The Top 10 HR Management Software

ADP offers a wide range of data processing tools designed for businesses with one employee right up to those with over 1,000. Workforce Now is their all-in-one, mid-market HRMS software that combines payroll, time tracking, benefits management, talent acquisition and HR analytics. The platform is designed around a single database and offers mobile access, enabling HR teams to access all the tools they need from one central location.

Workforce Now enables self-service employee access to payroll information, reducing the number of payment enquiries raised with HR. The Workforce Management features automated timekeeping, attendance tracking and scheduling, as well as configurable workflows, so HR teams needn’t spend time on tedious administrative tasks. The platform also offers branded career sites and progression dashboards to help create a pay-for-performance culture. Employees are made aware of team and company goals, and high performers are rewarded via a merit and bonus scheme. Integrated access to ZipRecruiter also enables more efficient talent acquisition, utilizing ZipRecruiter’s smart matching technology to find the best candidates for open positions. With Workforce Now, HR teams manage all the above via one dashboard driven by a single database. This means they don’t waste time searching for information across multiple locations or re-entering data; data is pre-populated across all workflows after it’s been entered once.

ADP Workforce Now deploys in the cloud and offers lots of useful API integrations with other business applications—not only HR tools, but also collaboration, accounting, and training software. HR teams can sync their other data sources with the Workforce Now database, providing them with one holistic view of their people data. We recommend ADP Workforce Now for mid-sized organizations looking for a comprehensive HRMS software. ADP offers custom pricing, but you can try before you buy with the interactive demo on their website.

BambooHR is a market-leading, cloud-based HRMS software that helps HR teams automate and streamline their people processes. The intuitive platform offers most features that any organization would require in an HRMS, including talent acquisition and applicant tracking, performance management, and reporting and analytics.

BambooHR’s in-built applicant tracking manages hiring processes from application to offer letter, encouraging timely communication with automated alerts and in-system messaging. Onboarding tools gather signatures and distribute personalized New Hire Packets, creating an inviting experience for new starters while reducing the HR team’s paperwork load. The payroll feature set enables HR teams to run payroll, track time off and manage benefits, all from one dashboard. With the performance appraisal features, admins can schedule quarterly review cycles and self-assessments with automated reminders. They can also create and track employee and team goals via the desktop or mobile dashboards.

Each of BambooHR’s features comes with integrated reporting; HR teams can use the analytics dashboard to generate reports into any of their people data in minutes, utilizing BambooHR’s out-of-the-box reporting templates or creating custom reports. Reports are saved automatically and come with built-in e-signatures to help track their movement through approval pipelines.

Finally, HR teams can configure role-based access policies for each feature, meaning all users can only access the data they need, to help ensure the security and integrity of sensitive data.

BambooHR offers numerous open API integrations with other HR tools. Their pricing starts at $4.95 per user per month, and they offer a free trial so you can test it before you invest. We recommend BambooHR to small and mid-sized companies looking for an intuitive HRMS platform that’s easy to set up and use. It’s also a strong option for remote or hybrid-remote teams that want to access their HR data via a mobile app.

CIPHR is an HR software provider that offers an HRMS, payroll management, eRecruitment and onboarding, and a learning management system (LMS). Their solutions combine their own technology with powerful integrations to provide HR teams with the tools they need to support the growth of their employees, and strategic organizational change. CIPHR’s HRMS offers a range of features designed to reduce HR administration and costs, while supporting employee engagement. These include performance management, benefits management, and learning and development (L&D) tracking.

HR teams can customize the CIPHR interface with their own branding, including imagery, colors and embedding social media feeds, to help reinforce company values and encourage employee use of the platform’s self-service functions. Employees can request holiday, enter absence information and update their personal details, streamlining the HR team’s admin tasks. HR and managers can view, verify and report on this data, including Bradford Factor reporting. HR can also create reports into employee performance, based on review data. These can be used to track succession planning and career development, as well as L&D needs. The CIPHR HR platform also enables HR to plan, administer and track their employee training to monitor its effectiveness. This is particularly useful for businesses using the CIPHR LMS. Finally, configurable workflows make day-to-day HR processes more efficient by automating repetitive tasks and sending actionable reminders. Auditable action histories also help mitigate the risk of non-compliance.

As well as a desktop interface, CIPHR offers mobile functionality for both HR teams and employees so they can access data when off-site. Employees can access their core data remotely and request time off; HR and managers can view team data and approve time off. As such, we recommend CIPHR to organizations looking to implement a self-service HRMS that can be used remotely.

Gusto is available via four plans: Core, which focuses on payroll processing at $39/month plus $6/user/month; Complete, which includes more HR features, including talent acquisition, onboarding and time tracking at $39/month plus $12/user/month; Concierge, which includes dedicated support from HR professionals at $149/month plus $12/user/month; and Contractor, which offers unlimited contractor payments and form creation at $6/user/month with no base price.

