Home > Software Categories > Best Human Resources Software (Updated for 2024)
Jessica Dennis Avatar

Written by
Jessica Dennis, Lead Writer
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Kaiti Norton Avatar

Reviewed by
Kaiti Norton, Managing Editor
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Jessica Dennis Avatar

Written by
Jessica Dennis, Lead Writer
Read more by Jessica →

Kaiti Norton Avatar

Reviewed by
Kaiti Norton, Managing Editor
Read more HR content →

What is human resources (HR) software?

Human resources (HR) software systems unify administration, recruitment, payroll, training, employee engagement, performance management, and other essential HR functions. This provides a secure database of employee data and a centralized view of a company. It also helps HR teams effectively manage each stage of the employee life cycle.

The right HR software solution can help optimize processes by automating manual tasks, organizing employee records, and building data-driven reports. Moreover, advanced HR software solutions enable better workforce planning, financial forecasting, and strategic decision-making.

I reviewed 10 human resources software solutions and narrowed them down to the best of the best:

Learn what to look for in an HR system: How to Choose the Right HR Software for Your Business

Our picks for the best HR software

Feb. 26, 2024: Jessica Dennis revised the copy in the FAQ section. She also made minor revisions throughout the article copy and added links to relevant pages. Finally, she added a note about the new BambooHR subscription plans.

Jan. 31, 2024: Jessica Dennis added gallery images for BambooHR and Rippling plus subcriteria ratings for each product in the top five.

Jan. 22, 2024: Jessica Dennis added honorable mentions for Workday HCM and Paycor. She also corrected the overall score for Gusto from 3.14 to 3.11 because further research confirmed it lacks tools in its ATS for managing in-app interview scheduling.

Dec. 29, 2023: Jessica Dennis reevaluated our top choices for 2024 with an objective scoring rubric. As a result, Rippling replaced Namely as our pick for midsize companies, and Gusto replaced Bob for startups. Jessica also provided fresh analysis and up-to-date product information and pricing for all vendors.

Nov. 14, 2023: Kaiti Norton clarified our recommendation analysis for Namely and SAP.

Nov. 8, 2023: Kaiti Norton updated Namely’s pricing information to reflect the company’s new pricing structure.

Nov. 6, 2023: Kaiti Norton updated Rippling’s section to clarify that the company supports businesses that are entirely based in the U.S. as well as international companies.

Oct. 25, 2023: Kaiti Norton added information about Bob’s pricing.

Oct. 16, 2023: Kaiti Norton added information about BambooHR’s pricing and made minor design tweaks to improve the page’s accessibility.

Sept. 26, 2023: We performed some technical maintenance to resolve user experience issues.

Sept. 19, 2023: We added information about Namely’s pricing. We also added a star rating to each of our editorial recommendations to offer more visual cues for comparison.

Sept. 7, 2023: We added information about SAP SuccessFactors’ pricing structure.

Aug. 28, 2023: We refined the pros and cons for each vendor.

Aug. 24, 2023: We reordered our list of top HR solutions from biggest to smallest. We also added a screenshot gallery for BambooHR and information about Rippling’s one-month free trial offer.

Aug. 17, 2023: We added a screenshot gallery for ADP.

Aug. 8, 2023: We added advice for getting executive buy-in for HR software.

Jun. 12, 2023: We refined the layout of the page and added dynamic design elements to improve the visual flow of information. We also added a screenshot gallery for Rippling and Bob.

Jun. 1, 2023: We reviewed our recommendations and revised each vendor’s pros and cons lists to preserve our editorial objectivity. We also simplified the page layout for easier navigation and implemented additional opportunities to connect directly with the software vendors we recommend.

I picked my choices with you in mind.

First, I conducted market research based on current options and narrowed down my list based on the reviews of readers like you. I then researched the following 10 all-in-one HR software using free trials, demos, and knowledge bases.

My research focused on your top-of-mind concerns like price, customizability, automations, and ease of use. Below is a breakdown of the categories I used to grade each platform. Each category also includes my expert score, which contributes to its overall score.

​​As the market changes, I reevaluate my choices so you always receive the best insights for your purchasing decision.

User reviews: 8%

User reviews from third-party software platforms like Capterra, G2, Gartner, and TrustRadius accounted for 8% of the software’s overall score. I focused on software that received at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on these sites. Because users have real-world experience with each platform, they played a significant role in narrowing down my list of top products to compare.

Pricing: 15%

Pricing accounts for 15% of the weighted score. Software with transparent pricing, scalable tiers, discounts, free trials, and free plans received the highest scores. I also considered each platform’s “value for money,” which determines whether the number of features in each price tier or module is competitive with other vendors in the space.

Platform and interface: 15%

How easy is the platform to use? Will it be able to grow with the company? What is the customer service like? And will employee’s data be safe? This category covers the solution’s intrinsic features and offerings, including how well it will integrate with your current tech stack. This category represents 15% of the platform’s total score.

Core HR: 15%

Core HR covers the basics of HR software, including its core HRIS and analytics functionality. Software with robust employee recordkeeping features and customizable reports and dashboards earned the top marks. Core HR comprises 15% of the software’s total score.

Workforce management: 23%

Workforce management includes payroll, benefits administration, and time and scheduling features. Because these are some of the most critical functions of HR, workforce management is weighted the most at 23% of the platform’s overall score. The best software offers native functionality for all of these modules, plus automations and self-service features to reduce your HR team’s administrative loads.

Talent acquisition: 7%

As your company grows, you’ll need HR software with native recruitment features to address your talent needs. HR software with candidate sourcing, screening tools, and interview management scored the highest. I also considered additional capabilities like global support, automated ATS pipeline movement, and AI features in my expert score. Talent acquisition makes up 7% of the total score.

Learning and development: 11%

Because effective learning and development features can lead to more productive and motivated employees, this category accounts for 11% of the platform’s total score. I considered each solution’s onboarding and offboarding capabilities, performance appraisal customizations, and training assignments and tracking for my analysis.

Employee relations: 6%

Employee relations comprise 6% of the software’s overall score and include employee engagement and communication features. Platforms capable of surveying or monitoring employee wellbeing scored best. I also examined whether the platforms offered internal communication functions, like company newsfeeds or recognition features, to enhance the employee experience.

ADP Workforce Now: Best HR software overall


Pros

  • More than 500 integrations available.
  • Optional HR advisory services for enhanced compliance.
  • Extensive product line for fast-growing companies.
  • Global payroll support for over 140 countries.
  • Robust time and scheduling features, like geolocation and automatic schedule creation.

