HR apps are a dime a dozen and the struggle of finding the best fit is real. You need to cut through the noise and vendor promotion to figure out which products can meet your needs and will actually have a positive impact on your day-to-day. Daunting? Yes, but don’t worry! We did the heavy lifting to jumpstart your search.

In this article, we’ll explore the best human resource apps based on our extensive research, along with benefits and tips for choosing the right solution.

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Best HR Apps

Our research below highlights the top five HR apps, including capabilities and features to empower your organization today and well into the future.

UKG Pro

UKG Pro is a comprehensive cloud-based HR suite. Its core features encompass payroll, benefits, recruiting, onboarding and learning. Access training materials on the go in various languages and via personalized dashboards, empowering a highly tailored experience.

Manage employee data, files, compensation, time and attendance, performance and succession plans with ease.

What Users Like:

• Allows new hires to apply and onboard at their own pace
• Reduces processing time and data entry
• Facilitates entry to records beyond the physical premises, granting employees the ability to retrieve information outside regular working hours.

What Users Don’t Like:

• Doesn’t automatically sync with Outlook or specific calendar programs for time off tracking.
• Long customer service wait times
• Some app users experienced a steep learning curve

A look into the payroll gateway of UKG Pro. Source

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Succession Management — 100
• Document Management — 100
• Employee Engagement — 97
• Payroll Management — 97
• Employee Onboarding and Administration — 97

Top Benefits

• Get AI-Driven Employee Insights: Enhance your employee management with AI-based insights to elevate performance, address concerns and foster organizational retention.
• Save Money: Gain a deeper understanding of risk factors and proactively reduce high turnover costs.
• Boost Accessibility: Empower employees with secure, mobile-friendly access to personal and financial information. Utilize robust security features, including touch and face ID authentication, push notifications and real-time data synchronization.
• Optimize Employee Support: Streamline internal service processes through automation and empower employees with self-help resources. Save time as employees find answers independently, reducing reliance on extensive support and improving overall efficiency.
• Simplify Decision-Making with Data: Harness the power of data and predictive analytics features for well-informed decisions in hiring, promotions and employee retention.

Primary Features

• InTouch DX: Enhance your time and attendance processes b offering employees flexible and real-time access. Standout features include customizable configuration options, real-time data updates, user-friendly touchscreen interfaces, intelligent native capabilities and seamless integration with multiple readers.
• Succession Management: Leverage intuitive talent evaluation features, predictive analytics and robust reporting capabilities to nurture and develop your workforce effectively.
• Document Management: Optimize your document management, creating a centralized repository for employee documents. Implement secure access through role and type-based permissions, ensuring automatic employee information population into template docs for enhanced efficiency and security.
• Performance Management: lean valuable individual and team performance insights with dashboards, automated reviews, goal-setting features, achievement ratings and real-time feedback.
• Compensation Management: Utilize salary planning, customizable compensation plans, merit rules and powerful analytics. Support achievement targets through units, flat amounts or a percentage of base pay for a comprehensive and flexible approach to compensation.

Limitations

• Steep learning curve due to a tedious interface.
• Clunky and confusing UI interface.
• Slow and limited customer service capabilities.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• AI-Based Dashboard View — Not supported
• Mobile Recruiting — Not supported
• AI-Based Benefits Advisor — Not supported
• Benefits Scenario Modelling — Not supported
• Mobile Benefits Access — Not supported

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Oracle HCM Cloud

Oracle HCM Cloud offers a comprehensive suite of HR functions, including talent management, workforce management and AI capabilities, focused on streamlining HR processes to ensure compliance and grant managers access to workforce directories, employee profiles, time monitoring, employee experience and skill alignment.

Its self-service portals automate workflows, cutting down manual effort and errors. With mobile accessibility, HR information and services are accessible anytime, enhancing flexibility and agility. The solution’s workforce modeling and organizational charts contribute to businesses staying competitive in dynamic environments.

It empowers talent managers to create talent-rich applicant pools, attract and retain high-quality hires and effectively execute employee engagement practices.

