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What's New in balanceTRAK

RETURN TO: Product Release Notes Index

BalanceTRAKBalanceAAP

Part of the balanceWORKS family of software

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

Version 4.0


As part of our efforts to continually improve our products and services, Berkshire performs the followingperiodic upgrades to balanceTRAKbalanceAAP software.

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

TheThis followingplan applicantpreparation trackingsoftware features in Version 4.0 havehas been enhancedupdated to include new features at the followingintervals intervals:

June 2020

  • As part of the Indeed integration, options for Indeed job postings now include indicating if the position is remote, and if so, the type of remote arrangement (e.g., temporary, fully remote, flexibility to work from home). This supports an applicant’s ability to search Indeed postings, using these criteria.
  • BalanceTRAK can now be integrated with Jobfindah.
  • As part of our continual efforts to improve software performance, we have improved the platform’s underlying stability and addressed minor bug fixes.
below:

April 2020

  • ForVia a“New” Requisition’sand “Old” Plan Code fields on SourcesbalanceAAP’s Data Tables, theMaster Dateplan Sentpreparers columncan will betternow document the autopost function for various integrated job boardspromotion and thetransfer user’spathways actions.
  • Forbetween the list column in Job Seekers, the Show Incomplete Job Seekers toggle icon will remain on until the user turns it off, even after the page is refreshed or the user navigates to another module.
  • For client organizations with multiple Job Posting pages (typically reflecting separate business units), the Job Description page header can be customized for each business unit.
  • In upgraded balanceTRAK notification emails, visual elements, including the employer’s job posting logo, will be displayed.
  • Approval Process notifications from balanceTRAK have been additionally upgradedAAPs, as follows:
    • The notification triggers and process has been streamlined to better target recipient audiences, based on the participating user’s role and the action.
    • The Job Description will be attached to a Requisition Approval Process email message, in PDF.
  • The processpart of developing an Approval Process template has been centralized, limiting their creation to the Settings > Approval Process Templates module. (Previously, a new template could be developed while creating a Requisition template.)
  • System Tools > Profile Management will now include a control on the Administration tab to disable the Skip approver function for Approval Processes.
  • Enhancements have been made to Settings > System > Archives to improve data compilation and performance.
  • We continue to enhance the 4.0 interface in response to customer feedback, for minor bug fixes, for visual appeal, and to improve performance.feeders.

February 2020

  • Permissions for Requisition and Job Seeker Approval Processes have been modified to account for ad-hoc processes.
  • The settings for Requisition detail > Keywords have been adjusted to limit the number of keywords to 10.
  • When Job Seekers are copied to another Requisition for consideration, and the option to notify the Job Seeker is selected, a customized email message can now be sent. (An Administrator can edit/develop the message at: Settings > Email Templates.)
  • We continue to enhance the 4.0 interface in response to customer feedback, for minor bug fixes, for visual appeal, and to improve performance.

January 2020

  • The JobAvailability Seeker> listFactor willWeights nowscreen displayhas been augmented with a feature to alert the full Disposition code description, and the Keyword score will automatically activate for new Job Seekers.
  • When a Requisition end date is reached, the toggle switches for Posted Internally/Externally and Accepting New Job Seekers will automatically turn off in all situations.
  • For an Offer letter to the chosen hire, your company representative’s signature will now display in scriptuser when enteredinternal intofeeders theare Signaturenot field.
  • ZipRecruiterpresent joinsso ourthey listcan ofbe free,reviewed opt-inand/or job posting feeds, available via balanceTRAK.
  • We continue to enhance the 4.0 interface in response to customer feedback, for minor bug fixes, for visual appeal, and to improve performance.addressed.

December 2019

  • The Job Seeker Search query has been enhanced for faster performance.
  • On the Requisitions > Summary tab:
    • If multiple Job Posting pages are in place, Links will display for all of those sites.
    • Counts for incoming Job Seekers can be viewed by social media source.
  • Other Forms can now be attached when forwarding a Job Seeker, copying a Job Seeker to another Requisition, and scheduling an interview with a Job Seeker.
  • Automatic emails to job seekers who have been dispositioned will display the email address of the sender as defined in System Settings, rather than as an individual user.
  • When an email is sent from balanceTRAK, the system will validate all of the sender, recipient, and CC fields for proper address format.
  • For clients using sponsored Indeed ads, the minimum value will be $25 when completing the integrated Indeed menu.
  • System Alerts have been consolidated to a balanceWORKS landing page, organized by software product, offering a centralized method for users to view and acknowledge system messages.
  • We continue to enhance thethis 4.0 interfaceproduct in response to identified customer feedback,needs forand to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes, for visual appeal, and to improve performance.fixes.

