HR isn’t just a matter of counting hours and sick days, there’s also onboarding, creating workflows, and performance management. An HR software program can make sure you keep those forms filled right so that your data is up-to-date. Let’s talk about what small business owners should look for in an HRIS platform:
Setup
When looking for HR software, consider how complicated the onboarding process will be. Are you going to need a company representative to set it up for you? Is it something that can be done on your own, and learned on the same day? Will you need to carry out a complicated learning process with your employees?
HR software should be easy to set up on your own and should require only a short onboarding process to get everybody up to speed. Look at it this way—HR software is meant to simplify things, not make them more complicated.
Ease of Use
Your HR software should have an interface that is intuitive and you should be able to make updates and add new employees quickly and easily. It should not take long to train employees to use the system, nor should you need any technical expertise to figure out how to operate it. The software should be able to automate, so that you can set up payments, reports, and other necessary functions at regular planned intervals.
Customer Support
Even if you order an HR software that is remarkably easy to operate, there may be times when not everything goes as planned. If you have a problem with the software, you’ll want to know that you have somewhere to turn with questions. Look for a software provider with a reputation for solid customer service and with representatives available through multiple channels, such as live chat, phone, or email.
Reports
Central to the appeal of HR software is how it helps you keep track of the paperwork involved in running a small business. This can include compiling detailed pay stubs for employees, organizing schedule requests and shift management, calculating sick and vacation days, tax calculations and more.
Employee Side Services
To keep things running smoothly, your HR system should have a portal for employees. This will allow them to carry out tasks such as reviewing their pay stubs, going over their work hours, and receiving information regarding their taxes. Enabling employee access to the system saves supervisors time finding the information for them.
Pay Slips
Your HR software should enable you to quickly and efficiently compile and send out payslips for your employees. You should have the option to send these payslips by email or to print them in a format of your choosing. The interface should be dynamic, and allow you to readily make changes to payslips when needed.
Get Your Company's HR Needs in Order
Running a small business means pouring your time, heart, sweat, and tears, into your dream. It also means a fair amount of headaches, some of which have to do with managing your employees. HR software simplifies things, and can make even a small business run with the efficiency of a well-oiled, large business with a dedicated HR department. Now that you know what to look for in HR software, it’s your turn to look at what your company needs, and find the software that fits for you.
Check out our in-depth reviews of the top HR software for more information.