Gusto offers a range of onboarding features that help new hires feel welcome, while cutting down the amount of time HR teams spend on repetitive admin tasks. HR can easily customize offer letters from Gusto’s template library, and work through the platform’s onboarding checklist to get each starter set up quickly and efficiently. All documents and e-signatures are stored securely in one location, which HR teams can access from anywhere with a stable internet connection. HR teams can also create anonymous feedback surveys and generate visual reports into employee satisfaction. Gusto also offers comprehensive benefits tracking, including health insurance benefits, 401(k), dental, commuter benefits and time-off tracking. HR teams can track all benefits and payroll information centrally, while end users can manage their details via the Gusto Wallet app. Finally, Gusto’s flagship payroll software automatically files both payroll and taxes, automatically updating to reflect changing tax laws to avoid mistakes and ensure compliance.

Gusto is praised for its ease to set up and integrate with a business’ existing infrastructure. The platform offers over 100 integrations with other business productivity apps, including HR, accounting and learning management systems. We recommend Gusto’s Complete package to mid-size businesses looking for an HRMS with a strong focus on talent acquisition, time tracking, benefits management and payroll administration.

monday.com is an HRMS platform that offers talent acquisition and onboarding tools, as well as employee wellbeing and training tools. The solution is available via three plans for business: Standard, for collaboration and optimization at £9/user/month; Pro, for streamlining workflows at £14/user/month; and Enterprise, which offers advanced analytics, integrations and security features for a custom price.

With monday.com, HR teams can customize their workflows to make their day-to-day process more efficient via a simple drag-and-drop interface. HR can also use the platform to schedule performance reviews and generate reports into employee performance, as well as communicate directly and confidentially with managers to offer rewards or further support where needed. Hiring managers can access a detailed overview of their recruitment pipelines and the details of each applicant, including application data and contact details, which are automatically imported from their application. This provides a single source of truth for all open roles, and ensures all applicants receive timely communications, continuing after they start in their new role.

As well as the web- and desktop-based consoles, Monday offers a mobile app that HR teams can use to access data remotely. It also offers integrations with useful collaboration tools such as Outlook, Teams, Zoom and Slack for optimal sharing and collaboration. We recommend monday.com’s Standard package for smaller teams looking to make their HR processes more efficient, and the Pro package for SMBs that want to automate their workflows and need to integrate the system with multiple other business tools.

Namely is an HRMS software designed specifically for SMBs (25-1000 employees). Their intuitive platform offers a range of features, including performance management, employee engagement monitoring, payroll, benefits management, and analytics. Customers praise Namely for its ease of set up and ongoing use, without the need for extra training.

Namely offers a wealth of features to make HR processes run more efficiently. HR staff can create custom workflows and approvals to automate repetitive administrative tasks and schedule reminders, so that all actions are processed on time. The platform also offers reporting dashboards, which HR can use to schedule regular reports or create point-in-time reports as needed. Via the Benefits Administration add-on, HR teams can manage the benefits each employee is receiving. Namely supports dental, medical and vision benefits, spending account integration, 401k savings and insurance policies.

Employees and managers can also use Namely to self-serve their HR needs, such as requesting holidays and performance reviews, and giving feedback. All users log onto the same homepage, but HR teams can configure how the Namely platform looks for each type of user via a drag-and-drop editor, assigning role-based access to keep data secure and ensure all users can access the information they need.

Namely deploys quickly and easily in the cloud and offers lots of integrations with other popular HR providers via an open API, including SAP and Oracle, and well as identity security tools, such as Okta and OneLogin. Single sign-on integration helps keep employees’ most sensitive data secure, whilst ensuring a simple login process for authorized HR personnel to access the information they need. Namely’s pricing starts at $12/user/month, and custom pricing is available on request of a demo. We recommend Namely to growing mid-sized businesses looking for a comprehensive HRMS with extensive employee self-service features.

Oracle is a provider of cloud infrastructure services, database software and cloud applications, offering solutions from performance management to supply chain management, from advertising to customer experience. Cloud HCM is Oracle’s comprehensive HR platform designed to provide HR teams with a single source of truth for their people data. Cloud HCM is delivered via three plans: Help Desk ($4/user/month), Talent Management ($10/user/month) and Global HR ($15/user/month).

Oracle Cloud HCM’s core HR modules include a help desk and digital assistant, which help HR teams triage and respond to help desk queries. The Talent Management modules offer native CRM tools to attract talent via personalized messaging. The platform also helps simplify applicants’ experiences, collecting their application data without them having to create an account, as well as offering self-scheduled interview options, making the process much more efficient and reducing admin requirements for HR staff. From the career development dashboard, HR can build personalized development plans for each employee and track their goals, tasks and outcomes to deliver training or support as needed. The Workforce Management modules include time tracking and health and safety compliance, and the Payroll modules enable HR teams to conduct efficient, compliant payroll across multiple countries. Finally, Cloud HCM’s Analytics modules offer pre-built KPIs and dashboard for quick, visual reporting. HR can also create custom reports extended with third-party data.

