Aquire Launches OrgPublisher™ Succession 2.0 Module

Latest Release Enables Organizations to Quickly and Cost-Effectively Conduct Succession Planning at Every Level of a Company — Well Beyond the C-Suite.

IRVING, Texas – January 26, 2010 – Aquire, a global leader in workforce planning and analytics solutions, today announced the release of Succession 2.0—an all-new version of the company’s succession planning module for OrgPublisher.

OrgPublisher, the leading automatic organizational charting and reporting solution, combined with the new Succession 2.0 Module enables organizations to quickly build and maintain accurate succession plans throughout the enterprise. Unlike other succession planning systems that are complex and difficult to use, Succession 2.0 is a simple, collaborative, Web-based succession planning solution that enables human resource professionals and managers to maintain accurate succession plans at any level of the organization.

“Customers are telling us that our Succession Module is so straightforward and intuitive to use that they can conduct succession planning for all critical positions in the organization and engage managers at every level to assist with the succession planning process,” said Lois Melbourne, co-founder and CEO of Aquire.

Some of the new and innovative features found in Succession 2.0 include:

> Create a Talent Pool Using Multiple Search Options

Succession 2.0 allows management to visualize talent in a graphical hierarchy-based environment. Search a specific span of control or the entire company to create a talent pool. Or combine both search options. In addition, managers can insert the search results into 9 Box matrices or side-by-side profile views to compare skills and devise the best possible succession plan.

> Quickly View and Manage Successors with More Robust 9 Box Reporting and Bench Strength Dashboards

Companies can now compare candidates in advanced side-by-side profile views to quickly determine the most qualified successors. Leaders can then simply drag-and-drop successors into a 9 Box matrix or into a leader’s profile view. In addition, managers can visualize and analyze critical successor information such as readiness, diversity, or performance ratings in color coded dashboards and charts. Talent and succession gaps are easily identified so that they can be addressed.

> Easily Manage Succession Plans in Virtually Any Area of the Organization with Layers and Span of Control Reporting Functionality

Succession 2.0 includes a powerful hierarchy-based, roll-up reporting capability that automatically calculates headcount, costs, forecasts and more. The roll-up data can be calculated based on span of control, layers within the organization or across the entire enterprise. These powerful reports also include summary fields and formulas that can be customized for an organization’s specific reporting needs.

> Seamlessly Maintain Accurate Succession Plans with Automatic Data Synchronization (OrgSync™)

Keep your succession plans accurate and current with automatic synchronization of workforce data housed within HR systems, talent management applications, etc. Automatic updates of employee turnover, new hires and more ensure that your succession plan stays valid.

> Secure, One-Click Access to Charts and Models

A new Web-based home page provides users with secure, one-click access to their individual organizational charts and succession reports ensuring that each viewer sees only appropriate information.

“With the release of our all new Succession Module, we further validate that there is a better way to construct and maintain accurate succession plans,” said Ross Melbourne, co-founder and CTO at Aquire. “This Module is for companies that take succession planning seriously but don’t have 6-12 months to deploy a cumbersome succession planning solution. Our clients appreciate that they can be up and running with accurate succession plans within weeks.”

The Succession 2.0 Module enables users to collaborate with multiple department heads, senior leaders and HR professionals to collect and analyze comprehensive succession data. With input from leaders throughout the company, organizations can strategically select the company’s future leaders.

In addition to Succession 2.0, Aquire has other OrgPublisher Modules including Integrity, which enables organizations to maintain the highest level of workforce data integrity; and Modeling, which allows managers to conduct “what if?” planning, so they can model the future structure of the company’s workforce.

About Aquire
Fifteen years ago, Aquire pioneered the enterprise organizational charting industry. Today, the company continues to lead the market with innovative products that help organizations visually analyze, manage and model vital workforce information. Aquire’s flagship product, OrgPublisher, is relied on by thousands of companies worldwide to increase information visibility, expedite decision making and streamline HR activities. American Airlines, Barclays Bank PLC, Fiat, Braun Gillette, Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle UK, Shell Oil, Verizon, and Mercedes-Benz are just a few of the more than 2,700 organizations in 125 countries that rely on Aquire solutions to manage data for 10 million working professionals worldwide. Visit us today at www.aquire.com or for the latest in workforce management opinions and trends blog.aquire.com.