The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A Bahamian software developer yesterday said business is “picking up quite quickly” as it plans to expand its human resources and payroll platform to the wider Caribbean by year-end.

Duran Humes, Plato Alpha's chief executive, told Tribune Business that 17 Bahamian companies, ranging in size from eight to 900 employees, have signed up to use the Triblock HR human resources and payroll system as they continue to add new features.

“Right now we’re looking at either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago, and they are a much bigger market than The Bahamas," he added of the company's growth strategy. "They have pretty much the same issues that we have here. So we are going to expand into those countries and take it on from there.”

Despite being just a 10-strong team based in New Providence, Plato Alpha is planning to recruit talent in these Caribbean markets and set up physical offices there to broaden its reach. Plato Alpha, which is Bahamian-owned and operated, said in a statement yesterday that Triblock HR is now taking care of the human resources and payroll needs for more than 2,000 employees.

Doctors Hospital, Commonwealth Building Supplies, Bamboo Shack, Bahamas Air Navigation, the Government, and REV/Cable Bahamas are among some of the companies using Plato Alpha's product. It allows human resources professionals to centrally manage an employee's payroll, time tracking, one-on-one performance reviews, company hierarchy, National Insurance contributions and document management.

"We understand that human resources is about people, not paperwork, and we have designed Triblock HR to empower employers and employees," said Mr Humes. "Our platform simplifies human resources management through an integrated system that keeps track of all relevant data easily and accurately."

Plato Alpha said Triblock is designed to save human resources professionals time by reducing administrative tasks such as managing employee data, tracking vacation time and processing payroll. It also reduces costs related to human resources functions, including the need for manual data entry, printing and mailing of paper documents, and potential errors or compliance issues.

The software developer added that its platform mitigates compliance risks by ensuring employee data is up-to-date and accurate. The platform also enhances employee satisfaction by providing self-service options, which improve the employee experience. It also provides valuable analytics on human resource metrics such as employee turnover, absenteeism and performance, which can inform human resources strategies.

"We have included fail-safe elements that enable employees to input data themselves, empowering them to fulfill basic human resources and payroll tasks, and eliminating them from the human resource professional's to-do list," said Keith Roye II, Plato Alpha's chief operating officer. "Our comprehensive reports and analytics are invaluable, and equip companies with the relevant data to make informed business decisions."

“Triblock HR is flexible, intuitive and easy to use. We typically save five hours per week on repetitive human resources tasks by utilising the platform’s automation capabilities,” said CBS’ manager of e-commerce, Brent Burrows. “This enables us to focus on more strategic tasks and spend less time on administrative tasks. Triblock HR is a valuable tool for any business looking to streamline HR processes and improve overall efficiency.”

Mr Humes said Triblock HR is working to fully integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its platform by the end of 2023, streamlining and automating the human resource and payroll experience. By leveraging AI, the platform will provide greater efficiency and accuracy, resulting in reduced administrative tasks and increased productivity for businesses of all sizes.

In addition to the AI integration, the company plans to launch a mobile app, giving employees more control over their information in a more accessible package. The mobile app will enable employees to access their pay stubs, tax forms and benefits information all in one place.