Cons

  • Benefits administration is only available on the Plus plan and higher.
  • Time and labor management is only available at the highest price point.
  • Steep learning curve for new users.
  • Users report slow customer service and turnaround times.
The ADP logo.

Our Rating: 3.68/5

User scores: 4.19

Pricing: 3.13

Platform/interface: 4.25

Core HR: 4.06

Workforce management: 3.52

Talent acquisition: 2.88

Learning and development: 3.63

Employee relations: 3.13

ADP Workforce Now is an all-in-one human resources management system (HRMS) with a range of features to support the employee life cycle from recruitment to separation. Its add-on modules, customization options, and massive integration library make it top my list as the best HR software overall.

Don’t let ADP Workforce Now’s 3.57 score fool you; its score reflects how the platform straddles the line between the needs of both small and large businesses. For example, if you’re a newer company, ADP Workforce Now offers services like human resources outsourcing (HRO) or professional employer organization (PEO) services to offload tasks like payroll and recruitment for your lean HR team.

Additionally, ADP Workforce Now accommodates larger employers’ more strategic needs. For example, ADP offers employers of record (EOR) services if you start to expand internationally. And, with ADP DataCloud in its Analytics and Enhanced Insights add-on, you can access benchmarking data to compare how your company performs to others on critical HR metrics like turnover and pay equity.

ADP lost points for relegating critical HR functions, including benefits administration and time tracking, to higher price tiers. Its interface is also not as contemporary looking as competitors like Rippling or BambooHR, making navigation between modules or finding particular features — like adding a new employee — unintuitive. However, dedicated software training during implementation can help reduce the learning curve.

What’s the right ADP product for me?

ADP Workforce Now is best for small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with over 50 employees but less than 1,000. Although this makes it an excellent option for most, startups and enterprises might want to look for leaner or more robust alternatives.

ADP’s vast product catalog means there are solutions for all companies, regardless of size or industry, but finding the right product for your company can be intimidating. If Workforce Now doesn’t seem like the right fit, one of these alternatives might be better.

Roll by ADP

Best for solopreneurs or small businesses with 2–10 employees. Although Roll is not a full HR suite, its simple mobile-only interface is best if you have a non-existent HR team and only need an employee database and payroll. If you’re particularly tech-averse, Roll’s unique AI chat function makes it easy to run payroll all from a simple text conversation.

RUN Powered by ADP

Best for businesses with 2–49 employees. RUN offers basic payroll and tax support. In its higher price tiers, you can also access unemployment insurance management, a basic applicant tracking system (ATS), handbook creation, and a learning management system (LMS).

ADP Vantage HCM

Best for businesses with over 1,000 employees. ADP Vantage HCM is a human capital management (HCM) suite that offers advanced HR capabilities, particularly in workforce analytics. Although ADP Vantage has features similar to RUN and Workforce Now, it focuses on using your huge people dataset for more strategic decision-making, like minimizing business costs.

Breadth of integrations

ADP Workforce Now clients have access to ADP Marketplace. Here, you can find solutions to integrate with ADP Workforce Now and consolidate your data among your entire HR tech stack.

With integrations available for performance management, time tracking, employee engagement, recruiting, learning management, and financial wellness, companies do not have to sacrifice the HR platforms they already use to start with ADP.

Robust payroll functionality

ADP is well-known for its advanced payroll features that fit various business needs. You can easily create multiple payroll schedules from ADP Workforce Now’s payroll dashboard to cover different employee classifications. Plus, once you finalize payroll, you can click a button and automatically prepare and download a general ledger file to upload into your accounting system.

ADP also accommodates more industry- or company-specific payroll needs. For example, if you’re a federal contractor, ADP can help you run certified payroll. Or, if you’re in a service industry like food or hospitality, ADP can calculate tip credits for your service staff and reduce the likelihood of payroll errors.

ADP displays a payroll dashboard with information about two payroll runs and their reports.
From ADP Workforce Now’s payroll dashboard, you can view all your past and upcoming payroll schedules and complete a step-by-step checklist to ensure accurate employee payments. Source: ADP
Employee engagement

ADP Workforce Now scored the highest in our roundup for employee relations at 3.13 out of 5 — rivaling only that of SAP SuccessFactors HXM. Its Voice of the Employee module in all price tiers sets it apart as it features employee surveying and internal communication capabilities.

Besides company announcements and reminders, Voice of the Employee enables you to automatically send surveys to employees, such as after onboarding. This way, you can monitor employee sentiment and improve company culture with little administrative effort, even if you opt for ADP Workforce Now’s lowest-price plan.

ADP displays a summary of the results from an engagement pulse survey.
Voice of the Employee automatically draws insights from survey results to simplify future action planning. Source: ADP

ADP Workforce Now scored a 3.13 out of 5 for pricing because it does not reveal its cost, requires a long-term contract, and does not offer a free trial. However, third-party sources indicate that it can cost anywhere from $18–$27 per employee per month (PEPM), depending on your base plan and the number of add-on modules you choose.

Although ADP Workforce Now’s pricing aligns with most midsized HR software choices, ADP keeps critical HR software features, like benefits administration and workforce management, in its higher plans. If you’re looking for one platform to manage all of these functions, ADP forces you to purchase its Premium tier at the beginning instead of gradually scaling price plans.

Look to Gusto instead if you want all of the core HR system features at an affordable price. Or, if you use third-party solutions for benefits, time-tracking, and leave management already, it’s likely that Workforce Now can integrate with them, so you can start with the least expensive Select plan.

Review the breakdown of the capabilities ADP includes in each Workforce Now plan as well as optional add-on modules below.

Select

Includes:

  • Payroll and tax.
  • Basic reporting and analytics.
  • Onboarding/offboarding workflows.
  • Employee virtual assistant and task reminders.
  • Voice of the Employee (employee engagement surveys).
  • Digital recordkeeping and unlimited storage.

Plus

Includes everything in Select and:

  • Benefits administration.

Premium

Includes everything in Plus and:

  • Time tracking.
  • Leave management.
  • Scheduling.

Add-on modules

  • Talent acquisition.
  • Performance management.
  • Compensation management.
  • HR assist (regulatory compliance assistance).
  • Analytics and enhanced insights.
  • Learning management.

ADP Workforce Now is a great mid-tier HR software that bridges the gap between simple human resources information systems (HRIS) and full-scale human capital management (HCM) platforms. In particular, Workforce Now’s add-on modules, massive product and services catalog, and open API make it stand out among competitors.

