EP-4742123-A2 - SYSTEM AND INTERFACES FOR MANAGING TEMPORARY WORKERS

EP4742123A2EP 4742123 A2EP4742123 A2EP 4742123A2EP-4742123-A2

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a system that permits various entities (e.g., hiring, staffing, and client computer systems and/or devices) involved in the placement of a candidate to a job to interact systematically to carry out functions that conventional systems are unable to perform. These functions may, for example, include synchronizing systems of different entities involved in placing a worker, effectively tracking a temporary workers during a placement and/or hiring process, and post placement activities. To this end, systems and method are provided that permit a handshake process between disparate systems to complete a candidate placement process, timesheet approval and processing, consolidated invoicing, customized analytics and reporting, supplier onboarding of temporary workers, and post-hiring tracking, among other novel tools, interfaces and functionality.

Inventors

CHUANG, JOHN
LAZARUS, Ken
BISCEGLIA, Sean
RAMANI, Mouli

Assignees

Scout Exchange LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20180213

Claims (15)

A distributed computer system comprising: an exchange component comprising a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: maintain consistency and validity of a centralized dataset stored in the memory, the centralized dataset comprising a plurality of temporary worker records corresponding to a plurality of temporary workers available to be placed; execute at least one hiring platform application interface configured to accept, from a hiring management platform sub-system executed on a hiring management computer sub-system, a job requisition record indicating a requisition for a temporary worker for an identified client; execute at least one staffing application interface configured to: responsive to receipt of the job requisition record, submit an indication of the job requisition record to at least one staffing platform sub-system of a plurality of staffing platform sub-systems executed on a respective plurality of staffing firm computer sub-systems via the at least one staffing application interface; and receive a reference to at least one candidate temporary worker record of the plurality of temporary worker records in the centralized dataset from one of the plurality of staffing firm computer sub-systems via the at least one staffing application interface; identify the at least one candidate temporary worker record in the centralized dataset and provide the at least one candidate temporary worker record to the hiring management computer sub-system from the centralized dataset via the hiring platform application interface to be displayed to a user; and synchronize placement of the candidate temporary worker to the job requisition between the hiring management computer sub-system and of the plurality of staffing firm computer sub-systems, wherein the exchange component is further configured to: receive, via a network interface, a first indication of the candidate temporary worker being hired for the job requisition from the hiring management computer sub-system; in response to receiving the first indication of the candidate temporary worker being hired from the hiring management computer sub-system, transmit, via the network interface, a second indication of the candidate temporary worker being hired to the plurality of staffing firm computer sub-systems; receive, via the network interface, a third indication that a placement of the candidate temporary worker to the job requisition is complete from a hiring management computer subsystem; and in response to receiving the third indication that the placement of the temporary worker is complete: update, in the centralized dataset, the one of the plurality of temporary worker records associated with the hired temporary worker; and store, in the centralized dataset, a record of an approver associated with a user of the hiring management computer system.
The distributed computer system of claim 1, wherein the job requisition record is associated with permission data indicating permission of the job requisition record to a plurality of staffing firm computer sub-systems, and the at least one processor is further configured to: receive from a consultant computer sub-system, via a network interface, an indication of a user interaction indicating the job requisition record is exclusively available to a subset of the plurality of staffing firm computer sub-systems; update the permission data associated with the job requisition record in the centralized dataset based on the indication of the user interaction; and configure the centralized dataset based on the permission data so that the job requisition record is accessible to the subset of the plurality of staffing firm computer sub-systems.
The distributed computer system of claim 1, wherein the exchange component is further coupled to a computer system associated with the hired candidate temporary worker and a computer system associated with the approver via the network interface, and the exchange component is further configured to: receive, via the network interface, timesheet data associated with the hired candidate temporary worker from the computer system associated with the hired candidate temporary worker; and transmit, via the network interface, the timesheet data to the computer system associated with the approver, wherein the exchange component is further configured to: receive an indication of approval of the timesheet by the approver from the computer system associated with the approver; store the approved timesheet in the centralized dataset and generate an invoice data based on a submitted timesheet, the invoice data including a link to the timesheet; output or cause to output a representation of an invoice based on the invoice data, the representation of the invoice including a control input; receive a user interaction indicating a selection of the control input; responsive to receiving the user interaction indicating the selection of the control input, retrieve or cause to retrieve the timesheet data associated with the placed candidate based on the link to the timesheet data; transmit, via the network interface, the invoice to an automatic payment system used by the hiring management computer system; receive, via the network interface, a payment from the hiring management computer system in response to transmitting the invoice; and transmit, via the network interface, funds to an account of a staffing firm associated with the staffing firm computer system from which the reference to the hired candidate temporary worker was received.
The distributed computer system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: execute a candidate application interface configured to receive and store timesheet data from a candidate computer sub-system associated with the hired temporary worker in the memory, wherein the candidate computer sub-system is separate from the at least one staffing platform sub-system; and provide the timesheet data to the hiring management platform sub-system via the at least one hiring platform application interface.
The distributed computer system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to authenticate credentials of a hired temporary worker received via the candidate application interface to permit submission of the timesheet data.
The distributed computer system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to permit the user to review the stored timesheet data associated with the placed candidate.
The distributed computer system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute a timesheets application whereby the at least one processor is configured to: execute a first timesheets user interface configured to receive timesheet data and candidate credentials from the candidate computer sub-system, wherein the at least one processor is configured to authenticate the credentials of the candidate; and execute a second timesheets user interface configured to provide the timesheet data to the hiring management platform sub-system.
The distributed computer system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to validate the association of the at least one temporary worker record and the job requisition record.
The distributed computer system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hiring application interface is a programmatic interface implemented in the hiring management platform sub-system.
The distributed computer system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform a search function among the plurality of temporary worker records for a match between the job requisition record and at least one of the plurality of temporary worker records.
The distributed computer system according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the at least one processor is configured to create a job requisition record, corresponding to the job requisition, in the subset of the plurality of staffing firm computer sub-systems through a programmatic interface.
The distributed computer system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to limit access to the job requisition record to the subset of the plurality of staffing firm computer systems for a predetermined period of time according to the permission data.
The distributed computer system according to claim 1, further comprising: an interface that permits a user to view the plurality of temporary worker records, each of which is associated with a temporary worker from a pool of temporary workers available to be placed; and an interface that permits a user to view a temporary worker placement interface, the placement interface including parameters associated with a temporary position and an indication of an assigned temporary worker.
The distributed computer system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, via the at least one hiring platform application interface, cause the hiring management platform sub-system to display an indication of a recruiter associated with at least one of the temporary worker records, the indication of the recruiter including at least one performance parameter of the associated recruiter.
The distributed computer system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: automatically detect a status update of the at least one candidate temporary worker record in the hiring management platform sub-system via the at least one hiring platform application interface and modify the at least one candidate temporary worker record in a centralized database to include the status update; and automatically detect whether a version of the at least one candidate temporary worker record already exists in the hiring management computer sub-system prior to providing the at least one candidate temporary worker record to the hiring management platform sub-system via the at least one hiring platform application interface.