What Users Like:

• Intuitive UI, making it easier to learn and use
• Access the employee portal and self-service features anywhere

What Users Like:

• Time-consuming customization
• Delays with the UI

Analytics and reporting module at Oracle HCM Cloud. Source

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Succession Management — 98
• Employee Self-Service — 98
• Reporting and Dashboard — 97
• Applicant Tracking and Recruiting — 97
• Payroll Management — 96

Top Benefits

• Adaptability: Adapt and respond effectively to evolving needs with workforce modeling and organizational charts to constantly stay competitive.
• Enhance Decision-Making: Leverage AI technology for intelligent insights, personalized learning suggestions, role recommendations and valuable predictions for better-informed decisions.
• Improved Employee Engagement: Boost employee engagement and productivity using digital assistants, conversational UI, self-guided transactions and intuitive workflows.
• Effective Change Management: Use predictive analytics to enable quick and effective data modeling and reporting tools to optimize operations.

Primary Features

• Employee Self-Service: Facilitates more independent access to and management of employees’ personal information, benefit enrollment portals, absences and leave requests, reimbursement and pay slips and total compensation details.
• Employee Lifecycle Management: Provides access to core HR app capabilities to support the employee lifecycle — including hirings, ongoing management details and terminations. Ensure compliance with legislation and integrate global best practices for comprehensive workforce management.
• Talent Management: Access a range of tools and dedicated support throughout the entire talent lifecycle, from recruiting ideal candidates to nurturing growth, employee development and succession planning.
• AI Support: Leverages AI and data-driven functionalities to enhance candidate pool quality, increase employee engagement, reduce time-to-hire and optimize inter-organizational processes.
• Optimize Workforce Management: Cultivate an agile workforce with seamless time and labor tracking, efficient payroll calculations, handy risk and compliance management tools and cost control functionality.

Limitations

• Oracle cloud data is inaccessible to third-party tools like Power BI.
• Lacks Oracle Consulting Services integration.
• Integration and data extraction can be challenging.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• AI-based Benefits Advisor — Not supported
• Automatic Leave Request — Not supported
• Benefits Plans Recommendation — Not Supported
• Multiple Appraisal Cycle — Not supported
• Penalty Alerts — Not supported

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Dayforce

Dayforce is a cloud-based, unified HR app suitable for businesses of all sizes. It integrates major HR components, like benefits administration, talent management and workforce management, to manage employee lifecycles efficiently and improve engagement through personalized coaching and workforce analytics.

The mobile app enables users to effortlessly access and manage data anytime, anywhere, providing employees and managers the flexibility to view and update information even beyond office confines. Additionally, the app facilitates easy employee time recording.

Dayforce also provides professional services, payroll tax filing and standardized implementation processes.

What Users Like:

• User-Friendly UI
• Easy to clock in and out
• Regular app updates/enhancements
• Ease of mobility viewing earnings

What Users Don’t Like:

• Challenging to edit time on the app
• Cumbersome process of entering and submitting information when updating Federal withholdings on the app
• Some app users had to reset their passwords frequently to clock in and out

Workforce analytics by Dayforce. Source

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Succession Management — 100
• Employee Engagement — 100
• Reporting and Dashboard — 100
• Workforce Management — 90
• Compensation Management — 88

Top Benefits

• Boost Engagement: Empower managers to monitor daily employee engagement efficiently. Use the TeamRelate tool for personalized coaching and valuable communication styles and motivators insights, ensuring a dynamic and motivated workforce.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Track essential inter-organizational indicators, helping HR pros closely monitor location and age-based turnover trends and stay ahead of the curve.
• Accuracy: Integrate time and pay seamlessly, eliminating common payroll processing errors. Continuous calculation ensures administrators can access data during pay periods, allowing easier verifications, reviews, audits and real-time updates.
• Enhance Information Accessibility: Enable decision-makers with seamless access to comprehensive employee records, including compensation levels and performance metrics. Centralized storage ensures consolidated data, streamlining decision-making processes.
• Optimize Time Management: Elevate employee time tracking with streamlined tablet-based clock solutions and a user-friendly mobile app for convenient and efficient attendance management.

