Launching SimplyMerit for Planning

This article explains how HR Administrators can launch SimplyMerit for a planning cycle and invite the managers who should participate. Before launching, confirm that the correct users have access, that planning is not locked, and that SimplyMerit is ready to go live.

Before You Launch

Before inviting managers into Planning, review your cycle configuration and confirm that your data, budgets, timeline, active features, alerts, and communications are ready for manager use.

Recommended checks include:

• Employee and compensation data has been imported and reviewed
• Performance ratings, budget amounts, exceptions, proration, and cutoff dates are configured
• Active Features reflect the modules and fields managers should use during the cycle
• Timeline dates and alert conditions are current
• Manager hierarchy and delegate assignments have been reviewed
• Communications settings are ready for the cycle

Step 1: Review User Control

Navigate to:

Configuration → User Control

The User Control page centralizes user access settings for SimplyMerit. Use this page to confirm who can access the application, who can access Planning, and whether any users are limited to view-only access.

Company-wide Settings

In the Company-wide Settings section, confirm that the following lock options are toggled off before launching Planning:

• Lock Out ALL Users
• Lock Out Planning Users
• Lock Out Portal Users
• Lock Planning for Changes

These company-wide locks restrict access or editing across the account. If any of these options are turned on, managers may be unable to access Planning or make changes during the cycle.

Users

In the Users section, review the managers who should participate in Planning.

For each manager who should access SimplyMerit for Planning, confirm:

• Core Access is toggled on
• Planning Access is toggled on
• View Only is toggled off

Core Access allows or denies access to SimplyMerit as a whole. This replaces the previous Lock Out of App control.

Planning Access identifies who has access to SimplyMerit for Planning. This replaces the previous Enable Invitation control.

View Only allows you to move an individual user into view-only mode. When View Only is toggled on, that user can view Planning information but cannot make planning changes.

If you need to update many users at once, each of these settings can be managed using a bulk import file.

Step 2: Launch SimplyMerit

SimplyMerit allows you to launch the application to managers in one of two ways:

• Allowing SimplyMerit to send the invitation emails
• Simply activating SimplyMerit for SSO customers only

SimplyMerit Sends Invitation Emails

Navigate to:

Configuration → System Control

System Control contains the final launch controls used to make Planning available and invite users into the cycle.

Ready SimplyMerit to Go Live

In the Ready SimplyMerit to Go Live section, toggle Ready SimplyMerit to Go Live on and save your changes.

This is a safety lever that enables the Planning invitation options. SimplyMerit must be readied to go live before invitations can be sent to Planning users.

Invite to Planning

After Ready SimplyMerit to Go Live is toggled on, use the Invite to Planning button to send invitations to users who have Planning Access enabled on the Configuration → User Control screen and have not yet accepted an invitation.

Invite to Planning replaces the previous Send Manager Invites option.

Before clicking Invite to Planning, confirm that the correct users have Planning Access enabled. Invitation emails are sent based on the Planning Access setting.

Open SimplyMerit Without Sending Invitation Emails - SSO Only

This option is for Single Sign-On customers only. It allows you to manage the communications about when SimplyMerit goes live.

To launch SimplyMerit without sending invitation emails, toggle off Lock Out Planning Users.

Step 3: Confirm Manager Access After Invitations

After invitations are sent, review manager activity and invitation status on the Configuration -> User Control screen to confirm that managers are able to access the cycle.

Recommended follow-up checks include:

• Confirm invitation status for planning managers
• Review last signed-in dates to identify managers who have not accessed SimplyMerit
• Confirm Planning Access remains on for participating managers
• Confirm View Only remains off for managers who need to make recommendations
• Follow up with managers who have not accepted invitations or logged in

Key Notes

• Core Access controls access to SimplyMerit as a whole.
• Planning Access controls who can access Planning and who receives Planning invitations.
• View Only restricts an individual user from making Planning changes.
• Ready SimplyMerit to Go Live must be toggled on before Planning invitations can be sent.
• Invite to Planning sends invitations to users with Planning Access enabled who have not yet accepted an invitation.
• Company-wide lock settings should be reviewed before launch to avoid unintentionally blocking manager access or editing.

→ Next: Guide: Admins Getting Started Part 30 - Supporting Managers and Their Logins