In this article, we will discuss the meaning of HR software, a few tips for selecting the correct HR software, the purpose of using software along the major features and benefits of using it.
So firstly, what is HR software? HR software can be defined as a digital platform that helps business owners, managers and employees to manage their major tasks. The software also helps to carry out different activities, add automation to the activities, and reduce the burden of time-consuming and labour-intensive processes. Traditionally these activities required a lot of paperwork and manual recordings.
Selecting the HR software Selecting the best HR software might seem exciting and joyous but it is difficult and sometimes overwhelming. We now have a few tips that can help you to select the software and what features must it include.
Asking for suggestions
Moving to a new HR system or upgrading to a new one is a big step and can affect every part of your business unit. It can affect every employee regardless of him being an internal or external part of the business. And hence it is suggested to take suggestions of every smallest part of your business before taking such a huge decision. Every person has a different opinion and a team effort can help to make it possible to move to new software.
Opt for a flexible and customizable software
The software you opt for must be able to accept the internal and external changes of your business unit. A flexible software easily accommodates the employees and if it is customizable at the same time, it can meet your policies and activities. The software can be customized as per the requirements and can be made a part of your business.
Check the requirements and pen them
Once you collect all the opinions and data, the next work you need to do is check on the requirements of your business unit that need to be fulfilled with the software. At this point, you need to check how much you wish to pay, what features to need to have, whether you want new hardware or wish to continue working with the older one. These requirements must be flexible as sometimes it is not possible to have everything in a single software.
Opt for the user-friendly system
This is an important thing to be taken care of. You need to check that the software is user-friendly as it becomes easy to be used by the employees. If the software is easy to use, there will be less requirement of training courses and other such help.
Try for cloud-based software
Desktop software is not the only option to opt for. There are numerous options to adopt cloud-based software as it brings a lot of flexibility and real-time working capability to your business. This real-time working saves a lot of time and energy as well as money for your business along with providing real-time accessibility.
All-time access
Make sure that you check the software, whether it provides all-time access to all the users. Regardless of the post and requirement, all the relevant data must be easily accessible by the employees from remote locations to make quick decisions. The easy access also helps the HR teams to access all the data from any devices having internet connectivity.
Check for alternatives
In the time of the internet, it is more likely to face competition and get it difficult to be overcome. You must always take some time and think twice before selecting any software. Have a proper check and make sure that the software meets your requirements, is in your budget and is future proof that can support the expansion.
Purchase self-run software
Many software requires specific implementation and installation process along with a training process. A lot of time and money can be saved by opting for software that can easily be set up by yourself and can be understood by the employees.
Discuss the list of opted software
It is difficult that everyone’s choice is the same and hence one need to discuss all the selected software with the team and select one that is best for the business. A decision made together can help to avoid disappointment and least understanding at a later state.
Give 100% to selected software
The software selection does not end when one software is selected. After selection, the software needs to be installed, implemented and understood to work properly. Also, after installation the software cannot work on its own, it needs some kind of maintenance and support from the employees as well as from the provider’s side. Proper maintenance will lead the software towards success.
Must-have Features
There are a few features and functionalities that need to be looked for in the HR software. Once you select the software as per the above points, the next you need to check the features. Most of the software include basic features and other major features need to be purchased by contacting the provider.
Manage the performance
The software can be used to set reminders and notifications to improve the performance of the employee and managers. The employees are reminded of every major task and meeting that they don’t miss out on. Also, the software can automatically collect feedback and ratings and can generate a report on the team performance easily and quickly without any human interaction.
Automate recruitment process
The recruitment process is long and hectic and recording easy steps of it is necessary as the data can be useful at a later date. The HR software can help to generate the job boards, use templates, has an inbuilt application tracking system, simplify the process of shortlisting and do much more to help you out. With the help of software, one can also send automated invitations to the applicants by email, collect the interview feedback and generate new records for every recruitment process.
Manage employee leaves
One of the best advantages of using the HR software is its inbuilt feature of allowing the employees to request for their leaves online as well as allow the managers to authorize it or decline it. This can help to speed up the activities and remove the manual and labour intensive work of HR to get the leave applications and approve them.
Record exits
The software can automate the exiting process of any employees along with storing the records, generating template letters and help to complete the exit process. The software manages and reports the trends that are the main reason behind employee exit and help to address the critical issues leading to employee dissatisfaction. This majorly helps to reduce employee turnover.
Calculate employees’ working time
The software can automatically coordinate and connect with the working schedules of departments and your organization’s built-in rules. This helps to calculate and record the overtime and extra working of the employees and makes sure that the employees work fixed hours every week and also calculate their payroll accordingly. This helps to avoid staff shortages and improve the productivity of business activities.
Better start to employees
Whenever a new employee is hired, it becomes essential to help him to coordinate with the activities carried out in different departments of your business. A proper explanation of every process can help to provide a seamless and appropriate start to the employee’s journey and their employment with you. The software automates the onboarding process and creates the entire employee record by filling the required data in the selected template. Also, the new employee can be given his training course, IT equipment as well as automatically sent a welcome letter on the first day.
Apart from the selection procedure and required features of HR software, there are a few common benefits that the software providers to all the types of business and their activities. These common benefits include:
Reduced paperwork
The HR software helps to store all the data and automate every task that has to be performed by the HR personnel. This helps to save the time of HR managers and add value to their activities by allowing them to support and spend more time on major activities.
Accurate activities
As every task is followed automatically through the HR software, all the workflows and rules are predetermined and hence the errors tend to minimize compared to the manual traditional activities. The reduction in errors and mistakes help to have better activities and also help the HR department to get more benefits.
Reliable and real-time data
The HR software can collect the data and generate reports with a single click. As it has a centralized database, the software can easily provide you with real-time data. This helps to understand every business trend from employee turnover to recruitment to employee professional life.
Reduced costs
The HR software can automate every process and save time as well as money. The use of software help to work well with fewer HR staff and hence also reduces the employee cost and their payroll.
Conclusion
These were a few of the points that help to select the best HR software as per your requirements. Also, we listed a few features and benefits of using the same. We hope this data was helpful to you.