Primary Features

• Core HR: Access comprehensive coverage for all core HR requirements — document management, standard and customized dashboards, employee self-service (ESS) and reporting and analytics.
• Talent Management: Manage every phase of an employee’s journey, from recruitment to learning and development to succession planning. Facilitate faster onboarding, holistic performance tracking and effective budget planning.
• Payroll: Streamline tax management, employee verification and data entry, including rare retroactive payments. Access insights via dashboards and leverage reporting tools for seamless payroll reconciliation. It also supports global payroll requirements.
• Benefits Administration: Simplify employee coverage enrollment. Administrators can access enrollment totals, a comprehensive library of qualification rules, on-demand calculations and seamless COBRA management. It also integrates well with numerous carriers and ensures compliance with ACA regulations.
• Workforce Management: Access leave, task management, scheduling, and labor planning capabilities. Receive alerts to prevent overspending, empowering managers to control labor costs efficiently. It also streamlines scheduling, reviewing and pay approval processes.

Limitations

• Limited access to the backend system.
• Lack of visibility or tracking of hours worked per week or pay period.
• Inability to send messages to other associates on the app.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Interview Management — Not supported
• Automated Email Notifications — Not supported
• Lifetime Accounts — Not supported
• Expense Requests — Not supported
• Penalty Alerts — Not supported

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SuccessFactors

SuccessFactors is a comprehensive HR app that handles fundamental HR functions like payroll, compensation and performance management. It also takes care of your strategic initiatives and planning to ensure a competitive edge.

Manage core HR tasks on the go through the mobile app. Employees can access their information and training materials, submit timesheets and request time off. Robust tools like what-if scenarios and ad hoc analysis facilitate informed decision-making, enhancing overall business strategy.

The solution offers cutting-edge AI and machine learning capabilities to address evolving HR requirements. Additionally, its consulting and professional services help you implement integrations and deploy HRMS software more seamlessly.

What Users Like:

• Completely customizable
• Complete performance management, income tax returns and payroll-related tasks all from mobile devices.
• Facilitate performance reviews on mobile phones

What Users Don’t Like:

• Steep learning curve
• Slow UI
• Slow and clunky mobile timesheets

Reporting and analytics by SAP SuccessFactors. Source

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Document Management — 100
• Succession Management — 95
• Applicant Tracking and Recruiting — 95
• Reporting and Dashboard — 92
• Performance Management — 88

Top Benefits

• Enhance The Employee Experience: Provide employees real-time access to overtime, accruals and personal information, facilitating seamless communication with the HR department via tickets, phone, email or chat.
• Unified HR: Uses Employee Central as a connecting hub for various modules, ensuring streamlined and consistent HR processes.
• Get User-Friendly Accessibility: Effortlessly view information, access training materials, submit timesheets and request time off anywhere, anytime via the mobile app.
• Ease Informed Decision-Making: Empower managers with comprehensive multi-departmental insights for data-driven decision-making, incorporating hypothetical what-if scenarios, ad hoc analysis and other valuable tools.
• Address Skill Gaps: Provide continuous learning opportunities to bridge internal skill gaps effectively.

Primary Features

• HR Analytics: Gain valuable insights into company data. Track key elements like performance metrics and turnover rates. Compare organizational benchmarks against peers and analyze HR data extensively.
• Core HR: Save time and simplify employee data management with a single HRIS solution. Engage with pillars of the modern workforce like contractors, freelancers and global employees.
• Payroll: Streamline payroll and benefits administration while ensuring compliance with local and international regulations. The self-service feature enables employees to access their information and make updates.
• Time and Attendance Management: Automate time-tracking, absence management and scheduling to eliminate manual tasks and improve efficiency. Boost accuracy by automating time and pay calculations.
• Learning and Development: Access various learning tools to facilitate succession management and career development components, helping you prepare for the future and foster employee growth.

Limitations

• Lacks AI-embedded capabilities for sourcing activities.
• Occasional employee portal glitches.
• Steep learning curve and challenging main capabilities.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Employee Comments Analysis – Not supported
• AI-Based Workforce Scheduling – Not supported
• Pay Previews – Not supported
• Fraud Protection – Not supported
• Learning Channel – Not Supported

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ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is a cloud-based HR app that handles payroll, time and attendance, talent management and benefits administration, enabling you to manage employee lifecycle complexities efficiently.

