Smart Card and Biometric Time Attendance & Access Control Systems. High Security Access Control Barriers, Gates and Turnstiles. Automatic Number Plate
Recognition and Digital CCTV Camera and Recording Systems. Tensor PLC - the name you can trust for Time Attendance, Access Control and Visitor Monitoring.

Rapid Hardware is a privately owned discount retailer providing everything you need for your home and garden. Their main premises operate from Renshaw Street in Liverpool, employing around 250 people. Four years ago the organisation was in the process of developing their future plans, which included better control of staff administration and monitoring of attendance and time-keeping.

I.T. Manager, Mark Nugent, was charged with the task of sourcing a new system. He initially considered four professional suppliers of Time & Attendance systems, then narrowed it down to two and finally chose Tensor because "Tensor made us feel the most comfortable in entering into a long term business relationship. All potential features we might want to implement in the future such as Access Control, Biometrics etc, were already in place with Tensor - this was not the case with others that we looked at".

A WinTA Enterprise system comprising 5 Smart Card clocking stations was ordered and duly installed by Tensor in September 2004. No problems were encountered with either the installation of the hardware or the software. The HR and I.T. staff were trained by Tensor at Rapid Hardware's premises in Liverpool. "Very good" was how they described the quality of the training.

Rapid Hardware do no yet feel they use WinTA Enterprise to it's full potential, but they are using more and more features as time goes on. The main use of the system currently is for Time and Attendance management, gathering payroll data, absence monitoring and Personnel.

"I like the instant access to information, particularly the mimic panel to be able to see at a glance, how particular departments are staffed on a given day" explained Mark. "The Tensor software and particularly the Tensor Smart Cards are very easy to use" he added.

Rapid Hardware also use Tensor Personnel and described its as "Very good, but we are not using it to its full potential yet" .

Rapid Hardware are currently considering expanding WinTA Enterprise to other areas of the organisation and adding Access Control to 'staff only' areas.

Asked what he liked most about Tensor, Mark said "Ease of use" - and would he recommend Tensor to other companies "Yes absolutely, without problem!" came the retort.