RUN: An Innovative Way to Process Payroll

Back in 2001, I started as a Tax Data Representative with ADP, Inc. in the Small Business Services department. I worked on a team and we were responsible for entering tax liabilities into ADP's tax system, along with new client's tax deposits. In 2005, I was on my third promotion at ADP as a New Account Coordinator when I started processing payroll utilizing ADP's AS400 system. AS400 (Application Systems/400) was first unvieled by IBM in 1998. One of IBM's first operating systems; the AS400 supported various business platforms at one time. In the case of ADP, ADP used the AS400 for it's tax filing and payroll services. The AS400 is a MS-DOS type of system. You couldn't use a mouse to navigate; you had to use DOS commands to get to a page or action you wanted to perform. The AS400 did not include any pictures or links, whereas today's operating systems and softwares "WOW" you with high definition pictures and useful links. When processing payroll and taxes, we processed them through the AS400 and the process was a bit lengthy at times because of the outdated technology, but since then ADP has excelled right along with technology and today they offer a payroll processing software by the name of RUN.

RUN by ADP is its new, innovation payroll processing software that can be utilized from a PC or mobile phone. Clients have the convenience of processing payroll and taxes from their smartphones if they wish, while employees have the convenience of reviewing their checkstubs from their smartphones if they wish to or even changing their direct deposit or W4 information. Back in the day, when I first started working for ADP, clients would submit their payroll via fax, over the telephone, or by processing it themselves utilizing one of ADP's payroll processing software. Once the client transmitted their payrolls via fax, telephone, or by computer, we'd (Payroll Specialists or New Account Coordinators) processed the payroll by entering the hours worked into the system manually. But now, small business owners can process their own payrolls with back-up support from ADP. Not only does the RUN product service payroll and tax needs, but it also services a client's human resource needs.

Oh, by the way, ADP is a leading PEO; Professional Employer Organization. Most of the American workforce had heard of ADP because of the initials on their paystubs. ADP stands for Automatic Data Processing and I must say ADP is very automatic. Upon departing from ADP in 2007 and working other tax or payroll roles with other companies, I was so surprised at how a lot of the processes were manual. ADP is a leader in innovative technology as well and provides software for small businesses, retirement planning, and dealership services. To date, I have not heard of any other PEOs developing software that compares to ADP's. Companies like Paylocity, SurePayroll, and Payroll 1 are still playing catch-up! They better RUN for it!