Access time and attendance features, benefits data, and more anytime, anywhere with ADP’s 24/7 mobile app for iOS and Android. Streamline mobile time collection through employee scheduling, allowing easy time-off requests and accrual processing. Gain insights into overtime and absences with our analytics and reporting features.

ADP Workforce Now facilitates seamless inter-departmental data syncing, reducing manual entry and data errors. It has multiple protective layers like physical security, intelligent detection, fraud defense and other enhanced security and data privacy mechanisms.

What Users Like:

• Ease of clocking in and out
• Most users said the app is user-friendly
• Schedule PTO time/sick days through the mobile app and view time off balances

What Users Don’t Like:

• Some users experienced a learning curve when manually entering sick days
• Some users experienced timecard errors
• Some users experienced glitches

Payroll management by ADP Workforce Now. Source

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Payroll Management — 95
• Document Management — 94
• Employee Self-Service — 89
• Employee Onboarding and Administration — 88
• Reporting and Dashboard — 88

Top Benefits

• Accessibility: Streamlines simple information management with 24/7 mobile iOS and Android app access, letting your employees access time and attendance features, benefits data, and more seamlessly.
• Seamless Integrations: Integrates with various HR-adjacent apps and systems like Workday, Litmos, ZipRecruiter, TSheets, QuickBooks, Slack and Microsoft Teams, ensuring smooth and seamless data flow.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Provides valuable real-time insights into key metrics, including labor costs, overtime, actual vs. scheduled hours, turnover rate and other KPIs, better driving data-based decision-making.
• Improved Employee Experience: Enables self-service access to pay, benefits, time information and the ability to request time off, view schedules and download pay statements.
• Compliance Tracking: Track and report certifications, licenses and compliance data, ensuring consistent regulatory compliance.

Primary Features

• ADP DataCloud: Access reliable industry data and compare company trends. Predict turnover rates and reveal contributing factors with the Turnover Probability Explorer.
• ADP StandOut: Personalize digital coaching content. Take advantage of 15-minute strength assessments and light-touch check-ins for insights into employee strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• Learning Management: Let employees self-enroll for courses. You can also custom-build or upload training content. It also provides 41 pre-packaged compliance and development courses, course tracking dashboards and publishing and tracking instructor-led training.
• HR Assist: Get federal and state compliance reporting, regulatory expertise, and guidance to ensure adherence. Job description templates and wizards to simplify creating comprehensive and accurate job descriptions.
• Cloud-Based Digital Record Keeping: Search and audit information for efficient data retrieval and monitoring. Securely store confidential company data in the cloud and upload it in batches to streamline adding and organizing information.

Limitations

• Generated reports include terminated employees’ data.
• Can’t share W-2 forms via email.
• Absence of department breakdown for employee time cards and clocks.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• AI in Survey Analysis— Not Supported
• Penalty Alerts — Not supported
• AI-Based Workforce Scheduling — Not Supported
• Automatic Leave Requests — Not Supported
• Feedback Reports — Not supported

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How We Choose Products

Our team of writers and analysts at SelectHub is committed to giving you the best recommendations based on our data. To make our list, products had to meet two criteria:

1. Closely match the topic
2. Earn a top-5 analyst score in our selection platform

Our analyst scores are based on an in-depth research process using primary and secondary sources. This includes SelectHub Analyst Briefings, direct communication with vendors, and reviewing materials such as user reviews, product brochures, specification sheets, case studies, user manuals, and technical documentation.

Our platform’s Scoring Engine processes the research and computes the analyst score. The score also factors in platform settings such as industry and company size.

Learn more about our research methodology and editorial standards

Key Features

Investing in an HRIS application means evaluating what the product has to offer, from customization options to integration capabilities.

While you scope out your must-haves, Keep in mind the importance of your business size because a solution designed for a global enterprise will typically boast a more extensive feature set compared to one tailored for a local small business.

Navigating HR applications can feel overwhelming, especially with similar features. We’re here to help! Use the list below as a general guideline for your search.

