Valley Grown Salads Praises Tensor for Enhancing HR, Workforce Management and Premises Security

Originally using OneAdvanced for their HR, workforce management and security needs, Valley Grown Salads made the switch to Tensor when circumstances changed. Francesca Russo, the Head of HR and Assistant Accountant, explains:

"OneAdvanced showed us their new system but they wanted to increase the price tenfold. For a small business like us, it wasn't viable.

"We were looking for a system that did exactly what we needed it to do and not be too much for what we required. When using the OneAdvanced system we would only use 30% of their features and it just wasn't tailored to us.

"Our Operations Manager recommended Tensor to us as his family were in the same industry and they use Tensor. We did contact a few other companies, but we never got responses."

After implementing the Tensor system, Valley Grown Salads immediately found it suited the needs of their business:

"We found from the get-go Tensor does everything we need it to do! There's a lot of features I liked from the demo, especially on the HR side of things such as the diaries and keeping track of documents; I just found it very useful and it cuts my time spent on this area of the business by 50%!

"There were some features that we did not use at the start, but now we do! It is great to have a system that is not too overwhelming and is better suited to our industry."

Training and guidance

Tensor provides training for staff to learn how to use their new Tensor system, a benefit that Francesca says was helpful:

"The trainer helped set up our system, our rosters, shifts, absence codes, building reports and troubleshooting. The trainer was really good — it's quite clear he is experienced in HR and payroll. When you speak with him he is able to add his input and expertise in our process; he helped us set it up the right way. We were really pleased with how he helped us configure the system. Our users got the hang of the Tensor system straight away!"

For additional guidance and help following initial training sessions, the Tensor Helpdesk is available via a dedicated Customer Support Portal. Francesca has needed their advice on a few occasions and is pleased with their response:

"Every time I have rung them they have been very quick! On a couple of occasions, I have received a response in the same phone call, and on a couple of occasions I have had to open a ticket to have someone look into it. Overall it is really good."

Human Resources made easy with Tensor

As the Head of HR at Valley Grown Salads, Francesca uses the Tensor HR system on a daily basis, and is full of praise for its convenience:

"I really like it! I like the document storage side of things where I can store information such as an employee's ID and probation; it is very handy. We were using server folders before but that involved saving information on drives — I prefer having them on Tensor, it's more user-friendly and makes life easier because it is much safer, and it's easy to locate things. For example, you can easily find when someone's review is due or exit interview forms; I find it very helpful."

For HR personnel, Tensor.NET is also capable of generating customisable reports from the Time & Attendance system, a capability of which Francesca has taken advantage:

"We have managed to set up quite a few aspects for reporting such as upcoming absences, and daily reports where managers get notified on who is on/off site and contact any absent employees to find out their whereabouts, which has helped multiple departments.

"Once I get the HR diary set up it will be a gamechanger!"

Features of the Tensor system

The Tensor Self-Service Module (SSM) is designed as an extension to the Time & Attendance system to streamline the management of shifts, entitlements and absence planning without needing to be on-site. Francesca says this feature has been quickly accepted by staff.

"Overall the SSM is good. We had something similar with OneAdvanced but they were nowhere near as good as Tensor. In fact, most of our managers and employees are using the Tensor SSM and they have no complaints about it."

Tensor's integrated Time and Attendance, HR, and Access Control systems are managed through Tensor.NET, an advanced but easy-to use software platform designed to provide access to every part of the system in one convenient place.

"Tensor.NET is a solid 9/10," says Francesca. "I've been able to get my head around the system really easily, and coming from a person who doesn't have much experience with these types of systems, that says something!"

A key feature of the Tensor.NET platform is that it can be customised and colour-coded to provide easier management — something Francesca is particularly impressed with:

"I like how visual it is, especially with the colours on the absence planner and SSM. It has helped our managers massively, especially checking for employee whereabouts, shifts and absences."

Another benefit of Tensor's integrated Time and Attendance and Access Control system is that it provides multiple options for credentials, including smart cards, key fobs, fingerprints and facial authentication. Valley Grown Salads opted to use key fobs and Francesca is happy with their convenience, both for everyday staff use and for administration purposes:

"The key fobs are so easy to use! It is so easy to assign employees with a fob on Tensor.NET."

An important safety feature that is also enabled through Tensor.NET is the Fire Roll Call App, which is designed to replace paper printouts with an electronic, portable register for emergency evacuations, providing real-time information on staff locations on-site and their safety status. So far, Valley Grown Salads have not needed to use the Fire Roll Call App, but Francesca is sure that when they do it will do the job:

"From a first glance it looks great; it is very visual like the other Tensor software so it's easy to know who's in and out."

Access Control integration

Valley Grown Salads also required an additional connection for an existing piece of Access Control equipment:

"We have a turnstile that we use," explains Francesca. "It was here before Tensor was installed so it just needed the reader changing to a Tensor reader, integrated with the Tensor.NET system. It has worked really well; if it was up to me I would put another one in our other sites."

As well as being able to integrate existing equipment, Tensor can also supply its own turnstiles, gates and barriers to anyone wishing to upgrade existing apparatus or install new security measures. The Tensor Access Control system is also easily adaptable to include new access control measures, readers and door controllers, something Francesca suggests would be beneficial for Valley Grown Salads:

"If it were up to me I would add more access control to offices, managers' offices and specific restricted areas; from what I understand it is very easy to extend, and maybe adding Tensor's CCTV too. But that could be something to look at in future."

"User-friendly and affordable"

The Tensor integrated Access Control, Time and Attendance and HR system installed for Valley Grown Salads provides just what they need, and Francesca is more than happy to sing its praises:

"Tensor has been excellent throughout the process, from sales to implementation to installation and setting up.

"I am very happy with the system. I would recommend it to other companies, for sure! I'm a massive fan of Tensor and I prefer it over what we had previously. It's user friendly and affordable."