Description

NOTICE OF MATERIAL SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION Portions of the material in this patent document are subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and of other countries. The owner of the copyright rights has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office publicly available file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The copyright owner does not hereby waive any of its rights to have this patent document maintained in secrecy, including without limitation its rights pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.14. RELATED APPLICATIONS This Application is a Non-Provisional of Provisional (35 USC 119(e)) of U.S. Application Serial No. 62/458,528, filed February 13, 2017, entitled "SYSTEM AND INTERFACES FOR MANAGING TEMPORARY WORKERS". BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Hiring companies and staffing companies may utilize computer systems to manage candidates and applicants for open jobs. For example, a hiring company may utilize an applicant tracking system (ATS) to handle various recruitment activities. The staffing company may use a separate staffing platform (e.g., a separate ATS) to manage candidates and recruitment activities. Further, after placement of a candidate, a hiring company and staffing firm may carry out other interactions as part of placing a candidate to a job. For example, the hiring company may pay a staffing firm a percentage of a worker's salary after the worker begins employment with the hiring company. SUMMARY Systems and software exist that are used to manage hiring, reviews, payroll and performance of workers. Also, there exist systems for recruiting and tracking applicants by hiring professionals such as recruiters. However, according to one aspect, it is appreciated that existing capabilities for managing and tracking workers across multiple different entities are not sufficient, as the managing and tracking may involve coordination between the multiple different computer and software systems. Different parties associated with hiring a candidate for an open job may each use a separate computer system(s) and separate software application(s). The various computer systems and software applications are unable to interact with each other. Given the large volume of job requisition, candidate, and worker records that are to be stored, updated, and tracked, the inability of the different computer systems and software applications to interact leaves these computer systems and software applications unable to carry out several functions associated with hiring activities. The inventors have recognized a need for a system and associated interfaces that permit various entities (e.g., hiring, staffing, and client computer systems and/or devices) involved in the placement of a candidate to interact systematically to carry out functions that conventional systems are unable to carry out. For instance, it is appreciated that there may be various functions for effectively coordinating between multiple computer systems for placement of temporary workers among a number of employers and sites. These functions may, for example, include synchronizing systems of different entities involved in placing a worker, effectively tracking a temporary workers during a placement and/or hiring process, tracking payment of temporary workers, and tracking performance of temporary workers after placement, distributing payments to parties involved in placement of a worker. To this end, systems and method are provided that permit a handshake process between systems, timesheet approval and processing, consolidated invoicing for temporary workers, customized analytics and reporting, supplier onboarding of temporary workers, and post-hiring tracking, among other novel tools, interfaces and functionality. According to some embodiments, systems involve components that integrate functions performed by computer systems and/or software applications used by employers, staffing firms, and various service delivery consultants. Certain components integrate and consolidate workflows between such entities to perform placements of workers to a client, complete onboarding requirements, process timesheets, perform invoicing and reporting functions, among other functions and operations. According to various aspects, workflows are optimized and the number of steps are reduced. Further, reporting and tracking capabilities for temporary workers may be facilitated by a system that spans the employer, staffing and placement firm computer systems. According to another aspect, a marketplace for temporary workers and open positions may be created that has greater capabilities than current systems. For instance, a system may be provided that collects multiple contingent jobs from one or more employers, and tracks applicants from multiple staffing firms that otherwise would reside in disparate computer