Employee Database and Self-Service Portal

A fundamental feature of an HR application is its capacity to manage each employee’s information securely. This database encompasses critical details, including social security numbers, previous employment history, and contact information for every staff member.

The majority of human resource applications facilitate employee self-service. Self-service portals empower individuals to access and update their information, including enrolling in benefits, tracking paid time off, reviewing pay stubs and updating personal details.

Benefits Administration

Many human resource apps have comprehensive features tailored to manage employee benefits efficiently. They assist with 401K enrollment, life insurance policies and healthcare programs, including detailed management of medical and dental plans.

A well-designed benefits management system enables employees to easily compare and select healthcare plans, enroll in a 401K with a few clicks and update life insurance beneficiaries promptly. Empower employees to actively participate in managing their benefits, contributing to a positive workplace culture (and higher employee retention).

Payroll Management

Payroll is indispensable for seamless financial operations. This feature goes beyond managing basic employee salaries, extending its capabilities to handle intricate aspects such as retirement programs, bonus allocations and healthcare deductions.

Streamline the process of direct deposits, providing a secure and convenient means for employees to receive their earnings and handle tax-related responsibilities, ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations.

Time and Attendance Management

From automatic scheduling to optimization, these features enable prompt alerts to employees regarding any scheduling changes while also keeping management informed about insufficient staffing levels.

The employee attendance aspect allows smooth clocking in and out through various methods, seamlessly integrating time reports with payroll processes.

Leave management tracks sick or paid time off accruals and usage, presenting a comprehensive overview of each employee’s leave balance. Managers can receive notifications related to accomplished or missed work goals, fostering proactive management and informed decision-making.

Performance Management

Performance management lets supervisors or managers conduct employee reviews (360-degree, annual, pulse, etc.) and track goals. Dashboards and other visualizations make it easy for managers and employees to view performance metrics.

Recruitment and Learning Management

The Josh Bersin Company and AMS report a record-high average time-to-hire of 44 days. Opting for an HR app streamlines the hiring process and supports onboarding, reducing gaps in employment that hinder productivity.

Applicant tracking system (ATS) tools are a must for streamlining the recruitment process by encompassing social recruiting, interview scheduling, a comprehensive database for storing applicant information, candidate tracking and key metrics like cost per hire. Some advanced products even offer features like the ability to conduct background checks, reflecting the increasing integration of artificial intelligence AI capabilities into the recruitment process.

Once you’ve recruited new talent, it’s time for onboarding, where you can focus on developing a strong relationship with new hires. Effective onboarding ensures a smooth experience, which you can provide through digital forms that support e-signature, automatic placement in required training courses and welcome materials.

Employee learning management is crucial for both new and experienced workers to foster continuous skills development. In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, technological advancements and industry changes require employees to update their skill sets regularly. Learning Management System (LMS) allows managers to oversee training programs that equip new hires with critical job skills and certifications.

It’s also helpful for providing career development and continuous learning opportunities. LMS features include assessments, content libraries, third-party courses, social learning, gamification elements and learning paths.

Compliance and Reporting

This feature ensures necessary compliance documentation for reports or audits. It can be as simple as a preset workflow for standard records (W4s, I9s, etc.) or as complex as a system that handles tax compliance, privacy laws and healthcare regulations like ACA.

Navigate changing labor laws, industry regulations and compliance requirements, preventing legal issues and penalties. Identify and address potential risks in employment practices, proactively mitigating legal and financial risks. Securely store and manage sensitive data, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.

Customizable reporting functionalities allow organizations to generate tailored reports based on specific needs. Reports and analytics on various HR compliance aspects also equip managers with insights for strategic decision-making and policy development aligned with legal requirements and business goals.

HR apps let you analyze various KPIs through visual tools such as dashboards and charts. Training courses completed, headcounts, top performers, budget forecasts and payroll summaries are a few sample metrics you can track.

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Primary Benefits

We’ve looked at what HR apps entail. Now it’s time to see how that translates to real-world benefits.

1. Increase Efficiency

Transitioning to an HR app automates and streamlines various HR processes, eliminating the need for manual data entry. Handle tasks like onboarding, leave management and performance evaluations efficiently with automation, freeing up valuable time for HR professionals to focus on more strategic aspects of their roles.

