PeopleSoft Monday cast aside any doubt whether it could continue to come up with products and new ideas under pressure.
The Pleasanton, Calif.-based Internet business software maker is now offering a bundled package of its organization software under the umbrella name Workforce Performance Solutions (WPS). The suite is comprised of separately launched platforms designed to work together including PeopleSoft’s Enterprise Portal and HRMS Portal Pack, ePerformance, Enterprise Learning Management (ELM), eDevelopment and what PeopleSoft says are “key” components of the its marquee Human Resources application.
The company said the package deal was assembled to help companies comply with current government and legislative requirements such as Sarbanes-Oxley, Series 7 and OSHA.
“In the past, organizations have been forced to choose from disparate vendors and systems in order to create a complete organizational development suite,” said PeopleSoft vice president and general manager Doug Merritt. “Today, PeopleSoft is the only enterprise applications vendor to offer an end-to-end workforce performance solution suite — from planning, performance management and competency management to learning and development.
The bundled platform comes at a time when PeopleSoft is hoping to prevent a hostile takeover bid by chief rival Oracle .
The Redwood Shores, Calif.-based software giant is currently offering $7.3 billion for both PeopleSoft and J.D. Edwards, which PeopleSoft acquired in July. Oracle’s proposal is undergoing an antitrust review by the Department of Justice.
PeopleSoft has been critical of Oracle’s campaign tactics saying it has had a difficult time trying to convince potential customers that their products will still be around even if Oracle does succeed in its bid. Oracle has pledged to support PeopleSoft products.
“Organizations are seeking solutions that help them strengthen the link between employee contribution and business results, preferably from a single vendor,” said Ron Hanscome, senior program director, META Group. “They need to be able to build tighter integration between performance and pay and focus more on developing employee skills and competencies in order to obtain the highest level of workforce performance. Vendors that provide these fully integrated performance and learning management solutions will have an advantage in this emerging market.”
PeopleSoft says its niche is its Human Capital Management platform for which it is best known. The company said its new WPS bundle offers benefits for all departments including Sales, IT, Finance, HR and Organizational Development departments.
WPS also offers Organizational Development departments real-time employee performance reviews, self-service for competency management and a comprehensive, learning management system. The company said its toolset helps HR organizations make sure training and performance initiatives don’t cost an arm and a leg.
