Interview with Patrick McGuire, President of Vana Workforce
18 November 2011 - We asked Patrick McGuire, President of Vana Workforce, a few questions about his company and his view of the markets they serve.
GETAPP.COM: Who are you and what is your role in the company?
McGUIRE: I'm the President, Partner, Marketing Director
GETAPP.COM: Can you briefly present your management team?
Patrick McGuire – President and Partner, Marketing and Sales (@PatrickWMcGuire) - Founded Empowered Nutrition Products Inc., a nutrition & fitness, supplement and products development and marketing company, Empowered Nutrition Systems Inc. a nutrition software development firm. He is Marketing and Sales graduate with a BSc. His professional interests include marketing, social media, graphic design, software development, and all things high-tech.
David Vanheukelom – Founder, Chairman, CEO (@vanheukelom) – Graduate of Technology Communications at the University of Windsor. David is a results driven enterprise software and services executive with over 15 years of experience in product and corporate strategy, marketing, sales, and consulting services. David Founded Vana Workforce, a Canadian and U.S. based human capital management software provider he started in 2008. Previously David served in executive level positions of product management and marketing, sales, and consulting at leading enterprise software providers Cognos, Infor, PeopleSoft, and Oracle Corporation. David was responsible for leading two high-profile acquisitions, including the $227 million USD acquisition of Workbrain in 2007. David was the 2001 recipient of the Human Capital Leader award by Human Capital Magazine.
GETAPP.COM: Are you a cloud or a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company?
McGUIRE: Cloud 100%. Vana Human Capital Management is SaaS for the SMB marketplace. We are a very rare full feature integrated HCM suite, a truly Global HR Core System of Record built on Force.com. We get SMB and that is why we deliver options that include fast and easy implementation, integration and rapid deployment. You can setup your free trial, upgrade and go live all without needing any technical help or intervention from a customer service rep, HR consultant or even calling your resident IT geek. Vana Workforce was named a 2010 “Cool Vendor” by Gartner Research.
GETAPP.COM: How do you use and promote usage of cloud computing?
McGUIRE: Cloud Computing is a must for SMB. The Cloud makes it easier to move faster, do it better and cheaper and that makes it the perfect choice for SMB. Since we are built on the Force.com platform we take advantage of the best security in the cloud. We also leverage every natively built or integrated app on the Force.com platform and seamlessly integrate with these Force.com Apps with single sign on. The cloud allows us to enhance and deploy features as fast as our clients can think of them... that is if we haven’t already delivered it or put it on our aggressive product enhancement roadmap. Our robust integration map outlines how our services (both customer-facing and internal) integrate with various Force.com, Cloud and SaaS services to keep your business and ours running lean.
GETAPP.COM: What are the points of difference of your solutions?
McGUIRE:
1. We deliver a complete Global HR Core System of Record with all the features you need for your SMB and many wish you had, including Social Org Chart, Social Performance Reviews, Workforce Collaboration on Goals and Initiatives, Dashboards, Analytics and Reports, Leave and Absence Management, Global Compensation and Benefits, Global Job and Position Management, Mobile Workforce Management, Social Media Integration, Google Talk Integration, Google and Productivity Apps Integration and Salesforce.com Integration and it’s powered by Force.com
2. We like using and delivering software that is loved by all users, not just some, that is why we focused on simplicity and an intuitive capability. For anyone already using Force.com apps such as Salesforce CRM the resemblance is uncanny, thus reducing learning the learning curve and increasing comfort and instant ability to get to work with a look and feel that is clean, crisp and future forward. It looks cool and collected on the surface because the underlying architecture is detailed and robust so your workforce can just use it, because it works. It’s a system that does what you ask of it and makes it easy to get started, add data and get information out on-demand.
3. We are built on trust, transparency and Force.com for the SMB and priced accordingly. It’s not about paying for features if you can’t afford to use them. We know that your SMB isn’t interested in expensive or long implementations. Our clients can deploy within minutes. If they choose to configure during their 30 day free trial using our simple set up guides and videos, they can deploy to the entire organization within minutes of going live. No need to spend months trying to integrate multiple systems to work with a basic HR, when Vana HCM delivers a complete integrated suite. One complete integrated suite mans instant savings for your SMB.
GETAPP.COM: How would you like to be evaluated by a prospect?
McGUIRE: The same way we developed our company and Vana HCM; with trust and transparency... and a Free Trial.
They should ask themselves if they:
1. want a more social and collaborative workforce?
2. want increased performance and productivity?
3. want an integrated suite?
4. want ready to save time and money?
5. have between 10 and 5000 employees?
If they answer yes to these, then Vana HCM would be a great fit and it’s time to get a 30 Day Free Trial of Vana Human Capital Management. Experience the Vana difference in the cloud.
GETAPP.COM: Why do your customers buy from you?
McGUIRE: Simply; because we believe in them and deliver a product that can grow with them on their journey. It also means they see a new way to engage and grow in the cloud. Our clients choose Vana HCM because what they really want in a complete HR just doesn’t exist anywhere else and the closest mix of best in breed cost as much as 3-5 years of operations for their SMB. They choose us because we get small business and deliver a product that is on their wish list and because we are a little different, like our software and they love it.
GETAPP.COM: Can you mention some of key clients?
McGUIRE: Our clients are leaders, visionaries and have an eye on a growing future like us. Our clients include OnCore Services (AUS), Pandora (US), Eiger Law (CN), Welaptega (CA), RSI Relocation Services Inc. (US) and many others that are changing the shape of business and redefining what it is to be an SMB.
GETAPP.COM: What do you see as the key trend emerging in the industry?
McGUIRE:A Global Social Workforce. Social Enterprise and globally engaged employees is a must in today’s world of business. Another emerging trend is of course the cloud. It’s moving fast and making it easier to be bigger and better in less time than ever before. The cloud delivers an on-demand opportunity like never before and provides the ability to manage a global workforce. Modern mobile workforces are demanding control, opportunity and the tools to make this happen at their finger tips and Vana HCM delivers on your iPhone, iPad and other mobile devices. Human Capital Management isn’t just for HR anymore, it’s for your entire Workforce.
GETAPP.COM: What is THE most important message you feel you should get across to someone considering buying your solutions?
McGUIRE: Try it. We know you are going to love Vana HCM like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. Share your findings and go social with your employees, ask them what they want in a system and they will tell you they want a solution like this. Then visit our site, request a free trial and feel free to give us a call, we love a good conversation and hope you will too.
GETAPP.COM: Thanks for your time, Patrick.