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Product Release Notes

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BalanceWORKS Family of Software

If you would like to review recent interface design changes, please see:   Software Transition Crosswalk.

Version 3.9 – 4.0


As part of our efforts to continually improve our products and services, Berkshire has performed the following quarterly upgrades to the family of balanceWORKS software products.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Berkshire’s Product Support department at: product.support@berkshireassociates.com. OR from within the software, access Support from the Help icon in the software header to send a message to Berkshire.

Berkshire’s Product Support Team

BalanceAAP

This plan preparation software has been updated to include updated features at the intervals below:

June 2019

  • As part of Apps to Hires, a suite of Applicant data reconciliation tools, duplicate applicants can now be reviewed and resolved.
  • The layout for working with File Consistency issues across an employee's transaction records has been improved so that records with issues can be quickly located, selected, and resolved.
  • The visual look of the Summary chart headers has been improved on the Dashboard.
  • We continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

May 2019

  • The ADVERSE IMPACT FOR APPLICANTS report can now be run by Requisition Number.
  • A new feature to create Trend Reports has been added to the Reports module. These reports will assist in identifying positive and negative movement in key AAP metrics over time.
  • We continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to previously identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

April 2019

  • A new option is available in the File Consistency check to include the prior plan. With this setting, the scan can be performed on the Roster to flag inconsistencies between the prior and current year entries.
  • Census Coding now includes tools to:
    • Filter the Census Coding table to readily review and update EEO group classification mismatches.
    • Support the advanced user in filtering for letter-based Census codes and converting these codes to the proper numerical entries.
  • Advanced History features allow you to:
    • Create and store a "History plan," originating from balanceAAP's Start Point analysis, an existing feature that estimates the historical placement goals based on current plan data.
    • Manage created History plans, by assigning one to the current plan and/or deleting prior History plans.
  • We continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to previously identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

March 2019

  • Plans, the initial landing page, now helps you track audit plans, including the option to show audited and/or unaudited AAPs on the Open Plan tab. Audit plans will be indicated on this tab and the Recent Plans list through highlighting.
  • After the reorganization of External Availability in the prior release, Census Coding tools have been enhanced with the following features:
    • The layout has been redesigned to feature a table format, displaying all relevant Census Coding information — including Census/Job Code matches — PLUS a direct work area for updating these matches.
    • The Census Coding table can be filtered by Job Code, EEO Code, Census Code, revision version, and whether in use.
    • A Census code listing can be expanded to display the SOC (Standard Occupation Code) definition and demographic statistics from the U.S. Census database.
    • The work area now features comprehensive, multi-level Search tools to find Census Codes.
    • Census code assignments can be exported to Excel, via a quick-click button.
  • File Consistency > Batch Ops have been augmented with:
    • Options that consider and help resolve multiple personnel transactions for an employee when they occur on the same day.
    • (For a Master plan) a global operation that updates the Plan code in an employee's personnel action records to match the employee's "Reports to" entry on the Roster Data table.
  • We continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to previously identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

February 2019

  • For better ease of use, the software's Availability > External Availability components have been segregated into two distinct work areas, accessible directly from the side navigation menu:
    • Recruitment Areas
    • Census Coding
  • The BEST UTILIZATION RULE report (Availability > Factor Weights) now outputs improved analysis when the "All Plans" option is selected for a Master/sub plan set.
  • We continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to previously identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

BalanceTRAK

The following applicant tracking features have been enhanced at the following intervals:

he following applicant tracking features in Version 4.0 have been enhanced at the following intervals:

June 2019

  • The opening menu for creating a Requisition has been improved to clarify whether an existing Requisition Template is available for selection.
  • The Actions menu on the Job Seekers list has been modernized for better ease of use.
    • When forwarding a Job Seeker's information (or copying a Job Seeker email to other users), suggestions for balanceTRAK recipients will be prompted for you, with the entry of at least two letters from the user name.
  • Based on user permissions, software users can now reopen, edit, AND save submitted Job Seeker Forms.
  • When Accepting New Applications and Internal/External job postings are off, existing Job Seekers can now continue to complete Forms (e.g., BACKGROUND CHECK).
  • The Reports > Export function for Job Seeker data now displays more options for filters and fields, including limiting the export file to Job Seekers who have completed a particular Form.
  • The feature to alert users when a Job Seeker is not eligible to receive an Offer letter has been added to the Job Seeker > Offer tab.
  • For the client-side Administrator:
    • Workflow options for dispositioning viewed Job Seekers can be set at the overall level, in addition to by Job Seeker Stage.
    • System-generated email notifications can be controlled from the Email Templates screen.
  • During customer migrations to Version 4.0 Implementations, we continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

May 2019

  • Enhanced filtering by individual Requisition fields has been added to the Home page Settings menu, for use in personalizing Dashboard widget data.
  • Requisition security has been enhanced to allow for individual user restrictions when creating and managing Requisitions.
  • User Management has been enhanced to allow for the copying of user profiles when creating new users.
  • During customer migrations to Version 4.0 Implementations, we continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