True, Workforce Now lost points for its hard-to-navigate interface and for forcing users to purchase its Premium plan to access workforce management and benefits administration features. Despite this, the depth of features of each module and the option to keep all your data in one place can be worth the investment.

Plus, access to self-service features in its higher plans, like requesting time off or a benefits decision tool, improves the employee experience. Employees can use one platform for all of their needs instead of jumping from one to the next, creating a disjointed experience and data silos.

Is ADP Workforce Now the right fit?

ADP is one of our favorite HR software vendors, featuring in many of our top product pages and comparisons. For more information on Workforce Now’s capabilities, check out some of our articles below:

SAP SuccesFactors HXM: Best HR software for large enterprises


Pros

  • Global payroll in more than 45 countries.
  • Intelligent text-based employee sentiment analysis.
  • 24/7 customer support via online chat, phone, or email.
  • Guided action planning.
  • Native integration with SAP’s entire product line.
  • More than 2,000 standardized HR metrics.

Cons

  • It may be too expensive for small teams.
  • No free trial.
  • Complex user interface.
  • Relatively few plug-and-play integrations outside of SAP products and partners.
The SAP logo.

Our Rating: 4.03/5

User scores: 3.94.

Pricing: 2.38

Platform/interface: 3.94

Core HR: 4.83

Workforce management: 4.33

Talent acquisition: 5

Learning and development: 4.66

Employee relations: 3.13

SAP SuccessFactors Human Experience Management (HXM) is an enterprise-grade HR platform that centralizes HR administration in one place. SuccessFactors users can access SAP’s entire line of products, including enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, to create one unified ecosystem for all business functions.

Because of SAP SuccessFactors’ extensive feature set and customization options, it scored the highest in our roundup at 4.03 out of 5. This is because SAP SuccessFactors includes strategic business elements in each of its HR workflows.

For example, unlike BambooHR or Rippling, SAP SuccessFactors’ recruitment module goes beyond a simple ATS to manage hiring. Instead, its recruitment features are like a candidate relationship management (CRM) system, which focuses on maintaining and engaging a healthy list of passive candidates you can tap to fill critical positions immediately.

If you’re a global company, SAP SuccessFactors also supports your international workforce. Although it lost points because its native payroll only supports 45 countries, it can localize employee profiles to over 100 countries, post job openings to over 4,000 global sourcing channels across 80 countries, and facilitate international benefits enrollment.

However, one of the drawbacks of SAP SuccessFactors is its disjointed platform interface. This is because SuccessFactors is largely built on acquisitions and partnerships SAP has developed over the last several years. For example, SAP uses Qualtrics for employee engagement, Benefitfocus for U.S. ACA monitoring, and OpenText for document management. SuccessFactors itself was its own company before SAP acquired it in 2012.

These bolted-on capabilities also make setting up automations that work between SAP SuccessFactors modules difficult. For instance, you can set up approval workflows in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central (its HRIS module), but cross-system workflows are much more labor-intensive. This contrasts with Rippling’s Workflow Studio, which allows you to automate processes across modules and some integrations.

However, this may not be a deterrent for an enterprise business. You likely already have an established IT department to create such workflows and may appreciate the breadth of products to choose from to craft a business solution unique to you. If that’s the case, then SAP is the best option.

Predictive analytics

SAP SuccessFactors uses data from its various modules to help you draw insights that inform big-picture business decisions. Besides collecting on lagging indicators, like employee sentiment and the number of job applicants for an open role, SAP SuccessFactors goes one step further by predicting data trends based on past performance.

For example, SAP SuccessFactors uses best-fit linear regression, a machine learning algorithm, to forecast trends so you can proactively address business changes. The chart below shows that SAP SuccessFactors predicts that the number of male-to-female recruits will equal in the next year. This suggests you should maintain current hiring procedures if your goal is to lower hiring inequity by gender.

SAP SuccessFactors shows a line graph of male-to-female external hires between 2013–2017, with a spike in hires during 2014.
SAP SuccessFactors uses a dotted line to forecast male and female external hires one year in advance; for more insight, you can extend your forecast up to five years. Source: SAP
AI capabilities

SAP SuccessFactors leverages AI natural language processing to assist with workforce planning and streamline HR administrative tasks. One of my favorite use cases has been its AI writing assistant, which helps managers craft constructive feedback and employee reviews. If you have managers with several direct reports, this can ensure they complete performance appraisals timely.

As of 2023, SAP SuccessFactors has added a generative AI chat tool called Joule. You can access Joule from anywhere on the platform by clicking the diamond symbol next to the search bar. Managers and their direct reports can perform self-service using Joule, like requesting feedback and approving or denying paid time off requests.

Considering SAP’s somewhat difficult-to-navigate user interface (UI), Joule is a helpful tool for non-tech-savvy employees. Joule can provide quick answers without needing to become proficient with the software.

SAP SuccessFactors displays a chat window with the question “How can I help you?” to the right of the employee homepage.
By clicking the diamond icon in the top right of SAP SuccessFactors’ homepage, you can start a chat conversation with the generative AI assistant, Joule, to complete basic self-service tasks. Source: SAP
Succession planning

SuccessFactors HXM’s succession planning tools take a skills-based approach to developing employees and filling talent pipelines for critical roles.

Using an organizational chart, ​​SAP SuccessFactors can help you identify skills gaps that have a relatively high impact if they become vacant. The platform then uses data from employee talent profiles to surface high-potential, top-performing talent to start grooming for crucial roles.

Besides preparing your company for turnover or other changes, it keeps your high performers invested and engaged in the company and their professional growth.

SAP SuccessFactors displays an organizational chart section with the names of successors in the diagram below the VP of Operations and the Production Director.
SAP SuccessFactors’s Succession Organization Chart is a great way to view your succession plan at a glance and pinpoint any gaps where you need to start developing your employees. Source: SAP

Like most enterprise HR software, ​​SAP does not disclose pricing for its full SuccessFactors HXM suite. Pricing is based on the size of your company and the features you need. You must contact their sales team for a customized quote.

However, SAP does disclose prices for several standalone products that comprise the HXM suite, which you can view in the chart below. Prices add up fast depending on the products you choose. Nevertheless, SAP’s modular pricing and minimum one-year contract earned it a 2.38 out of 5, like ADP Workforce Now.

SAP SuccessFactors is an expensive option but relatively competitive compared to other large-business HR software solutions.

For example, SAP SuccessFactors narrowly beat Workday HCM as my choice for the best enterprise HR software mainly because of its pricing transparency and more global-friendly platform. By comparison, Workday is one of the most expensive HR options today, resulting in a mere 1.06 out of 5 for pricing.

