JAMAICA now has Ikonwork, a new online job search platform, and Ikonwork Hire, an applicant tracking system. These allows job seekers to connect with recruiters on a social networking space while providing recruiters with a software tool to streamline their hiring process, allowing them to find the best employees faster.

Ikonwork is a business process outsourcing service offered under Beryllium Limited (a subsidiary of the Guardsman Group) as one of their human resource solutions and was launched at the AC Hotel by Marriott in St Andrew on January 30.

Kenneth Benjamin, chairman of the Guardsman Group, expressed satisfaction with the digital transformation and expansion of the Guardsman Group.

“If you told me 10 years ago that we would be launching a human resource software and job listing platform, I wouldn’t believe you, but today I am very proud of the immense growth of the Guardsman Group as we continue to innovate and expand in the technology industry,” he said.

Added Andre McLean, president of Beryllium Limited: “Ikonwork is the latest addition to Beryllium’s portfolio and promises to bring a new revolution to Jamaica’s economy, especially with regards to job seekers accessing job advertisements online and employers advertising jobs. The brand is poised to significantly impact the landscape of corporate hiring practices.”

Vinay Walia, group managing director, Guardsman Group of Companies and Beryllium Limited — developers of Ikonwork — has no regrets acting on the idea after it was shared with him a year ago.

“Five years ago we took a decision to become a technology company and we launched Beryllium in November 2021 and Guardsman Metaverse in December 2022. At the same time, I learnt of Ikonwork, we were presented with the opportunity to invest in Microbridge, our payroll solutions provider. I thought to myself that the same human resource needs that our companies were facing must be similar for other companies, right? How could we not only provide a solution to this problem but take it to the next level?”

Walia said the combined services of Microbridge and Ikonwork allow Beryllium to bring to market an end-to-end human resource technology platform that provides solutions which take care of companies’ human resource needs from hire to retire.

“We support companies throughout the entire employee journey from recruitment to onboarding to managing tasks like vacation or sick leave to payroll to offloading and back to recruitment. A seamless process in one place,” Walia said.

In her address, guest speaker at the launch, Dr Dana Morris Dixon, minister with responsibility for digital & skills transformation, applauded Beryllium and the Guardsman Group for launching Jamaica’s first professional social networking platform, and said it will support the ethic and outlook on life by youth of today’s generation.

“They are true supporters of this country. They are true visionaries. There are so many companies that last only for a short period, but the great companies understand how to pivot, how to look for new areas of growth, how to find their new markets and to do things differently, and that’s the hallmark of the Guardsman Group,” Dr Morris Dixon said.

And Veda Samai, CEO of Ikonwork, explained that Ikonwork’s professional social networking platform would help to align job seekers’ passions with their professional aspirations with features like diverse job listings, customisable profiles, easy application process, job alerts and a mobile app.

Samai further explained that the Ikonwork platform for job seekers differs from the Ikonwork Hire platform, which is an applicant tracking system for recruiters.

“The applicant tracking software tool streamlines your hiring process so that you can find the best employees faster. Ikonwork Hire offers seamless AI-powered applicant tracking, allowing you to manage applications, communicate with candidates and make decisions based on analytics,” she said.

Job seekers can access Ikonwork through the web link
https://www.ikonwork.com/ which now allows users to create their professional profiles, widening their professional reach and connect with employers.

Recruiters can access Ikonwork Hire through the web link
https://www.ikonworkhire.com/ to post job advertisements and access AI-powered tools to streamline their hiring process.