Navigation

Easy handling

Users only see those fields, buttons and functions that are relevant to their roles. This makes the application easier for them to use and facilitates clearly structured navigation.

id-Force is visually attractive

The id-Force user interface is clear and attractively laid out. It can be adapted to an individual company's requirements by, for example, integrating its own logo and wallpapers.

Intuitive operation and a quickly learnt interface

The clarity of the user interface and the hiding of fields, buttons and functions that the user cannot use or are irrelevant enables the application to be used intuitively.

Access is independent of platforms and operating systems

id-Force is a Web-based application. All users involved with idea processing can access the application in the intranet via their browsers. It only has to be installed on your server. It is not necessary to install the application on user computers. This enables id-Force to be used irrespective of the platform and operating-system.

Multilingual capability

The application has a multilingual capability. With the aid of an additional language package, the user interface texts, documents and e-mails - which can be generated with the aid of the application - can be output in the chosen language.

Configurable workflow

The workflow for the processing is stored in a database. This makes it easy to configure and adapt to a company's own workflow.

User guidance based on the workflow

Users are guided reliably through the application. On the basis of the defined idea processing workflow, they are only offered those functions that they can use at that particular processing point. This prevents misrouting during the work.

Storing the personnel master data

Idea managers can store personnel master data in the application. A previously prepared table containing the personnel data of your company's employees can be read in for this purpose. This eliminates the need to create user profiles manually for the recorded employees. These employees can now simply register and work with id-Force.

Adapting the application to a company's own specifications

Idea managers can make specific settings within the scope of the suggestion scheme setup to adapt the application to the works agreement and other company-specific idea management specifications. These include, for example, the choice of bonus calculation, the specification of time limits, and the updating of the prize catalog.

Saving an idea as a draft

Submitters have the option of saving their ideas as drafts. This enables them to resume working on an idea at a later time or to delete it. A draft can only be seen by the person who wrote it.

Support for the central model

Fundamentally, the idea processing can be organized centrally. In this case, all ideas are submitted to an idea manager, who decide how he will deal with them from there on. An idea manager can be appointed to be responsible for the ideas submitted by each organizational unit.

Support for the superior model

The application also continues to support the superior model. By storing the relevant organizational structure of the company, it is also possible to enable submitters to submit their ideas to their direct or higher-level superiors. In this case, both types of organization are used in parallel, that is submitters can also continue to submit ideas to the team of idea managers.

Submitting team ideas

id-Force supports the submission of ideas produced by a team. A submitter of an idea can define any number of co-submitters and also the extent to which they were involved in working out the idea.

Recording other people's ideas

Idea managers can record ideas for other employees. This enables ideas to be input on behalf of employees without PC access, who have, for example, submitted their ideas on paper.

Transparent processing sequence

A submitter of an idea and any defined co-submitters can track the status of their idea and see which employee is currently dealing with it at any time. This enables them to track the processing of their idea. Idea managers can view this information about all the ideas in the system.

Correcting an idea

Users responsible for the organization of the idea processing have the option of asking a submitter to correct his or her idea before it is assessed. This gives submitters an opportunity to correct or add to the information about their ideas.

Creating an assessment

A user responsible for organizing assessments has the option of creating his or her own assessment. For example, superiors can themselves assess ideas submitted to them.

Capturing documents

Electronic files can be added to ideas and assessments as attachments. Such files can, for example, be scanned-in documents. A technical administrator can configure the permissible file formats.

Attaching a message when an idea is passed on

A message can be sent with an idea when it is passed on to the next processor, that is when the idea changes its status within the process. This message accompanies the idea as an attachment, and can be read by the recipient.

Setting and monitoring time limits

id-Force provides the option of setting time limits for writing assessments, evaluating ideas, and lodging appeals. The application monitors these time limits automatically.

• " Times allowed for processing: Optional function for generating reminder letters and e-mails
• " Time limit for an appeal: A button is provided for lodging an appeal, but it only remains available for the duration of the appeal period

Key figures for idea management

The dib (German Institute of Business Administration) key figures are available for evaluating the idea management.

Option for an idea manager to intervene in the idea processing

The idea manager can select and take over every submitted idea for which there is no open assessment and every open assessment. In this way, he or she can make guiding interventions in the regular processing sequence.

Automatic generation of pdf documents

The application can generate the following pdf documents:

• Idea sheets (important information about individual ideas)
• Assessment forms (most important statements of an assessment)
• Meeting agenda (list of ideas to be discussed at a committee meeting)
• Final assessments (information for submitters in the form of a letter)
• Letters of reminder (for sending to assessors, evaluators and persons responsible for implementations when they fail to meet their deadlines)
  

Configurable e-mail dispatch

During the processing of ideas and assessments, e-mails can be sent automatically to the various people involved in the process. For example, submitters, idea managers and decision-makers can be immediately informed of the processing status of an idea. The idea manager can configure the e-mail dispatch by defining when and to whom e-mails are to be sent. However, the mail dispatch requires an SMTP server.

Visual representation of the processing sequence

The passage of an idea through the processing sequence can be displayed visually. The steps it has passed through and its possible further processing steps can be seen at a glance.

Bonus calculation

When writing an assessment, the assessor can be enabled to calculate the bonus for a suggestion. There are two possible approaches to the bonus calculation stored in the application for this purpose. The calculable and non-calculable savings, investment, and additions and deductions fields are available for inclusion in the calculation. A suggested bonus is determined on the basis of these inputs in accordance with the selected calculation approach and the corresponding bonus scale.

Automatic bonus posting

Bonuses, points and prizes that have been recommended as awards for an idea can be posted automatically to the id-Force account(s) of its submitter(s). This enables employees to see the status of their current account at all times and, if applicable, order prizes from the company's own prize catalog.

Booking out bonuses by idea managers

Idea managers can book bonuses out of employees accounts for payment. These can then be generated as posting lists in the form of Excel or PDF documents, which are then be passed on to the payroll department, which will make the actual payments to the award winners.

Teamwork within the framework of idea management

id-Force supports organized teamwork within the framework of idea management. Idea managers can create different types of teams, for example CIP teams and evaluation committees. Team leaders can set deadlines for their teams' tasks.

Committee meetings

Idea managers organize the committee meetings. After a meeting has been released, participants have access to an agenda for this meeting - a list of the ideas to be discussed. These can be viewed and saved in pdf format. Participants can also view the ideas and see which other users will be attending the meeting. This enables them to prepare properly for the meeting.

Full text search for ideas

Each user has an idea search facility. This enables a submitter to check whether an idea has already been submitted which is the same or similar to his or her idea.

Detailed search functions for idea managers

Idea managers can search for ideas, assessments, dates and postings with the aid of the detailed search functions. The lists of search results can be exported in an Excel file for further evaluation.

Input of info texts for the home page

Idea managers can create news items that appear on the home page of the id-Force application for a period of time they set. This enables them to inform users about innovations, changes, progress etc.

Document management

Idea managers can publish documents for the various user groups. For example, works agreements, evaluation forms and manuals can be stored in the system.

Overview for members of the works council

Members of the works council can obtain a detailed overview of the idea management processes.