HR apps also often include communication tools that facilitate seamless collaboration among team members. Features like instant messaging, document sharing and real-time updates promote effective communication within the HR department and between HR and employees. This improved communication not only increases efficiency in day-to-day operations but also contributes to a more cohesive and engaged workforce.

Say goodbye to tedious manual paperwork and the hassle of updating information across multiple platforms.

Expect a learning curve if this is the first HRIS you’ve implemented. Familiarizing everyone with the new layout and features is a small investment for the considerable reduction in the burden on your HR staff, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks.

In the People Managing People podcast episode Remote Management Experiences, HR consultant Sherri Rossi shared how to approach technology:

The biggest thing is communication.…Listen to what your employees suggest would work for them as far as technology and then there’s so many tools. You can use Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Slack, Zendesk, there’s so many. Research what works best for you and your teams.”

Having a system to do the heavy lifting in your weak areas will significantly reduce the burden of responsibility on HR staff.

2. Reduce Errors

Switching to an HR app eliminates the need for paper-based processes, reducing the risk of errors associated with manual data handling. Many HR apps include validation checks that flag discrepancies or incomplete information, prompting users to correct errors before finalizing data entry.

Unauthorized access to sensitive HR data can result in errors, data manipulation, or security breaches. Fortunately, HR apps offer robust access controls and permissions, limiting data access to authorized personnel only.

Manage employees’ timesheets, ensuring precision in hourly wage calculations. By automating intricate payroll calculations, including overtime rates and deductions, the system helps you adhere to predefined rules while minimizing errors. Pull data directly from sources like time-tracking tools, eliminating the necessity for manual data entry and reducing the associated risk of transcription errors.

According to People at Work 2023: A Global Workforce View:

Being paid correctly matters more than ever. Workers simply cannot afford to have their cash flow adversely affected by incorrect or non-payments – and our research shows that this remains a persistent problem. More than four in 10 respondents (43%) say they’re always, often or sometimes underpaid and nearly one in three (32%) regularly experience some other kind of incorrect payment issue, such as a failed payment or an incorrect tax code. If people are repeatedly paid the wrong amount, this could cause real financial hardship, impacting their ability to pay their bills and putting them at risk of getting into debt.”

Rectify (or even avoid) various issues, ranging from minor discrepancies like incorrect employee contact information to more significant errors, like inadvertently adding an extra zero to an employee’s monthly paycheck.

3. Track Data More Easily

We’ve all experienced it: wasting hours or even days sifting through file cabinets for employee forms and scouring email threads for time off requests and approvals.

Keeping your company’s information organized is critical and, in most cases — complicated.

Human resource applications centralize all this information and the tasks surrounding them, making accessing and tracking information more manageable through a single database. Employees can easily find and update their info with a self-service portal added to the mix.

Access to data also simplifies decision-making with features like AI-driven analytics, which provide valuable insights into workforce trends, enabling HR leaders to make informed decisions and implement strategic initiatives that align with organizational goals.

We can’t talk about data without touching on people analytics. McKinsey sums it up, explaining:

Most companies have a lot of data about their talent, but are these being used effectively to drive performance? Not always. People analytics can help organizations separate signals from noise, for example, by understanding whether a given company has a problem with attrition and, if so, whether that’s in certain job families, locations, or for specific types of employees. Ingredients for success in people analytics generally fall into three big categories: data and data management, analytics capabilities, and operating models.”

4. Provide a Better Employee Experience

HRIS applications help your company operate at a higher level. Self-service portals and mobile accessibility contribute to a positive employee experience, empowering staff to manage their information and requests seamlessly.

Additional benefits for your employees are:

• A fast, smooth hiring process from start to finish
• Control over things like benefits enrollment
• Opportunities to hone or expand their skills
• The ability to plan for and pursue their chosen career path
• Individual growth due to consistent feedback

5. Improve Compliance and Risk Management

HR apps with robust compliance management features help organizations stay on top of regulatory changes, reducing the risk of legal issues and ensuring a compliant workplace.