The breakdown below gives a rough cost estimate of the various HXM products in the SAP portfolio.*

Payroll products

  • SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll: $8.29/user/mo.

Benefits administration products

  • SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central: $6.30/user/mo.

Workforce management products

  • SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking: $30.84/user/yr.
  • ​​SAP SuccessFactors Onboarding: $1.18/user/mo.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting: $31.92/user/yr.
  • SAP Candidate Experience by Qualtrics: Undisclosed.
  • SAP Employee Lifecycle by Qualtrics: Undisclosed.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics: $2.79/user/mo.
  • SAP Analytics Cloud: $36/user/mo.

Performance management and engagement products

  • SAP SuccessFactors Performance and Goals: $44.64/user/yr.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Learning: $22.20/user/yr.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Compensation: $23.40/user/yr.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Succession & Development: $1.91/user/mo.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Opportunity Marketplace: Undisclosed.
  • SAP Employee Technology Experience by Qualtrics: Undisclosed.
  • SAP Qualtrics Employee Engagement: Undisclosed.

Employee document management and self-service products

  • SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Service Center: $45.60/user/yr.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Signature Management by DocuSign: $940 per 100 transactions/yr.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone: $70.68/user/yr.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Document Management by OpenText: ​​Undisclosed.

*SAP SuccessFactors also offers several sales-specific modules, which I did not outline in the chart above. For more information, check out SAP SuccessFactors HXM’s Sales Performance Management.

With a score of 4.03 out of 5, SAP impressed me with its sheer number of customizable features and extensibility options. In fact, by combining the HXM suite with other SAP products, like ERP, supply chain management, financial management, and customer relationship management, you can create an open flow of data across traditionally siloed business functions. This enables you to uncover process inefficiencies and areas of the business that are driving unneeded costs.

Understandably, SAP SuccessFactors’ advanced features and complicated interface can be off-putting if you’re new to HR software or want something with a more modern look. If that’s the case, check out Rippling or Workday instead. But, with its advanced workforce planning tools and AI to create more personalized and efficient HR processes, SAP SuccessFactors HXM is an excellent choice for big-business needs.

Learn more about SAP SuccessFactors HXM

You can read more about SAP SuccessFactors HXM’s product features by exploring some of our articles below:

Rippling: Best HR software for midsize companies


Pros

  • Employee profile localization for more than 150 countries.
  • Finance and IT management tools available.
  • HR support services, including a PEO and an EOR option for international payroll.
  • Ability to use Excel formulas in reports for more detailed insights.

Cons

  • There is no free trial, and it may be too expensive for basic HR needs.
  • Limited compliance features for benefits administration.
  • Reporting tools have a steep learning curve.
  • Customer service is limited to email and chat unless you purchase the HR Support Desk module.
The Rippling logo.

Our Rating: 3.89/5

User scores: 4.55

Pricing: 2.88

Platform/interface: 4.34

Core HR: 4.34

Workforce management: 4.4

Talent acquisition: 3.38

Learning and development: 3.56

Employee relations: 2.5

Rippling is the best option if you’re a fast-growing SMB that has outgrown a simple HRIS and needs to unite HR, finance, and IT under one system. It rivals major HCM platforms despite its lack of AI or an extensive product library.

Rippling accommodates companies transitioning from simple HR needs to more advanced ones. For example, one of Rippling’s rather unique features is its ability to turn on and off its PEO services when needed — without complicated fees or contract negotiations. This is great if you lack an HR department and need the extra support initially as you grow your team.

Similarly, Ripping allows you to start moving away from the day-to-day operations of HR and to more strategic ones. It offers customizable reports that can aggregate and visualize any dataset plus tactical modules like headcount planning. This allows you to create a plan, manage approval workflows, and sync with recruiting and finance modules to help you visualize and control your people costs.

Yet, despite Rippling’s more modern appearance and step-by-step guidance for completing HR processes like payroll and performance reviews, its communication and employee recognition features are very lackluster. For instance, you need to download the Employee Home Chrome Extension to send company announcements to your team. But employees can only read company news if they have the extension themselves.

As a result, Rippling is better suited to companies with distributed teams that work mainly at a desk. You are unlikely to see the same adoption rate with Rippling compared to platforms like BambooHR, Homebase, or Connecteam with more substantial internal communication features for frontline workers.

Workflow automation

Rippling is the only product on our shortlist with a workflow builder tool to create custom automations from scratch. This is unlike SAP SuccessFactors, which requires IT knowledge to develop cross-module workflows, or BambooHR, which comes with pre-defined workflows for onboarding, offboarding, and approvals.

Instead, with Rippling’s Workflow Studio, I can set a trigger in one module to set off an action in another using a simple if-then statement. For instance, I can automatically generate a report in Rippling’s reporting module and send it to appropriate stakeholders as soon as I finalize payroll. This eliminates the manual task while ensuring process consistency.

Rippling displays a workflow diagram with the action blocks “send a report” and “send a push notification” branching off from the trigger block “monthly on the 1st day of the month at 10:00 AM.”
With Rippling’s Workflow Studio, I can use a data and time trigger to send a report to executives for review without having to run and email the report myself. Source: TechnologyAdvice
Compliance assistance

All products in Rippling’s HR Cloud come with its Compliance 360 feature, which monitors and notifies you of potential infractions of federal, state, or local laws. Although this doesn’t replace training your HR teams on employment laws and taking proactive steps to stay compliant, it is a great backstop as your team grows.

For example, if you’re a midsize business starting to hire employees in a new state, you might be unfamiliar with state labor laws like minimum wage or paid sick leave. Compliance 360 can notify you of these regulations during employee onboarding to ensure compliance. Or, if a law changes during the employee’s tenure with you, Rippling will alert you to the change.

Rippling displays a dialogue box detailing a minimum wage violation for employee Jasmine Wong over a list of outstanding compliance issues.
Compliance 360 organizes your list of potential infractions by urgency, allowing you to address more serious issues, like pay violations, as soon as possible. Source: TechnologyAdvice
Global features

If you’re starting to hire employees in other countries, Rippling offers several global functions to simplify the experience. Besides employer of record services, Rippling supports payroll processing in 50 countries from the same system, with currency conversions, taxes, and net pay calculated automatically.

One of my favorite features is the automatic localization of Rippling’s employee profiles. For instance, instead of your Canadian employee providing a Social Security number, they provide their Social Insurance Number. Little things like this can make a huge impact on your employees’ overall platform experience.

