What is HRIS software?

HRIS is software designed to manage basic human resources functions. It can help HR managers and staff record, manage and track HR information. These HR solutions help automate and streamline three critical pillars of human resource management: time and attendance management, payroll and benefits management.

HRIS is also commonly referred to as an HRMS (human resources management system). It promotes effective human resource management and planning by reducing manual data entry. With HRIS, you can access vital HR data from anywhere with the required authorization.

HRIS is a thorough solution for end-to-end HR management. Since the software manages and stores personal identifying data and tax and banking information, it’s subject to industry regulations.

HRIS software options for your organization

The following software options may provide suitable HR solutions for your organization. Compare the pricing and key features to determine which aligns with your needs and budget.

1. ADP

ADP Workforce collects and automates HR processes in a single dashboard. The software includes critical HR capabilities, such as talent management, time and attendance, benefits management and payroll. Its benefits plan creation wizard works with your company’s onboarding processes. Other capabilities include HR management, human capital management, talent management, retirement and insurance services and benefits administration.

Key features:

• Payroll processing

• Payment options

• Year-end forms

• Payroll tax services

• Accounting integrations

Price: Custom pricing is based on the total users and features with a base fee and a per-employee fee. The plans include Essential, Enhanced, Complete and HR Pro.

2. Bridge

Bridge focuses on managing employee development through learning, skills and performance management functions. You can use it to manage new hire onboarding, compliance training and other learning opportunities, such as a manager training program. 

The reporting and analytics feature helps you understand your ROI for learning programs while tracking participation. The performance management portion lets you conduct reviews, hold one-on-ones and set goals with your team.

Key features:

• Course authoring

• Course catalog or library

• Progress tracking and certifications

• Compliance management

• Learning administration

Price: Bridge offers customized quotes based on three levels: Learn, Learn & Develop and Perform.

3. Built

Built helps you manage the talent within the organization. Its key capabilities include advanced org charts, position management and succession planning. The platform also offers add-ons for other HR tasks. 

Paid time off (PTO) tracking and timesheet add-ons let you manage time easily, and an onboarding option helps you create a digital welcoming process for new team members. Other options include an employee directory, asset tracking and benefit tracking. You can integrate the platform with other apps, including SAP, Workday and Oracle PeopleSoft.

Key features:

• Workforce metrics

• Personalized onboarding page

• Customizable fields

• Customizable reporting

• Color coding

Price: The cost depends on organization size, the needed modules and contract length. A free trial available. 

4. Dayforce

Dayforce is a cloud-based platform with HR solutions for payroll, workforce management, benefits, talent management, human resources, analytics and document management. It provides real-time information about your employees. 

This information may help you hire and retain talent, support work-life balance, administer benefits, manage the payment process, manage employee development and monitor compliance.

Key features:

• Single database and source system

• Job and position management

• Dashboards and predictive analytics

• PTO

• Payroll garnishment

Price: Custom quotes are provided.

5. CommonOffice

CommonOffice lets you create a custom HR portal to organize data securely using encryption and multiple levels of security within the cloud-based platform. The employee self-service feature also gives employees access to certain data. When you hire new employees, you create their profiles and assign access to various features.

The software includes e-onboarding, succession planning, incident reporting and document management.

Key features:

• Real-time reporting

• E-signatures

• Self-service portal

• Personal account manager plus unlimited free training and customer support

Price: The cost varies depending on your needs. Several pricing plans are available.

6. Cornerstone

Cornerstone HR helps businesses operating worldwide manage data with different regulatory guidelines. It offers centralized employee data storage arranged in various silos with automated data management and self-service options. Configurable reports can help you analyze your workforce and make data-driven decisions.

Key features:

• Analytics and reporting to make data-driven decisions

• User record management

• Personalized, automated data management

• Customizable forms

• Easy international management with flexibility for various regulatory bodies

Price: Cornerstone offers personalized demos with custom pricing information.

7. EnterpriseAxis

EnterpriseAxis is a cloud-based SaaS platform that integrates with Microsoft SharePoint. It helps you manage assets, recruitment, operations, data security and payroll administration through a visual dashboard. 

The employee self-service portal includes W-2 forms, company policies and pay stubs and enables users to modify benefits. EnterpriseAxis has recruiting, HR administration, reporting, training/certifications, skills testing and payroll distribution modules. These features are highly configurable and come with strong data security.

Key features:

• Benefits management

• Applicant tracking

• Onboarding

• Marketing tools

• Skills testing

Price: A demo is available, followed by custom pricing.

8. Homebase

Homebase is a cloud-based platform for managing employee timesheets, schedules, payroll, onboarding, time off and performance. It’s a popular option for retail, food service, beauty and wellness services, caregiving and healthcare businesses.

You can manage employee schedules in real time from anywhere. When new schedules are posted, you can inform employees through email or text. Homebase also offers insights into labor costs by tracking employee overtime and hours. Homebase integrates with many third-party apps, such as Square, Clover, Toast, ADP and QuickBooks.

Key features:

• Mobile access

• Salaried employee tracking

• Labor and sales forecast

• Time off and availability management

• Automatic calculations and overtime

Price: The free basic plan is available for one location with up to 20 employees. Other plans include Essentials, Plus and All-in-One for various prices. 

9. HR.my

HR.my includes a self-service portal so employees can view leave entitlements, apply for leave, view application status and check leave records. It also includes a built-in scheduler and planners that allow managers to plan for workforce availability before approving leave applications. HR.my enables users to migrate paper-based documents, such as expense claims and timesheets, to the platform.

Connections and communications with the software are encrypted via industry-standard SSL encryption protocol. The platform allows employers to add limitless employees to their accounts. It also provides access to employee information from anywhere.

