Human Resources (HR) Software

What is HR Software?

Human Resources (HR) software provides a centralized system for managing employees in an organization, such as benefits administration, payroll, performance reviews, PTO, recruiting, and culture management. Usually a core component of Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, HR software can still function as a standalone platform, be it with in-built sub-components for payroll and recruitment management, or through third-party integrations.

HR software offers organizations numerous benefits, which include:

  • Enhancing efficiency and productivity by streamlining processes to free up HR teams for value-added projects,
  • Reducing errors in HR tasks,
  • Improving employee experience and boosting morale with pulse surveys and peer recognition apps,
  • Improving employee development and increasing retention with robust talent management functionalities.

HR software also improves cost savings, ensures regulatory compliance, improves attendance monitoring, simplifies benefits administration, improves data security, and offers valuable metrics for improved decision-making.

Key Features and Capabilities of HR Software

  • Centralized HR Database: HR software offers a centralized database that helps companies consolidate employee documentation in one system for easy access, searching, and auditing.
  • Employee Self-Service: An employee self-service portal reduces the workload on HR teams by allowing employees to manage HR tasks like clocking in, viewing PTO, and downloading tax forms independently.
  • Talent Management: HR software may include talent management features to help companies plan and meet future human capital needs through activities like recruiting and performance management.
  • Onboarding and Offboarding: HR software helps HR teams streamline onboarding and offboarding processes by generating necessary paperwork and providing e-signature capabilities, as well as assisting IT with setting up or decommissioning employee devices.
  • Benefits Administration: A key HR software feature, benefits administration helps companies manage employee benefits (such as health insurance, retirement planning, and stock options) as part of a comprehensive compensation package.
  • Employee Scheduling: HR systems can include employee scheduling tools to help businesses manage employee availability, create shift schedules, and ensure coverage.

Key HR Software Integrations

  • Payroll Software: Integrating HR software with payroll solutions helps organizations efficiently and accurately facilitate salary management, tax handling, and payroll processing for employees.
  • Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Integrating HR software with ATS solutions helps organizations automate the process of finding and hiring quality candidates, including job postings, sourcing profiles, sorting resumes, scheduling interviews, and candidate evaluations.
  • Time and Attendance Software: Integrating HR software with time tracking solutions helps companies efficiently manage employee schedules and time cards by allowing employees to clock in and out from anywhere. This integration also provides managers with tools to review timesheets and ensure compliance with automatic data transfer to payroll.
  • Workforce Management Software: Integrating HR software with workforce management systems helps organizations boost efficiency by streamlining time-consuming tasks, minimizing errors, and gaining detailed insights into their workforce.

Top 10 HR Software Providers

NetSuite / Gusto / APS / SAP S/4HANA / HireRoad / RUN / isolved / Oracle ERP / Paychex Flex / Paylocity

WH Score
9.3
NetSuite
94reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Oracle's NetSuite is the world's #1 cloud ERP solution. This ERP provides over 40,000 organizations worldwide with a modern, scalable, and unified platform to streamline all crucial back-office processes, from financial management and planning, to warehouse and fulfillment, and beyond. With built-in...
WH Score
9.2
Gusto
87reviews
Starting Price:$6 per employee / per month
Gusto offers a modern HR software system that is complete with tools for payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance. 
WH Score
9.0
APS
87reviews
Starting Price:N/A
APS (Automatic Payroll Systems, Inc.) provides payroll and tax compliance services to small to medium-sized companies, and has been for almost 20 years. 
WH Score
8.9
SAP S/4HANA
98reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Developed by the German company SAP SEP, SAP Enterprise Resource Planning software is a robust business management solution that incorporates all operational aspects within an organization under a single integrated system. As of 2015, it is the world’s most widely used enterprise application s...
WH Score
8.9
HireRoad
19reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Inquisiq LMS is an award-winning learning management system built to meet the needs of a rapidly-changing, highly competitive workforce. A mobile-friendly platform that’s designed to fit any budget, Inquisiq LMS carries no set-up fees and amazingly flexible payment options. It can be tied to a...
WH Score
8.9
RUN
74reviews
Starting Price:N/A
RUN, powered by ADP, is a web-based payroll solution tailored to the payroll needs of small businesses. RUN can integrate with multiple third-party accounting software and human resource management services from ADP to give you a full spectrum of features and tools you need to manage everything from...
WH Score
8.9
isolved
119reviews
Starting Price:N/A
isolved is the most-trusted HCM technology leader, providing the best combination of software and services to meet the needs of today’s People Heroes – HR, payroll, and benefits professionals. 
WH Score
8.9
Oracle ERP
152reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Oracle ERP represents one of the globe’s leading enterprise software organizations. They have built a sophisticated portfolio of business software applications through high-profile acquisitions. The company is well-known for its strengths in the database, and infrastructure systems. It offers ...
WH Score
8.8
Paychex Flex
13reviews
Starting Price:$5 per employee / per month
Save time and improve payroll accuracy. Paychex makes it easier to enter employee hours, calculate payroll taxes, and keep up with wage and hour laws – without taking time away from your business.
WH Score
8.8
Paylocity
65reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Paylocity is a cloud-based payroll and human capital management (HCM) software for small to mid-sized businesses. It offers a comprehensive suite of HR tools to streamline HR processes, improve employee engagement, and support business growth. 
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