Rippling displays its global payroll dashboard with a list of upcoming pay cycles in October for all global contractors plus employees in Canada and the UK.
Rippling lets you complete payroll processes for your international workforce in one system, even if you have a mix of employees and contingent workers. Source: TechnologyAdvice

Rippling Unity, its base product, starts at $8 PEPM. However, you can expect that price to increase depending on what modules you add to Rippling Unity from its HR, IT, or finance products. Rippling also acknowledges that it might charge a monthly base fee; most third-party outlets list Rippling’s base fee at $35 per month.

Although Rippling provides its starting price, it only received a 2.88 out of 5 for pricing because it lacks a free trial and reserves critical HR software features, like payroll and benefits administration, in separate add-on modules. This makes Rippling an expensive choice for businesses looking to set up their first HR software. If this is you, look instead at Gusto or ADP Workforce Now, which includes payroll, HRIS, and basic reporting in all pricing tiers.

That said, Rippling’s pricing is similar to other platforms catering to SMBs, like BambooHR. Plus, Rippling offers human resources services that BambooHR doesn’t, making its price worth the investment for the added peace of mind that comes with the ability to consult professionals in complex HR situations.

Below, I’ve broken down Rippling’s four pricing tiers and optional add-ons to give you an idea of where you will land based on your business’s needs.*

Core

Includes:

  • Global organizational chart.
  • Global workforce analytics.
  • Permissions and access control.
  • Approval management.
  • Document and policy management.
  • Compliance management.
  • Salary banding.
  • PTO and leave management.
  • Localization for 150+ countries.
  • Customized workflows (for onboarding only).

Pro

Includes everything in Core, plus:

  • Customized workflows (for any event).
  • Up to 10 workflows.
  • Up to 10 formula fields in reports.
  • Up to 10 reports that join data from three or more sources.
  • Integrate with Slack for approvals and sending messages.
  • Integrate with Microsoft Teams for sending messages.
  • Create and send calendar invites.
  • Scheduled reports.

Unlimited

Includes everything in Pro, plus:

  • Unlimited customized workflows.
  • Unlimited formula fields.
  • Unlimited advanced reports.
  • Webhooks.

Enterprise

Includes everything in Unlimited, plus:

  • Access to Rippling’s API.

After you’ve picked your Rippling Unity tier, you can add modules as follows:

HR Cloud

  • U.S. and global payroll.
  • Benefits administration.
  • Time and attendance.
  • Flex benefits (FSA, HSA, and commuter).
  • Recruiting.
  • Learning management.
  • Pulse (employee engagement).
  • Headcount planning.
  • Performance management.

IT Cloud

  • App management.
  • Device management.
  • Inventory management.

Finance Cloud

  • Corporate cards.
  • Expense management.

Additional services

  • ACA and COBRA administration.
  • HR Help Desk (HR Support).
  • PEO services.
  • Global employer of record services.

*Note: Rippling currently offers a one-month free subscription if you sign up within six weeks. This is subject to end anytime, so please check its website for the latest.

With a total score of 3.89 out of 5, Rippling is one of the most adaptable HR programs I’ve demoed. It allows you to customize workflows and approval processes without needing advanced IT training. This feature alone makes Rippling stand out among its peers. It’s also handy for midsize businesses that need to automate most of their rote HR tasks to accommodate their growing headcount.

Although Rippling is weakest when it comes to employee communication and engagement, it integrates with apps like Homebase, Culture Amp, and Assembly to fill in the gaps. Plus, with the ability to send notifications via Slack, SMS, or email, Rippling can still help facilitate information sharing even as your business becomes more varied and complex.

Looking to expand internationally?

Rippling’s global capabilities also made it one of our top picks for global payroll software and employer of record services. Learn how it stacks up against competitors in these areas:

BambooHR: Best HR software for small businesses


Pros

  • Simple and easy-to-navigate interface.
  • Pre-built workflows to implement HR processes quickly.
  • Customizable homepage and profile dashboards.
  • Automated wellbeing surveys to track employee happiness over time.

Cons

  • Reports have limited customization settings.
  • No modules for employee training or scheduling.
  • No support for global payroll.
  • Adjusting settings in different modules can be clunky.
BambooHR logo.

Our Rating: 3.48/5

User scores: 3.9

Pricing: 2.81

Platform/interface: 4.01

Core HR: 3.89

Workforce management: 3.6

Talent acquisition: 2.5

Learning and development: 3.38

Employee relations: 3

BambooHR is one of the most popular HR software solutions for its simple, effective UI and out-of-the-box workflows and reports. As a result, BambooHR is great for small businesses that need to centralize their people data and processes but don’t need the granular customization of HR platforms like Rippling or ​​SAP SuccessFactors.

To that end, BambooHR focuses on creating a platform accessible to tech-savvy and tech-averse HR teams. For example, BambooHR comes with pre-built reports and analytics visualizations that you can use for fundamental insights into your organization, such as turnover and time-off usage. If you’re a system administrator, you can even customize BambooHR’s homepage with these widgets to access this information as soon as you log in.

Small businesses will appreciate BambooHR’s pre-configured onboarding and offboarding workflows, which you can add or remove tasks from directly in the settings menu. You can also add multiple stakeholders to your onboarding checklist, such as HR managers or IT. BambooHR will then automatically invite new hires to complete this information before their first day and walk them through signing up for your company benefits. This can save you time, especially if you only have an HR team of one.

However, BambooHR’s plug-and-play nature may be too limiting for some. For example, BambooHR cannot construct custom data visualizations, and creating custom reports can be tedious. If you need to connect datasets from various modules for more niche or complex insights, go with Rippling or ADP Workforce Now instead.

Digital recordkeeping

BambooHR lets you upload, share, and store company and personnel documents directly within the platform. With BambooHR’s Advantage plan, you can also create digital, legally recognized forms from the documents you use daily with eSignature.

Creating these documents can be time-consuming, but it’s worth it. After you upload your PDF or .docx document to BambooHR, you can drag and drop the fields you want employees to complete into the appropriate areas. You can then send your electronic documents to the necessary employees for signatures and store the completed forms in their electronic personnel files.

This feature is especially useful if you want to move away from paper processes and into an entirely digital experience. It can also save you money on paper costs and space for filing cabinets.

BambooHR displays a company’s policy acknowledgment with a toolbar to the right to add electronic elements like text fields, initials, checkboxes, and signatures to the document.
With BambooHR, I can upload documents and transform them into electronic fillable forms for more efficient and consistent recordkeeping. Source: TechnologyAdvice
Employee self-service

Like most modern HRIS, BambooHR has employee self-service features like preboarding checklists, benefits enrollment, and paystub access. What sets BambooHR apart is that employees can also update their information, request time off, clock in and out of shifts, update professional goals, and track training assignments from the same place.

