Nikon Inc. Experiences Efficiencies Using Ultimate Software's Software-as-a-Service Offering

Business Wire, Dec 13, 2006

WESTON, Fla. -- Ultimate Software (Nasdaq:ULTI), a leading provider of end-to-end strategic human resources, payroll, and talent management solutions, announced today that Nikon Inc., the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics, and photo imaging technology, is experiencing efficiencies since the organization implemented Ultimate Software's UltiPro through its Intersourcing service model, a popular software-as-a-service offering.

Headquartered in Melville, New York, Nikon Inc. had been using a payroll service bureau prior to UltiPro until the corporation's human resources leadership determined that they needed in-house control and an HRMS with end-to-end talent management functionality, including Web self-service. Nikon Inc. went "live" on Ultimate Software's hosted service model, Intersourcing, in 2003 and has since rolled out UltiPro benefits enrollment and employee self-service. With Intersourcing, Nikon Inc. has:

* Streamlined its annual open enrollment and quarterly 401(k) enrollment

* Reduced the cost and effort associated with printing, storing, and distributing paper documents such as direct deposit advices, benefits handbooks, and company newsletters

* Automated HR/payroll activities that used to be manual, such as tracking employee learning/training history and making changes to direct deposit choices

Burdened with the annual responsibility of organizing, stuffing, and mailing hundreds of packets comprised of brochures, benefit plan details, and forms to employees, Nikon's HR team realized that managing its open enrollment electronically could result in significant time savings. Now with UltiPro, the digital imaging company delivers open enrollment materials via the Internet, rather than using the postal service. Employees can log onto UltiPro from their desktop, company kiosk, home, or hotel and make benefits changes online. Nikon Inc.'s HR department can transfer the automatically updated information from the employee database directly to providers -- without duplicate data entry -- cutting time and improving accuracy.

"UltiPro's benefits enrollment feature-set has shaved two to three weeks off of our open enrollment process because there are no mailings to prepare or massive amounts of data for us to enter by hand," said Jennifer Griffin, senior benefits and information systems analyst for Nikon Inc. "Plus, when employees have questions, I can log on and see their live session so that I can help them in minutes instead of spending days passing e-mails back and forth. Conducting our annual benefits enrollment online is also great because we have hundreds of employees in remote locations."

With a distributed sales force and multiple warehouses, Nikon Inc. decided to take advantage of the UltiPro portal to improve service and empower employees to gather information when needed without intervention from HR. The portal houses the organization's quarterly internal newsletter, relevant forms, links to benefits providers, and access to individual employee information such compensation history available only through security protected logins. Since pay stubs can be accessed through the portal, Nikon Inc. discontinued printing paper checks, creating even more value.

"The decision to use UltiPro's Web tools and move to a paperless environment just made sense. Now our workforce, regardless of time of day or time zone, can help themselves without needing HR as a middleman," said Griffin. "My department has more time to focus on improving our strategic contributions to the organization, and finding and retaining the right people instead of dealing with paper forms."

Nikon Inc.'s employees can use the portal to update information such as home address, direct deposit choices, and certifications. Using built-in workflow, modifications are routed to the appropriate approver and made "live" once authorized. By automating day-to-day changes through electronic workflow and empowering employees to handle updates on their own, information is current and accurate. Nikon Inc. will be expanding the use of the portal by posting pension statements, as well as employee photos, by the end of the year. The company plans to extend the use of self-service further in 2007 by adding access to UltiPro's manager self-service features.

"Once businesses like Nikon Inc. experience firsthand how they can optimize their core people management programs with Intersourcing's Web self-service, they are understandably pleased to movefrom focusing on transactional capabilities to strategic functions," said Greg Swick, senior vice president of sales for Ultimate Software. "Nikon Inc. is a great example of a company committed to excellence in all its business activities."

About Nikon Inc.

Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics, and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights, and System Accessories; Nikon COOLPIX[R] compact digital cameras; Coolscan[R] digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon's Exclusive Feature System, making it easy for anyone to take amazing digital pictures. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative[TM], the company, plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.