October 2019

  • Notification toolsWhen have been enhanced for both the client-side Administratorediting and thesaving user:
    • A full array of controls are now available for the delivery of communications and event alerts. Just as before, these controls can be set globally by an Administrator (SettingsNarratives > SystemTemplates), and then by the individual user.
    • In the software header, the Notificationoption centerto will"Revert nowto be separated into two components, one for () Job Seeker and Requisition email messages, and a second center for () event alerts (e.g., Job SeekerDefault" has applied,been asupplemented Requisitionwith isan closing). In additionoption to a display of recent notifications, delivery settings for the individual user will be directly accessible via the new icons.
      • Note: For continuity purposes, the previously determined (and more limited) settings will carry over. To check what's in place or take advantage of new features, all users should review their current delivery options. Simply click the Settings link, available under each icon.
    • The Notification widget will be replaced by the new quick-access points for communications, as described above.
  • For client organizations with a hierarchy of organizational units, Requisitions can be displayed by these secondary levels, using a drop-down menu in the "Location" filter, at the top of the page.
  • Under Requisition > Sources, additional settings will display, related"Revert to sponsoringLast IndeedSaved postingsVersion". and selecting pricing for sponsored postings.

August 2019

  • ForAs Requisitionsthe withoutsecond anphase Approval Process,of ClientEEO-1 SettingsReport havedevelopment beento modifiedsupport "Component 2" data collection, the file export feature is now available, in accordance with anEEOC optionspecifications.

July 2019

  • The first phase of updates to the EEO-1 Report module will support data collection for the form’s new “Component 2” submission. This functionality allows for the reporting of employee demographic counts by pay band for each EEO category. Below are Help links that provide more information:
  • To set precedence for multiple transactions in a day when the File Consistency check or Start Point analysis is run, System Tools > General settings have been augmented with a Personnel Action Order menu, providing the capability to prioritize personnel actions in a default or custom order.
  • We continue to enhance the interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

June 2019

  • As part of Apps to Hires, a suite of Applicant data reconciliation tools, duplicate applicants can now be reviewed and resolved.
  • The opening menulayout for creatingworking awith RequisitionFile Consistency issues across an employee's transaction records has been improved toso clarifythat whetherrecords anwith existingissues Requisitioncan Templatebe isquickly availablelocated, forselected, selection.and resolved.
  • The Actionsvisual menulook of the Summary chart headers has been improved on the Job SeekersDashboard 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, weWe continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.

May 2019

  • EnhancedThe filteringADVERSE IMPACT FOR APPLICANTS report can now be run by individual Requisition fieldsNumber.
  • A new feature to create Trend Reports has been added to the HomeReports pagemodule. SettingsThese menu,reports forwill useassist in personalizingidentifying Dashboard widget data.
  • Requisition security has been enhanced to allow for individual user restrictions when creatingpositive and managingnegative Requisitions.movement in key AAP metrics over time.
  • 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, weWe 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 "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 taboption is now available in the JobFile SeekerConsistency detailcheck to supportinclude sending athe personalizedprior mergeplan. letterWith this setting, the scan can be performed on companythe letterheadRoster 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 selectedproper candidate.numerical Theentries.
  • recipientAdvanced canHistory thenfeatures respondallow 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 Offercurrent letterplan fromand/or thedeleting Profileprior areaHistory 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.plans.
    • 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, weWe 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

    • The Job Seeker list can be shown inPlans, the followinginitial configurations:
      • Displayedlanding inpage, Gridnow viewhelps foryou atrack comprehensiveaudit viewplans, of,including andthe access to, applicant data.
      • Filteredoption to show Jobaudited Seekerand/or Stage/Dispositionunaudited forAAPs each applicant.
    • As part of a follow-up interaction withon the JobOpen Seeker,Plan antab. additionalAudit Form (as stored in the requisition under: Other Forms) can be automatically released to the Job Seeker from the Job Seeker detail. Form completion statusplans will be indicated on thethis Forms tab,tab and the correspondingRecent emailPlans messagelist isthrough recordedhighlighting.
    • 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 Communicationssame tab.day.
      • The platform(For fora HelpMaster videosplan) hasa beenglobal upgraded,operation andthat newupdates offeringsthe havePlan beencode uploadedin an employee's personnel action records to thismatch viewer.the Theemployee's new"Reports topicalto" videosentry canon bethe accessedRoster byData users from a corresponding balanceTRAK task area.table.
    • During customer migrations to Version 4.0 Implementations, weWe 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

    • TheFor Jobbetter Postingease pageof hasuse, the software's Availability > External Availability components have been updatedsegregated withinto two distinct work areas, accessible directly from the followingside settings:navigation menu:
      • The company name used when sharing openings can now be updated on JobRecruitment Posting PageAreas settings.
      • To increaseCensus security, Search engines have been restricted from scanning Internal Job Posting pages. Coding
    • ForThe clientsBEST withUTILIZATION RULE report (Job SeekerAvailability > CommunicationFactor Weights) turnednow on:
      • Viaoutputs Accountimproved 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 duplicatesanalysis when the Job"All SeekerPlans" hasoption appliedis to multiple Requisitions.
    • Abilityselected 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 FormMaster/sub forplan completion from a balanceTRAK user by email.set.
    • 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, weWe continue to enhance the newly designed interface in response to previously identified customer needs and to enhance performance or perform minor bug fixes.