Plus, if you’re a small business with frontline workers, BambooHR allows employees to access all this information from their mobile device instead of a desktop computer. It even made it into our list of the best HR apps for mobile as a result.

BambooHR displays an employee profile for Jessica Dennis with horizontal tabs to access personal, job, time off, documents, benefits, performance, training, and emergency information.
Whether accessing BambooHR from a desktop computer or a mobile device, employees can complete self-service tasks directly within their profiles; BambooHR’s homepage even has one-click buttons for requesting time off or clocking in and out from shifts. Source: TechnologyAdvice

BambooHR pricing update

In January 2024, BambooHR replaced its Essentials and Advantage plans with the new Core and Pro subscription plans. One of the biggest changes following this update is that BambooHR’s lowest subscription tier, Core, includes onboarding and recruiting features where its old Essentials plan did not.

This pricing update makes BambooHR considerably more competitive with other small and midsize HR software. Once I learn more about its new plans and starting prices, I will update BambooHR’s scoring and analysis below.

You can choose from two plans in BambooHR: Essential or Advantage. Essential is not much more than a basic employee recordkeeping and leave management system. With Advantage, you can access onboarding/offboarding workflows, an ATS, and customizable reports.

For an SMB HR platform, BambooHR is quite pricey. For instance, if you choose BambooHR’s Essential plan without any add-ons, you’ll need at least 14 employees to make it more cost-effective than Gusto. Even so, Gusto’s Simple plan comes with payroll capabilities, which BambooHR’s Essential plan does not.

With a score of 2.81 out of 5 for price, BambooHR is best for small businesses with limited growth goals since it lacks the products and services to support more complex business structures.

Below is a breakdown of BambooHR’s plans and add-on modules:

Essentials+

  • For up to 20 employees: $108 per month flat rate.
  • For 21+ employees: $5.40 PEPM.
  • Volume discount applies after 25 or more employees.

Advantage+

  • For up to 20 employees: $180 per month flat rate.
  • For 21+ employees: $9 PEPM.
  • Volume discount applies after 30 or more employees.

Payroll (US only)*

  • One-time implementation fee.
  • For up to 20 employees: $150 per month flat rate.
  • For 21+ employees: $7.25 PEPM.
  • Volume discount applies after 21 or more employees.

Benefits administration (US only)*

  • $5.25 PEPM.
  • Volume discount applies after 30 or more employees.

Time tracking*

  • $3.00 PEPM.
  • Volume discount applies after 30 or more employees.

Performance management*

  • $5.25 PEPM.
  • Volume discount applies after 30 or more employees.

+ There is a one-time implementation fee for the Essential and Advantage plans and the Payroll add-on. If you have fewer than 20 employees, you can opt for the QuickStart implementation fee of $299.

* These are add-on modules that can be added to either the Essential or Advantage plan. Combine the prices of these add-ons with your selected plan to determine the total cost of your package.

Additional factors like your quantity of FEINs and states where you’ll run payroll can affect this price. Contact BambooHR for specific pricing quotes.

BambooHR is our top choice for small businesses because it provides all your basic HR needs, including payroll, benefits administration, time tracking, recordkeeping, and recruiting. Each module also provides a manageable amount of customization for companies where HR staff wear multiple hats and need processes they can implement quickly and efficiently.

With a total score of 3.48 out of 5, BambooHR stands out for its easy-to-use interface but could do better in its data analytics and talent acquisition features. As a small business looking to automate some of your day-to-day HR tasks, BambooHR is a good choice for first-time HR software users.

Why is BambooHR so popular?

BambooHR is a versatile HR suite that covers a lot of ground in the world of HR. As a BambooHR aficionado, I frequently include it in my HR software shortlists:

Gusto: Best HR software for startups


Pros

  • Unlimited automated payroll runs.
  • Discounted contractor-only plan available.
  • Gusto-brokered health insurance at no extra cost.
  • Customer support is available via phone, email, and chat.

Cons

  • Limited reporting and analytics functionality.
  • Native time tracking and workforce costing are only available on the Plus plan and higher.
  • Lacks internal communication features.
Gusto logo.

Our Rating: 3.11/5

User scores: 2.66

Pricing: 3.25

Platform/interface: 3.76

Core HR: 3.49

Workforce management: 3.35

Talent acquisition: 1.25

Learning and development: 3.13

Employee relations: 1.56

Gusto is best known for payroll, but it also offers features to accommodate broader small business HR needs. If you’re a startup with limited funding, Gusto’s lowest price plan includes all your critical HR processes — like payroll and benefits administration — at one of the most competitive prices on the market.

Gusto offers easy-to-understand instructions for creating an account, setting up an employee roster, and processing payroll. It even provides links to help you set up your federal employer identification number (FEIN), a timeline, and a downloadable checklist of the tasks you must complete before running your first payroll.

Besides payroll, Gusto helps you comply with federal and state laws. If you choose to use Gusto’s health insurance, your benefit packages will comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and enrolled employees will receive necessary COBRA notifications. You can even administer and track mandatory state anti-harassment training with Gusto-created courses.

However, Gusto is not the best choice if you need robust hiring capabilities. While it offers background checks, it lacks automation capabilities in its ATS, forcing you to progress or disqualify candidates manually. Gusto also doesn’t allow you to create email templates to send to candidates as they move through the pipeline, which can result in a stunted candidate experience.

But Gusto is a great option to start managing and paying your employees quickly. Its friendly UI also makes it easy to create workflows and find the information you need — plus, it’s hard not like Penny, Gusto’s little animated pig, who jaunts across the screen as you switch between modules.

Support for contingent workers

Besides a contractor-only plan, Gusto has several features to support a primarily contingent workforce. This includes automatic 1099 filing and project-specific time tracking. Gusto also supports contractors in over 120 countries, so you can feel comfortable hiring talented freelancers worldwide as you build your business.

A unique feature of Gusto is the ability for contractors to request and receive feedback and set and track their own performance goals within the platform. This is a great way to monitor contingent workers’ effectiveness and productivity while allowing them to voice concerns that may impact company procedures and policies.

Gusto displays performance metrics in a contractor’s online profile, including a circle graph of goal progress and the amount of feedback received, given, requested, and pending.
From the team members or performance tabs, you can request feedback from your contingent workers for a holistic view of team sentiment. Source: TechnologyAdvice
Tax compliance

Gusto automatically deducts and files your employees’ federal, state, and local taxes and completes end-of-year 1099 and W-2 filings. As you expand or hire talent in different states, Gusto can even help register your company for state and local taxes for a small fee.