Key features:

• Time and attendance management

• Reimbursement management

• Email integration

• Employee database

Price: This software tool is free.

10. HRM Labs

HRM LABS is a Singapore-based cloud solution that uses secure, reliable servers with daily backups. It helps businesses centralize human resource workflows and manage employee records, payroll, inventory, leave and attendance. The system lets you measure workflow and receive notifications about employee working hours.

You can customize the modules to fit your company’s needs. The platform works across various devices, including smartphones and tablets. 

Key features:

• Self-service portal

• Time off management

• Time and attendance management

• HR compliance management

• Performance appraisal

Price: Custom quotes are available.

11. Optimum HRIS

Optimum HRIS offers cloud-based HR management throughout the employee life cycle, from recruitment to termination. The software offers core HR features and capabilities, including payroll processing, time tracking, tax forms and government payroll compliance. 

The centralized database stores employee records and updates them across applications to eliminate duplicate entries. Employees can look up paychecks and PTO balances and update their contact and payroll information via the self-service function. 

Key features:

• Time and attendance management

• Compensation management

• 401(k) tracking

• Wage garnishment

• Tax form printing

Price: The cost is determined by the services you need. Optimum charges a flat rate per employee per month.

12. Oracle PeopleSoft

Oracle PeopleSoft is highly scalable and helps small to medium-sized organizations accommodate growth. The software offers insights into your business transactional operations, and it automates and centralizes core transactions to help minimize compliance issues and costs. Its collection of HR functions may minimize risks, increase productivity and improve performance.

The tool is a comprehensive HR solution that supports benefits, payroll and time and labor. Its centralized data enables users to access vital information on a single platform. Employees can edit personal information, view paychecks and record and review their performance.

Key features:

• Web portal

• Expense reimbursement

• Talent management

• Reporting and dashboards

• User, role and access management

Price: Custom quotes are based on needs.

13. Rippling

Rippling HRIS offers in-house HR solutions. It uses the Employee Graph model to capture data about each employee and gives employees access to their data in other systems and third-party apps.

The Workflow Studio allows for custom workflows to automate processes, including custom triggers to start an action. You can set specific manager permissions to give members of your leadership team access to the data they need. The platform also offers payroll and IT services to support your small business. 

Key features:

• Employee management

• Payroll processing and tax filing

• Identity and device management

• HR help desk support

• Compensation management

Price: Custom quotes are based on the services you need.

14. SAP SuccessFactors

SAP SuccessFactors includes AI-enabled options for HR, learning, recruitment, payroll, workforce planning and other functions. You can add functions to scale easily as your needs change. 

Automated compliance helps you stay current on changing regulations. Its functions include document management, time tracking, application evaluation and onboarding. It also allows you to link employee feedback to operational data, potentially improving user experience.

Key features:

• Recruitment management

• Sourcing and candidate identification

• Time and attendance management

• Organization management

• Learning management system

Price: The cost depends on the number of employees and features.

15. UKG

UKG is a cloud-based talent, HR and payroll HRIS. It incorporates AI and years of data to help you improve your business. For example, it can help you spot pay inequities. AI can also help your employees search for information faster, provides automated recruiting support and helps with self-reviews.

The software includes built-in compliance support. It caters to core HR functions, from service delivery and talent to surveys and payroll. The solution also includes personalized onboarding and recruitment that boosts long-term relationships and role-based access to benefits, personal information and pay.

Key features:

• Workforce management tools

• Talent acquisition and management

• Time and labor management

Price: The cost varies based on the number of employees and the features selected.

16. Workday

Workday HMC is cloud-based with AI-embedded functionality. It helps you control your HR functions, including audit controls, payroll management and global compliance. The software also lets you manage your benefits plans securely and efficiently.

The central source of employee data may help you better understand your workforce and their skills. Robust analytics and reporting features help you make data-driven decisions. The software also gives employees access to specific tasks.

Key features:

• Employee portal

• Reporting and analysis

• Recruitment and talent management

• Workforce management and planning

• Time tracking

Price: The cost is customized.

What to look for when choosing HRIS software

You might consider these factors in choosing employee management software: 

Ease of use

HR software is intended to simplify HR processes, so it’s important to choose a program that’s easy to learn and intuitive to use. 

Time and scheduling

Scheduling and time management tools help you track your team’s schedules and paid time off. Look for HR solutions to create and edit shifts, monitor employees in real-time, inform employees about new schedules and handle PTO requests.

Recruiting and applicant tracking

An HRIS with a built-in applicant tracking system (ATS) helps automate and standardize your recruiting and hiring processes. The system can manage candidate applications, job descriptions, applicant communications, candidate screening and onboarding processes. 

Payroll management

Automating payroll processes may reduce the risk of errors and improve recordkeeping.

Employee interface

HRIS software can offer employees self-service access to their HR information. This may include updating personal information, downloading pay stubs, applying for leave, completing timesheets and viewing performance data.

Reporting

Integrated and customizable report creation can help you easily analyze crucial workforce metrics, such as turnover, compensation history, performance data, compliance and training history, and support data-driven decisions.

Mobile application

A mobile application gives authorized employees access to HR functions from anywhere at any time. It might also improve collaboration between employees. 

HRIS software FAQs

Is HRIS software easy to use?

Most HRIS systems are intuitive and easy to use without in-depth training. When purchasing HRIS software, check user reviews to find options with intuitive interfaces so you can implement the software quickly. 

How does HRIS aid recruitment?

HRIS helps make the recruitment process easier by storing employee data on a single platform. Many options include recruiting and onboarding features that help you manage applicants and new hires. Using employee management software may streamline your hiring processes and automate tasks to save you time.