A US software developer, whose products are aimed at tackling sickness absence and the “return to work process”, is establishing a European headquarters in Glasgow.

UK businesses alone lost 35 million days of productivity, valued at £13bn, in 2005 due to sickness absence and KCRS believes its key product, PIHMS®, can help organisations across Europe reduce the number of lost workdays, decrease healthcare costs, improve communications and productivity and comply with regulatory requirements.

The company will create 30 new jobs, initially located in the University of Glasgow, allowing it to tap into the strengths that the university has in terms of the quality and number of language graduates it produces and the university’s research base.

“Companies’ existing HR management systems such as health and safety, payroll, absence management, etc, are often not well connected. By gathering the information from these systems and adding the functionality of the PIHMS® product, our solution provides a complete overview of what’s happening in the human capital management of the business,” explained David Coleman, VP European Operations, KCRS.

“Using this data, companies can manage their workforces more effectively. For example, by ensuring employees with specific leave needs are being properly supported, employee absenteeism is managed effectively, payroll accurately reflects work done, and temporary replacement or relief workers can be efficiently utilised. This comprehensive approach minimizes the ‘opportunity cost’ of employee absence. There are many, many ways in which this data can bring benefits to the organisation.

“The product also hosts an employee portal which gives extensive access to information relevant to them as individuals, empowering them to make more informed choices in their use of available employer benefits options. With greater control, employees are likely to be more satisfied and productive employees. As this is becoming increasingly important in the world of work, we feel the time is right to roll out our services across Europe and Glasgow provides us with an ideal base from which to do so.”

KCRS has also become an Oracle Independent Software Vendor partner. Oracle Corporation said: “As the world’s largest enterprise software company, Oracle’s reputation is based on innovation that makes a positive impact on an organisation’s operational success. Oracle champions companies that can bring fresh ideas and solutions to businesses and complement its own extensive suite of products. KCRS’ products do just that and Oracle will be working closely with KCRS to support its expansion into Europe”.

The new facility will provide research and product development activity to convert the existing software to European languages to comply with European regulatory requirements and to provide ’24/7′ customer service to the company’s customer base in the Americas.

Martin Togneri, Chief Executive of Scottish Development International, said: “KCRS’ decision to base its European headquarters in Scotland is testament to the skills, innovative environment and transport links that Scotland can offer. Workforce productivity is an issue in many European countries and I am pleased that research and development into finding solutions is being undertaken here in Scotland.”

The company’s expansion into Scotland has been supported by a Regional Selective Assistance grant of £240,000.

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