Moreover, if you receive a notice from the IRS or other tax authorities that you’re unfamiliar with, Gusto can investigate the notice on your behalf. This can save you time from keeping track of and responding to these critical documents yourself.

Gusto displays its report a notice dashboard with two questions asking “Which agency is the notice from?” and “What is the notice about?”
You can report any tax notices you receive in Gusto without consulting a third-party accountant or tax expert for assistance. Source: ​​TechnologyAdvice

Gusto scored 3.25 out of 5 for pricing, the highest of any in our roundup. This is because Gusto has transparent pricing, offers discounted pricing or waived fees in its higher-tiered plans, and offers some of the best value for your money. 

Gusto struggles with scalability. It has limited payroll support for international employees outside of Canada. It also lacks more advanced tools to help segment your people data by location, department, or division. If your startup is growing exponentially, you may want to pay more and start with tools like Rippling or ADP Workforce Now that can accommodate the growth.

But if you need to start paying and managing your people as quickly as possible, Gusto offers all the essential HR necessities. You can even leverage its free interactive demo to see firsthand how the software works before purchasing.

Below is a list of pricing and features for Gusto’s three price tiers.

Simple

$40/mo. + $6 PEPM.

Includes:

  • Single-state payroll.
  • Full support.
  • Self-service.
  • Gusto-brokered health insurance.
  • Basic hiring and onboarding.
  • Reports for payroll and time off.
  • Accounting, time tracking, and expense management integrations.

Plus

$8/mo. + $12 PEPM

Includes everything in Simple plus:

  • Multi-state payroll.
  • Advanced hiring and onboarding.
  • Time off management.
  • Time tracking.
  • Project tracking.
  • Performance reviews.
  • Employee surveys.
  • Workforce costing.

Premium

Contact sales.

Includes everything in Plus with:

  • Dedicated CSM.
  • HR templates for handbooks, job descriptions, and policies.
  • Proactive federal and state labor law compliance alerts.
  • Access to HR experts.
  • Health insurance broker integration.
  • Priority support.
Add-ons
  • International contractor payments: Price varies by foreign exchange rate.
  • State tax registration: Prices vary by state.
  • R&D tax credits: Pay 15% of identified tax credits.
  • Gusto Global: $629.10 PEPM (limited time offer until 3/31/24; then $699 PEPM).+
  • Health insurance broker integration: $6 per month per eligible employee.
  • 401(k) retirement savings: Price varies by 401(k) integration.
  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): $2.50 per month per participant.*
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): $4 per month per participant, with a $20 per month minimum.*
  • Dependent care FSAs: $4 per month per participant, with a $20 per month minimum.*
  • Commuter benefits: $4 per month per participant, with a $20 per month minimum.*
  • Workers’ compensation: Price of premiums only.
  • Life and disability insurance: Price of premiums only.
  • Annually updated labor law posters: $8.99/mo. (for onsite posters); $10/mo. for up to five employees, plus $1/mo. for each additional employee (ePoster service for remote employees).

+EOR support is available only for full-time, salaried Canadian employees through Gusto’s recently-launched partnership with Remote. Remote currently operates in more than 75 countries, and Gusto Global is expected to expand to more of these countries in 2024.

*Annual $200 service charge covers HSAs, FSAs, dependent care FSAs, and commuter benefits.

Of all the software I evaluated, Gusto is the most approachable platform for first-time business owners new to HR software. Its affordable price and full customer support stand out as critical features for startups with strict budgets and no HR staff.

With a score of 3.11 out of 5, Gusto also impressed me with its modern, no-frills interface that made it easy to complete HR tasks like running payroll or requesting feedback in a few clicks. Although it doesn’t support direct chat, company announcements, or customized profiles to foster an employee community, Gusto does integrate with other popular solutions like Slack and Bonusly if that’s a priority for your startup.

Other HR solutions for startups

The needs and budget of every startup are different. If Gusto doesn’t seem the right fit, you can check out 5 Best HR Software for Startups. I also recommend the following two platforms that specifically address the features that Gusto lacks.

Bob

Bob offers exceptional employee engagement and customization tools to foster connection among distributed teams. While it lacks a native payroll module, it does integrate with big names like ADP. Plus, its sandbox feature allows you to create and test new workflows before rolling them out to the rest of your organization, a valuable tool as your processes evolve.

TriNet HR Platform

Need time tracking and scheduling? If you have fewer than 40 employees, TriNet HR Platform’s Essentials Plan plus the payroll add-on costs less than Gusto Plus. This is an excellent benefit if you need to monitor business coverage levels, run payroll, and provide employee benefits on a tight budget. Learn more about the similarities and differences between TriNet (formerly TriNet Zenefits) and Gusto in our deep-dive comparison.

Honorable mentions

HR software is a broad and segmented product category. Below are some runners-up that performed well in specific categories and may better suit your business’s needs.

Workday HCM: Best for workforce planning

Alternative for: SAP SuccessFactors

When to choose Workday HCM: Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) rivals most enterprise-grade HR solutions with its modern and user-friendly interface. In particular, Workday’s expansion into ERP through finance and operations modules means it easily combines data from all these business sectors for more informed decision-making. Beyond headcount and cost, Workday offers model and scenario planning to forecast your company’s labor trends and help plan future business moves like expansion, acquisition, and partnership.

Why it didn’t make the list: While Workday may be a more approachable platform for your individual contributors and executive teams alike, it is very expensive. This is because Workday takes longer to build each module internally rather than acquire features through mergers or acquisitions with other vendors.

Workday also does not have nearly the support for international teams compared to Rippling or SAP, forcing you to integrate with third-party solutions. Its native payroll functions, for example, are only available for the U.S., UK, Canada, and France.

Workday logo

OUR RATING: 4.01/5

Paycor: Best for payroll flexibility

Alternative for: Rippling

When to choose Paycor: Paycor uses a pay grid you can configure to your payroll preferences for various pay schedules and locations without contacting its customer support team. Paycor also offers modules to support more strategic HR and employee retention, such as succession planning, talent development, financial wellness, and employee engagement. 

Why it didn’t make the list: Paycor’s interface looks dated and navigating between modules is less intuitive than Rippling and BambooHR. Its small business plans are also costly for what you get. For example, its cheapest plan, Basic, starts at $99 per month plus $6 PEPM and does not have onboarding and time management features, which most HRIS offer from the start.

Paycor

OUR RATING: 3.16/5

Find your new HR software

What are the types of HR software?

