With so many human resources information systems (HRIS) on the market that vary greatly in terms of user experience, performance, features, and hosting options, we wanted to recognize some of the best HRIS systems out there today. We chose these systems based on our professional opinion and user reviews left on TechnologyAdvice.
1 Rippling
Rippling is the first way for businesses to manage all of their HR, IT, and Finance — payroll, benefits, computers, apps, corporate cards, expenses, and more — in one unified workforce platform. By connecting every business system to one source of truth for employee data, businesses can automate all of the manual work they normally need to do to make employee changes.
2 Paycor
Paycor’s HR software modernizes every aspect of people management, which saves leaders time and gives them the powerful analytics they need to build winning teams. Paycor provides a full suite of HCM solutions with a single source of truth for employee data, so users never have to switch platforms, log-in to multiple systems, re-key data or open multiple spreadsheets. Everyday processes become simplified, allowing organizations to focus on their most important work.
3 Darwinbox HR Software
Darwinbox is a unified HRMS platform that lets you manage the complete lifecycle of your employees – from hire to retire. Built for large enterprises, Darwinbox is used by 2M+ users across 700+ global companies such as Mahindra, Tata AIA, More Retail, Adani, Sembcorp, Kopi Kenangan, and more. It is a mobile-first platform that offers self-service capabilities and a great user experience to all your employees.
4 GoCo
GoCo is modern HR, benefits, and payroll, built for flexibility and ease-of-use in mind. Manage records, performance, time off, onboarding, benefits, and more all in one place. GoCo is a secure, compliant hub for sending, digitally signing, and organizing your sensitive HR documents and data. Unlike other HRIS platforms, GoCo is built to be flexible enough to support existing processes, policies, and providers, so you don't have to change the way you work just to adopt a modern HR system.
5 BambooHR
BambooHR is an award-winning HR platform that helps your growing organizations automate, centralize, and connect your people data all in one place. It gives you a one stop shop to manage data, hire talent, run payroll, and help employees grow.
6 Bob
Meet Bob, the modern HR platform for modern business. With Bob, HR teams get everything they need to operate efficiently and engage employees in one HRIS. Use automation and workflows to save hours on HR admin time. Connect employees from anywhere with a social media-like homepage that drives culture with communications, kudos, and recognition. Centralize all people data in one place for a holistic view. Share accurate reports for stronger insights and better decision-making.
7 monday.com
monday.com Work OS is the flexible, no-code Human Resources software that allows HR managers to manage the entire employee lifecycle in one place. Track the recruitment process, onboard new employees with the help of pre-made templates, safely store personal information, plan team-building activities, and use automations to speed up and simplify all these workflows and many more.
8 Wrike
Wrike's human resources software is used by more than 20,000 companies across 140 countries. Plan, manage, and report on your HR projects with Wrike's easy-to-use HR software. Keep track of recruitment, payment, onboarding, and management using ready-made templates, powerful workflows, and shared team dashboards. Automate your HR processes using approvals and requests. Enable your teams to share and check real-time updates. Start your free trial now.
What is HRIS software?
Vital employee information for use across a business’s many human resources functions lives within a human resources information systems (HRIS) software. HR enters personal information related to payroll, benefits, time tracking, and performance for every employee into the system, which makes that information available for analysis and reporting. An HRIS also ensures that a company complies with regional and federal regulations regarding employment documentation, benefits, pay, time off, and the secure storage of employee contact information.
An employee accesses their contact information, address, and government ID numbers in the HRIS via a self-service portal. HR staff can update records across the software and integrated apps, and employees can use the self-service portal to keep their records up to date. The system then uses that employee data for key HR functions, which reduces the amount of manual data entry each HR team member must perform, thus reducing time and money lost to human error.
Human resources staff controls employee data and organizational tasks in the HRIS. Today’s best tools help companies save money by combining features found in standalone software systems
- Payroll software
- Time tracking software
- Employee scheduling software
- Employee benefits management tools
- Self-service portals
Large and growing businesses can find additional recruiting software and applicant tracking software features in their HRIS. Other software options manage accounting software tasks by integrating with payroll features. Many HRIS vendors also improve employee engagement metrics with valuable features from performance management software, learning management software, or gamification software.
HRIS software systems come in all sizes, but they are best suited to medium and large businesses. The software can be complicated and expensive to implement, so smaller companies may build similar capabilities from interconnected standalone options.
For some companies, an HRIS isn’t the best option. Large, multinational, and enterprise businesses integrate key financial and supply chain data with HR data within an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. These combined data points provide context that can then be used for forecasting and hiring trends.
Because HRIS software contains personal identifying information for all of the company’s employees and contractors, these systems are key targets for hackers looking for unsecured data. Companies purchasing an HRIS should consider how the vendor will protect their data. Research encryption standards, the security of cloud or on-premise database options, and the vendor’s track record of visibility into any previous breaches.
These HRIS platforms may be some of the most highly-rated solutions by popular agreement, but they won’t be right for everyone. Use our HR Software Buyers Guide or click the banner below to get a shortlist of the best HR software for your business.
Key features of HRIS platforms
While there are many HRIS systems on the market, most of them incorporate these key features.
Applicant tracking system
An applicant tracking system (ATS) makes hiring easier by consolidating information about applicants, job postings, and interviews into a single location. ATS can also make the candidate experience better by streamlining the application process and improving recruiters’ workflows, so they can contact good candidates faster. An ATS features a searchable database that lets you look for previous candidates who might now be a good fit for your company and reach out to them, saving you money on job board postings.
Onboarding
Onboarding new hires is a time-consuming process, but an HRIS can streamline it and make it easier. The software can automatically send new hire paperwork, prompt your new employees to create logins for the necessary sites or applications, and collect tax and payroll information. Many HRIS platforms also include learning management features to make training easier and more effective. By automating these processes, an HRIS reduces the workload for your HR staff and improves the new hire experience.
Time and attendance tracking
HRIS software should include time and attendance tracking to simplify payroll and leave requests. Many platforms include an employee self-service portal where employees can request time off, track the amount of paid time off (PTO) they have left, and see their hours for the week. By making this information available for employees, you can reduce the amount of time HR staff has to spend answering questions about it.
Payroll
Payroll features in an HRIS work with the time and attendance tracking to make payday easier. It automatically pulls and consolidates timesheets to pay your hourly employees accurately. It also automatically calculates taxes and benefits to withhold the correct amount. Many payroll systems include an employee self-serve portal where employees can upload receipts or mileage for reimbursement and look at their pay stub.
Choosing the best HRIS for your business
The best HRIS for your business will depend on your company size and the features and functions you want to prioritize. If your company is rapidly growing, an HRIS with a robust ATS will probably be the most beneficial for your HR department. If your organization is an enterprise business with a lot of employees, streamlining payroll and time and attendance tracking may be your priority.
Still not sure which HRIS is right for you? Use our HR Software Buyers Guide to get a short, unbiased list of software tailored to your company’s needs.