It also helps you tackle compliance with confidence. Ensuring your company is in line with local and national laws surrounding employment and taxes is much easier with a system that performs calculations automatically.

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How To Pick the Right HR Application

Choosing the right HR application is a big decision for any company aiming to optimize workforce management, talent acquisition and employee engagement (among other things). Whether you’re a small start-up or a large enterprise, navigating the vast HR applications can be a daunting task. Use the following steps below to take a strategic approach and streamline your search.

1. Determine Your Needs

• List essential features needed for your organization.
• Consider current pain points and areas for improvement.
• Evaluate the level of automation the application offers.
• Assess how user-friendly the interface is to enhance overall user adoption.
• Evaluate the pricing structure to understand the pricing model and associated costs. Confirm that the pricing structure aligns with your organization’s budget.
• Create your project timeline with important dates and milestones.
• Confirm mobile compatibility.
• Check if the application supports various devices and operating systems.

Check out our free requirements template for further support during this first step.

2. Assess Scalability and Flexibility

• Ensure the HR application can grow with your organization.
• Evaluate its capacity to handle increasing data and user load.
• Evaluate customization options
• Check if the application offers self-service functionalities.
• Assess the ease of use for employees, like accessibility and self-service features to manage their information.

3. Verify Integration Capabilities

• Ensure that the HR app can integrate with other tools and systems used within your organization.

4. Research Your Vendor and Software

• Check customer reviews and industry guidelines and ask colleagues for recommendations to ensure you choose a reputable HR software vendor.
• Inquire about the vendor’s roadmap for future updates.
• Take advantage of free trials and demos to assess how well the application meets your organization’s needs and let key stakeholders try the application before committing.

5. Check Data Security Measures and Compliance

• Assess the platform’s security measures.
• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations (like GDPR and HIPAA).

6. Plan Training

• Check the availability of training resources.
• Assess the level of support provided during the onboarding process.

7. Create Your Implementation Plan

• Develop a phased implementation plan for seamless adoption.

By assessing the specific needs of your organization, considering scalability and ensuring compatibility with existing systems, making an informed choice is less like finding a needle in a haystack.

Use these guiding questions to narrow down your HR app choices and determine what’s the best fit for you:

Is the HR application cloud-based or on-premise?

Determine the deployment model that best suits your organization. Inquire about the advantages and limitations of a cloud-based or on-premises HR application in terms of accessibility, scalability, and maintenance.

What reporting and analytics features does the HR application offer?

Understand how it can generate insightful analytics, customizable reports, and key performance indicators to support data-driven decision-making in HR management.

What is the pricing structure, and are there any hidden costs?

Clarify the pricing model, including initial setup costs, licensing fees, and ongoing maintenance expenses. Additionally, inquire about any potential hidden costs to ensure a clear understanding of the overall investment required.

How frequently does the HR application receive updates, and what is the upgrade process like?

Stay informed about the vendor’s commitment to keeping the HR application current and secure. Inquire about the frequency of updates, the ease of implementing upgrades, and any associated downtime during the upgrade process. Ensure your organization benefits from the latest features and security enhancements.

What is the learning curve for administrators and employees?

Assess the user interface to ensure it is intuitive and easy to navigate. Inquire about the level of training required for both HR administrators and end-users to utilize the application.

How does the HR application handle employee self-service and engagement features?

Evaluate the application’s capability to empower employees through self-service functionalities. Inquire about features like leave requests, performance feedback, and other engagement tools designed to enhance the employee experience.

How does the HR application handle data migration from our existing systems?

Understand how the HR application facilitates the smooth transfer of existing employee data while minimizing disruptions.

The list above is just a starting point. Check out our article on HRIS questions for a full rundown of what to ask before you choose a new system.

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Next Steps

HHR apps play a growing role in how HR tasks get done, giving employees the flexibility they crave and the convenience they need. By carefully evaluating the key features and benefits, you can find the best application to propel your HR operations into the future.

Looking for more guidance on finding the right HRIS application? Check out our free comparison report to find exactly what you need.

What’s the main advantage that caught your eye when using the HR app? How do you think the HR application can help your team while they’re on the go? Let us know in the comments!