There are three main categories of HR software: HRIS, HRMS, and HCM. Although they are often used interchangeably, there are several technical differences between them. Some HR software also focuses on specific human resources functions, like recruiting, onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, performance management, employee engagement, and learning management.

Core HR software

Human resources information systems (HRIS) offer a variety of capabilities for HR data management. The goal of these multi-function systems is to maintain individual employee data and handle the company’s regulatory and legal employment requirements.

An HRIS stores key details about an organization’s workforce, including employees’ personal information, employment details, performance metrics, and compensation history. HRIS platforms can also act as a repository for important HR documents like employment contracts, tax forms, and policy guides.

An HRIS can be a standalone product that integrates with other HR applications, or it can serve as a central database in an all-in-one HR software suite. At its core, an HRIS application focuses on optimizing processes associated with HR record-keeping and reporting.

You can further divide HRIS into five types: operational, strategic, tactical, limited-function, and comprehensive HRIS. To learn more, check out Types of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS).

Human resources management systems (HRMS) focus on process optimization and cost efficiency. This type of software improves how an organization handles its HR processes by automating tasks and centralizing access to critical information.

Many HRMS products extend the functionality of a traditional HRIS by including tools for payroll, benefits administration, recruiting, and performance management. Some HRMS also offer tools for more robust reporting and forecasting purposes, like succession planning and position control.

Human capital management (HCM) software is often regarded as the largest umbrella in the HR software category. Most HCM solutions combine all of the functionalities of HRIS and HRMS platforms, plus additional features for employee engagement, learning management, and business intelligence. HCM software also offers advanced data analysis capabilities for business intelligence and HR process optimization.

HCM software cultivates human capital by streamlining all HR functions and creating a holistic view of the employee lifecycle. This breadth allows companies to maximize the potential of their employees and their contributions to organizational performance. To that end, HCM software adds tactical and strategic HR features to keep employees engaged and motivated to work toward the company’s business goals.

Function-specific HR software

Recruiting software, specifically applicant tracking systems (ATS), help hiring teams optimize the hiring process. It manages the entire recruitment process from beginning to end, from sourcing and screening candidates to extending job offers and onboarding new employees.

ATS platforms manage information related to different candidates, allowing hiring managers to compare candidates against each other and choose the best one for the job. Many recruiting software suites include applicant tracking features in addition to candidate relationship management and workforce planning capabilities.

Onboarding software facilitates the process of introducing new hires to a company. It typically includes capabilities such as electronic signatures, pre-boarding checklists, and employee questionnaires.

Effective onboarding platforms also include tools to help onboard onsite and remote employees, such as mobile and desktop support and customizable task assignments by role. That way, all necessary stakeholders timely complete their responsibilities to ensure a smooth employee onboarding experience.

Payroll software lets organizations track expenses, taxes, payouts, and schedules accurately. It also helps HR teams maintain compliance with labor and payroll regulations and analyze payroll data for discrepancies or inefficiencies. Organizations use payroll software to calculate, process, and record employee pay on time.

Payroll software can also come in different sizes and shapes depending on worker classification, company industry, and where employees live and work. For example, you may choose a contractor payroll solution if you only employ contractors. If you employ workers internationally, you’ll want to research global payroll systems to handle competing pay laws by country.

Performance management software enables organizations to assess employee skills, track goals, and monitor performance over time. Companies often use performance management software to coach employees and evaluate performance during formal reviews or through weekly pulse updates. It gives managers a clear view of employees’ growth and development in their roles.

Employee engagement software helps companies understand employee sentiment over time and identify areas where the employee experience can improve. These systems offer survey tools, follow-up workflows, gamification, and analytics to understand how employees feel about their work. Employee feedback data is then consolidated and analyzed to produce actionable insights that can improve retention.

Learning management systems (LMS), or eLearning systems, help HR teams design, organize, and deliver employee training programs. These systems can evaluate employee skills, track active certifications, and identify opportunities for professional development.

By incorporating this tool, HR can onboard new employees and keep tenured employees up to date with current industry knowledge standards. Moreover, LMS can optimize job and compliance training and learning and development.

What are the benefits of HR software?

HR software solutions offer businesses a number of advantages, including increased efficiency, consistent compliance, and deeper reporting capabilities.

Efficiency

Many HR software solutions include automation capabilities that drive the efficiency of different HR processes. When HR staff can spend less time on repetitive, manual tasks, they are able to focus on more valuable priorities. Additionally, HR software provides employees with direct access to the services employees need most so they can complete tasks like direct deposit updates or benefits enrollment independently.

Compliance

Compliance with HR-related laws and regulations is usually non-negotiable because of the costly penalties associated with violations. HR software helps organizations stay in compliance with current local, state, federal, and international laws, as well as industry-specific regulations. Typically, this manifests as built-in time and pay compliance warnings, legally mandated paperwork tracking, news on laws affecting your workforce, and access to HR best practices documents.

Reporting

Robust HR software reporting features help organizations make informed decisions with accurate data. Many HR platforms offer report generation templates to help users find the information they need quickly, and others offer advanced AI tools to support deeper data insights like predictive analytics and natural language processing.

How to get HR software buy-in from key executives

Of course, you already know the benefits of HR software: how it streamlines administrative tasks, simplifies the hiring process, and creates one central location for all your workforce data. But to get approval for such a significant investment, you’ll need to connect the dots for other decision-makers.

As such, a well-rounded proposal will cover how individual departments will benefit from new HR tech, whether by reducing costs, avoiding risks, or propelling strategic, long-term goals.

For new HR software, your CIO is concerned with integration complexities and loss of control over data and systems. They want to choose an agile system that will scale with the company’s growth projections and minimize the need for additional infrastructure. They will also want to know about potential hardware requirements, security controls, and implementation options.

When proposing your technology investment to a CFO, put the software’s cost-benefit analysis front and center. Establish a realistic budget before evaluating individual software options, then craft your proposal with facts and figures that show how HR initiatives maintain profit margins (or reduce costs), combat healthcare prices, and improve employee morale and productivity.

CEOs make high-level decisions about policy and strategy, so their buy-in is arguably the most important. To speak to your CEO’s top concerns, focus on how HR software will help your organization sustain a competitive workforce. Tools that support rich analytics, recruitment, performance management, and employee development are essential to hire, engage, and retain the top talent.

TechnologyAdvice is able to offer our services for free because some vendors may pay us for web traffic or other sales opportunities. Our mission is to help technology buyers make better purchasing decisions, so we provide you with information for all vendors — even those that don't pay us.
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