expect from Acelero?
Relationships are a key to our success. We wish to partner with you so that you develop trust with Acelero: Trust in our advice and know that no matter what, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you to get the results you are seeking.Typically, we enter into 3-5 year contracts and so our relationship is always going to be ongoing rather than transactional.
What is your technology platform?
The Acelero system is written as a Microsoft .Net application ( .Net 3.5) and uses SQL. It has been developed using an SOA (Service Oriented Architecture).
How secure is my data?
Acelero utilises a hosting partner, ICO and the Fujitsu Data Centre at North Ryde, (Sydney) who together possess the highest security accreditations in the Asia Pacific region. These accreditations include:
- The data centre is accredited to ISO 27001. Formerly known as AS/BS 7799 this standard covers best security practices for Data Center Management. Our data center meets and exceeds the requirements of this standard in many areas.
- ASIO T4 Standard - Required for government application hosting. Our datacenter is certified as a “Secure Area” in accordance with the Commonwealth Protective Security Manual 2005, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Technical Note 4/06 Physical Security of Secure Areas / SR1 Rooms, November 2006.
- ISO 17024 - Our security team is lead by a Certified Information Systems Security Professional. This qualification is certified under ISO 17024 ensuring that professional certified under the program are qualified as Security Professionals. This gives our customers the piece of mind that we have the appropriate skills to deal with security in a proactive manner and resolve issues appropriately should they arise.
-
ISO 9001 - Quality Management Certification. This certification covers both the datacenter and our whole hosting organisation. It’s your guarantee that you are dealing with a quality focused organisation.
What privacy protection is afforded to my data?
Acelero follow all the requirements of the Privacy Act (1988).
What is SaaS and what benefits does it bring?
Saas (Software as a Service) is a model of software deployment whereby a provider, such as Acelero, licenses an application to customers for use as a service “on demand”. Acelero hosts the application on our own web servers and the customer accesses the software by using their internet browser. The benefits of SaaS include the following:
- Lower IT costs: Avoid the overhead associated with implementing conventional software. A typical software implementation involves purchasing and maintaining servers, housing them securely and installing and maintaining the software.
- Pay as you go: A subscription fee (as an on-going expense) is easier to incorporate into your budget than a large one-time outlay.
- Save time: You eliminate many of the typical implementation tasks associated with purchased software because the software is already up and running at Acelero’s data centre.
- Focus on competitive advantage rather than infrastructure: When you subscribe to a web-hosted application, you free your organisation from supporting costly, time-consuming IT functions, including:
- the server infrastructure necessary to install and maintain the software in-house.
- providing the equipment to ensure security, reliability and scalability.
-
maintaining a labour-intensive upgrade process.
-
Gain immediate access to the latest innovations: With traditional licensed software you have to wait for the next release to benefit from the latest innovations. With hosted solutions as a new or improved feature appears you can begin using it.
What level of assistance can Acelero provide in building the business case to assist in getting buy-in to implement a performance management solution in our organisation?
Acelero have developed business case templates and metrics that allow you to build a strong and convincing business case for implementing a strategic people management system (whether that be Performance management, Talent Management or Succession Planning). Both quantitative and qualitative aspects are covered.
As an ex-CFO with experience in large and multinational companies, our Managing Director is well placed to assist you in developing a convincing business case that gets buy in at the senior executive level.
What level of assistance can the vendor provide in managing the change process associated with implementation of a performance management system?
Acelero understand that the implementation of a Performance Management solution (as well as Talent management and Succession Planning solution) affects all the people in the organisation. Selecting the right system for you is one important aspect, but making sure that stakeholder buy in and commitment is obtained is another.
Acelero understand the importance of the change management effort required. We have developed a comprehensive implementation plan template that can be utilised with all customers. This ensures that no key activity is overlooked and that all change management activities are identified and well planned.
How does your pricing work?
We charge a licence fee per person per year. Typically, our customers enter into 3 year contracts. Flexibility exists so that if your user numbers increase or decrease so do your licence fees.
What level of support can I expect at implementation?
Acelero take the lead in the implementation process. We ensure that that the implementation process is delivered so that you have a workable fit for purpose system outcome. We also want to ensure that you can be self sufficient in the administration of the system. Accordingly, we work with you to accredit your nominated systems administrators so that we can ensure a successful knowledge transfer and training process.
As you undertake your performance management process we will liaise with you to ensure that a successful outcome is obtained.
What level of support can I expect on an on-going basis?
Customers receive support from individually named Acelero support staff who are constantly available during business hours. Out of hours support can be made available as requested.
Where is support provided from?
Sydney.
What is Acelero’s approach to implementations?
Acelero want to ensure that every implementation is a complete success. We take the project management lead to make sure that all the required work is done. At the same time, we ensure that we are able to undertake the requisite knowledge transfer so that your Acelero accredited systems administrators are confident to use, monitor and make changes to the system
What other services or functions does Acelero provide?
Acelero has also teamed with Blended Learning Solutions to bring you a specialised subset of the Harvard Manage Mentor online learning system dealing with Performance Management and Talent Management topics.Acelero also has relationships with preferred suppliers in relation to SaaS systems covering eRecruitment, LMS and other requirements.
What level of assistance can Acelero provide in identifying potential issues and addressing them on timely basis?
Acelero have extensive experience in strategic people management. We have seen what works and what doesn’t in the real world. However, no two organisations or situations are alike. Accordingly, we work proactively with our customers to understand their issues so that we can identify potential issues that could relate to your specific implementation. Once identified, we work with you to developed tailored solutions to these issues.
How committed is Acelero to ongoing product development and understanding of HR best practices and trends worldwide?
Acelero is highly committed to ongoing product development. On average, there would be 3 to 4 new releases of the software during any year delivering customer requested improved functionality and enhancements. All of our systems development is customer and market led so that it delivers true benefits to our customer base.