A - Day (6th April 2006) is the term being bounded around the industry for the new pensions simplification legislation and comes into effect very soon. The new rules are there to replace effectively eight existing complex regimes that affect different schemes. This simplification is also expected to have an impact on benefit statements that employers distribute to their employees. Obligations already exist on employers to provide information to their scheme members, ensuring these communications keep them up to date on their scheme’s financial position.

Legislation will now state that from April 2007 employers will need to provide a combined pensions forecast, showing both their main scheme and state pension allowance. No definite date yet but in the near future there will be a statutory requirement for deferred members of defined benefit schemes to receive benefit statements.

The impact of this legislation will require in depth thought and planning - it is recommended that employers start to produce these statements on a voluntary basis earlier than legislation enforces to ensure employees are kept up to date in a proactive and professional manner. 

At Strait Logics we value our customers and understand that listening to feedback, ideas and suggestions can but only improve our service offering. By distributing yearly questionnaires to both our customers and suppliers we can ensure that the whole supply chain is assessed and analysed to add value and improve where necessary.

As a result of 2004’s survey we made the follow improvements in 2005

• Introduction of a CRM system to help manage our customer relationships better
• Fine-tuning of our processes / procedures and forms to ensure better control and checking of projects
• The introduction of PPML to improve printing processes and speed
• Our new service offering of Print Management which aims to take the stress and hassle away from customers
• Greater investment in R&D to improve our programming capabilities, as seen with 3D Pie Charts and Picture Fonts.

The response to our questionnaires in 2005 has been exceptional and we would like to thank everyone who took part. We hope that over the coming year you will see changes and enhancements as a result. 

At Strait Logics we value good customer service and client interactions very highly which is why we are investing in a customer login section on our website. This new section, simply named Customer User Area, will allow all our existing customers to communicate and share information with us more efficiently and securely. Planned features for the User Area include viewing of quotes, project status, invoices and access to a unified messaging tool and file repository; all of which are securely held here at Software House. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the system will be able to give our customers the information they need about their projects at any time, wherever they are.

Although the system is still in the development and testing stage, initial feedback has been good with many of the suggestions being incorporated into the final design. We will be rolling the User Area out on a modular basis, thus increasing the functionality over time. Version 1 is due for launch later this year, if you would like to help test our Beta version please contact rich.day@straitlogics.com

Carrying on from our ever successful competitions in 2005, this year sees us launch a new fun dimension to our quarterly competitions in the form of interactive games. The first game is called “Catch the Bunny”, do exactly what the name says and the highest score wins so go on, test your reflexes! Wait for it there’s more, not only do you get the enjoyment of playing but you could also win a prize - a selection of luxury Easter treats delivered to your door.

Click here to launch the game, remember to submit your score at the end for your chance to win. Deadline for entering is 5th April 2006 winner will be notified by 7th April 2006.

Print Management Is it merely adding another level?

Welcoming New Staff This quarter sees Strait Logics welcome two new members of staff on board.