The answer is Connect…

By acting as an electronic post office Connect allows the employer to ensure that all the payments that need to be made to the third party organisations, are done through a single payment. Even the employees net pay can occur with a single payment to FIHRST.

This process works as follows: The FIHRST Connect software is loaded on to the client's system and resides alongside the payroll. There is no need for any payroll manipulation or changes of any nature. Once the payroll has been processed, the data is automatically interfaced to FIHRST Connect to enable the required payment and ancillary information to be grouped together for reporting and reconciliation purposes. A comparison between the current payroll data and the data from any previous period sent to the third party may be processed, allowing the employer to furnish reasons for the differences eliminating further paperwork or telephone calls between the employer and third party. Once the information and payment has been authorised, the data and money is transmitted to FIHRST using internet FTP protocol.

FIHRST systems and operations personnel verify that all data and money received balance before electronically transmitting the data and funds onto the relevant third party. The third party may then electronically receive a schedule in their required format, which may automatically interface into their internal systems. The third party systems and records are therefore updated with far greater accuracy and speed than before, ensuring the employees receive the full benefit. This also ensures that the systems of both the employer and third party are kept in sync.

The client is electronically notified of the payment progress every step of the way and may view and access the data at any time. 

For collections, the information is interfaced from the current systems directly into FIHRST Connect and once authorised transmitted to FIHRST. Once the collections have been made the information is fully reconciled and the money credited to the employer.