April 2019

  • A new "handshake" icon has been added to the Requisition list view, indicating that a closed Requisition resulted in the position(s) being filled.
  • On the Requisition detail > Summary tab, the Job Seeker by Stage table includes a new column for "undispositioned" Job Seekers.
  • In the Job Seeker detail, the BACKGROUND CHECK form can be automatically released to the Job Seeker from the Screenings > Background Check tab.
  • The Offers tab is now available in the Job Seeker detail to support sending a personalized merge letter on company letterhead to the selected candidate. The recipient can then respond to the Offer letter from the Profile area of the Job Seeker account.
  • At Reports > Export > Requisition > Fields, the selection options have been expanded so that Requisition exports can be further customized to include specific fields.
  • To accompany the Offers tab:
    • An administrative Settings area will house Offer Templates.
    • Client Settings, as implemented by Berkshire Product Support for client accounts, will control the display of the Offers tab, as triggered by the Offer stage.
  • Client organizations can take advantage of an even wider array of editable Email Templates, for use in system notifications. The full library includes templates for a Requisition closing; a hire being made; Background Check completion; and Approval Processes, among others. For system activities where applicable, there are separate templates for real-time and daily reminders.
  • During customer migrations to Version 4.0 Implementations, we continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

March 2019

  • The Job Seeker list can be shown in the following configurations:
    • Displayed in Grid view for a comprehensive view of, and access to, applicant data.
    • Filtered to show Job Seeker Stage/Disposition for each applicant.
  • As part of a follow-up interaction with the Job Seeker, an additional Form (as stored in the requisition under: Other Forms) can be automatically released to the Job Seeker from the Job Seeker detail. Form completion status will be indicated on the Forms tab, and the corresponding email message is recorded on the Communications tab.
  • The platform for Help videos has been upgraded, and new offerings have been uploaded to this viewer. The new topical videos can be accessed by users from a corresponding balanceTRAK task area.

February 2019

  • The Job Posting page has been updated with the following settings:
    • The company name used when sharing openings can now be updated on Job Posting Page settings.
    • To increase security, Search engines have been restricted from scanning Internal Job Posting pages.
  • For clients with Job Seeker > Communication turned on:
    • Via Account settings, each user can opt to receive an email to Outlook when a Job Seeker replies to a balanceTRAK-initiated email.
    • The process for recognizing incoming texts from Job Seekers has been enhanced to prevent duplicates when the Job Seeker has applied to multiple Requisitions.
  • Ability for an Incomplete and dispositioned Job Seeker to access partially completed APPLICATION and/or PRESCREENER will be restricted. However, this type of Job Seeker can still receive a Form for completion from a balanceTRAK user by email.
  • Via Reference Tables > Job Code, separate videos can be displayed to Job Seekers by Job Description, to replace the default video, where suitable.
  • During customer migrations to Version 4.0 Implementations, we continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

December 2018

  • (4.0) Each balanceTRAK user can access new settings, under Account user name:
    • The user can configure a default Requisition list view to show on entry, by selecting and applying one or more filters from detailed menus.
  • The Job Posting page has been updated to:
    • Allow Job Seekers to login even when the client organization has no currently open positions. This allows an applicant to create a profile or submit a RESUME when positions are open in the future.
    • Permit the inclusion of a message to Job Seekers when no positions are currently open, via Job Posting Page settings.
  • (4.0) Administrative tools under Settings > Workflow have been modified:
    • For better efficiency, menus have been reorganized to align with how settings impact Requisition/Job Seeker activities.
    • To allow for flexibility in Requisition automation, each client can decide to close a Requisition when the number of hires meets/exceeds the number of job openings OR have the system take no action.
  • During customer migrations to Version 4.0 Implementations, we continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

March 2019

  • The Job Seeker list can be shown in the following configurations:
    • Displayed in Grid view for a comprehensive view of, and access to, applicant data.
    • Filtered to show Job Seeker Stage/Disposition for each applicant.
  • As part of a follow-up interaction with the Job Seeker, an additional Form (as stored in the requisition under: Other Forms) can be automatically released to the Job Seeker from the Job Seeker detail. Form completion status will be indicated on the Forms tab, and the corresponding email message is recorded on the Communications tab.
  • The platform for Help videos has been upgraded, and new offerings have been uploaded to this viewer. The new topical videos can be accessed by users from a corresponding balanceTRAK task area.
  • During customer migrations to Version 4.0 Implementations, we continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

February 2019

  • The Job Posting page has been updated with the following settings:
    • The company name used when sharing openings can now be updated on Job Posting Page settings.
    • To increase security, Search engines have been restricted from scanning Internal Job Posting pages.
  • For clients with Job Seeker > Communication turned on:
    • Via Account settings, each user can opt to receive an email to Outlook when a Job Seeker replies to a balanceTRAK-initiated email.
    • The process for recognizing incoming texts from Job Seekers has been enhanced to prevent duplicates when the Job Seeker has applied to multiple Requisitions.
  • Ability for an Incomplete and dispositioned Job Seeker to access partially completed APPLICATION and/or PRESCREENER will be restricted. However, this type of Job Seeker can still receive a Form for completion from a balanceTRAK user by email.
  • Via Reference Tables > Job Code, separate videos can be displayed to Job Seekers by Job Description, to replace the default video, where suitable.
  • During customer migrations to Version 4.0 Implementations, we continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.