Oracle’s cloud-based solution is easy to deploy and highly scalable. It also excels in terms of accessibility; the interface is mobile-responsive and voice-enabled, allowing all users to experience consistent interactions with the platform, no matter on what device they’re working. We recommend Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM as a strong solution for any sized organization looking to streamline their HR processes.

SAP is a global market leader in providing business process management software. Their comprehensive solutions include HR, finance, CRM, business technology and supply chain software. The SuccessFactors Human Experience Management (HXM) Suite is SAP’s suite of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) applications, which give HR teams the tools they need to ensure the success of each of their business’ employees. These include core HR, talent acquisition, workforce planning, employee experience management and analytics.

SAP’s SuccessFactors HXM Suite includes core HR and payroll software, which HR teams can use to standardize their payroll processes and streamline their core help desk capabilities. It also offers experience management features, designed to improve employee engagement by offering flexible survey creation and 360° feedback reporting, benefits optimization, and event-based lifecycle management. HR teams can also use the HXM Suite to improve their recruitment processes with in-built candidate relationship management tools designed to engage prospects and make new hire paperwork completion more efficient. Finally, the solution’s embedded analytics tools use standardized HR metrics to generate reports into any data stored in the HRMS system, so HR teams can use their most up-to-date people data to drive strategic and operational decisions within their organization.

The SuccessFactors HXM Suite deploys in the cloud, making it highly scalable. It’s also a very flexible solution, offering over 300 out-of-the-box integrations with other business process tools, and supporting local legal compliance and best practices in over 100 countries, including payroll support in over 46 countries. As such, we recommend the SuccessFactors HXM Suite to any sized organization looking for comprehensive HRSM that functions well in multiple countries to support a remote or geographically diverse workforce.

In April 2020, Kronos—a leader in workforce management systems—merged with Ultimate Software—an HR and payroll software specialist—to become Ultimate Kronos Group, or “UKG”. Following the merger, UKG have become a market-leading provider of HR solutions designed to meet a variety of use cases. UKG Pro is their flagship HCM suite, offering talent acquisition, performance management, payroll and service delivery.

With UKG Pro, HR teams can manage all their people processes and data from one central location. The Pro Recruiting functionality enables HR to configure recruiting process by job type or location, set up screening questions, create candidate pools and integrate their search with LinkedIn to source talent more effectively. Automated interview scheduling streamlines the process for both HR and applicants. With Employee Voice, HR can leverage survey templates or create their own surveys to generate feedback on employee performance and engagement. UKG Pro also offers integrated payroll features for transactions in US and Canadian dollars. Data is automatically imported for payroll processing, enabling HR to quickly generate payroll documents, track retroactive pay and make post-payroll adjustments, without having to perform complex calculations.

The People Analytics module generates reports into each of the above metrics to help drive growth at a business level, and at an individual employee level. This includes predictive analytics that can help identify and mitigate workforce risks and uncover development opportunities. Finally, HR can use the in-built LMS—Pro Learning—to create and deliver training modules to their employees in line with their set development goals.

We recommend UKG Pro to midsize organizations based in the US, looking for a comprehensive HCM suite for their global workforce. For organizations with a smaller HR or IT department and an hourly workforce, we recommend looking into UKG Ready, their alternative solution that offers a simpler feature set and highly praised customer support.

Workday is a market-leading provider of finance, HR and business planning software that helps organizations solve a wide variety of use cases, from talent management to service automation. Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) is their holistic HR management platform, which offers workforce planning, talent acquisition, learning and development, benefits and payroll administration, time tracking and audit controls.

Workday HCM’s business process framework allows HR teams to create, copy and change workflows without having to consult IT. Workflows can be scaled to a global level, or adapted to meet local requirements, ensuring process are as efficient as possible across all business levels. The reporting and analytics module offers a range of visual dashboards, which HR can custom configure and publish as needed. All data is stored in one system, allowing for more fluid data processing. Using reports into employee performance and skills gaps analytics, HR can drive the development of internal talent or focus on external recruitment. AI-powered skills analytics help identify the most relevant talent, as well as helping existing employees in their professional development.

Finally, Workday HCM is built to support desktop and mobile access, boosting employee engagement by enabling them to access and update their data remotely. This includes self-service benefits enrolment, payroll access and personal time off (PTO), as well as a feature for submitting and requesting feedback.

Workday is particularly responsive to customer feedback and uses it to make updates to their software. An example of this is their enhancement of the Recruiting Hub for easier navigation. We recommend Workday HCM for mid-market and enterprise organizations looking for a comprehensive HCM tool, particularly to help them boost employee engagement. Smaller businesses, however, may find that Workday offers too many features that they might not need, so should consider one of the other options in this guide.