Top human resources software programs

Human resources software has become a must-have tool for businesses of all sizes to manage employee payroll, benefits, scheduling, and training. Explore the benefits of these programs and learn more about some of the most popular options on the market.

What are human resources software programs?

Human resources software, also known as HR software, can automate some of the tasks HR professionals regularly complete. For instance, these programs can help with recruiting new team members, running payroll, managing benefits programs, and maintaining and organizing employee data.

Many businesses are drawn to these programs because of their user-friendliness. HR software simplifies HR processes to make payroll processing and other tasks accessible to people with all levels of HR expertise.

Still, HR software can't necessarily replace HR specialists, who have in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of payroll and tax regulations and calculations.

While not typically required to use HR software, industry-recognized certifications can demonstrate your understanding of basic and complex HR processes, which could make you more competitive in job searches. Two common certifications are SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP, both of which are issued by the Society for Human Resource Management, with the former being for Certified Professionals and the latter being for Senior Certified Professionals.

Some employers might also look for candidates with experience using a specific HR program.

How human resources software programs streamline business processes

The main focus of human resources software is to optimize routine HR processes, like running payroll and organizing employee records. But features like compliance checks, data analytics and reporting, digital document storage, and automated payroll and tax deduction processing can also ensure accuracy and compliance within HR departments.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is behind many of the processes today's HR software is responsible for. For example, AI in HR software can analyze your sales and labor costs to predict future scheduling needs or comb through your payroll to catch potential inaccuracies.

These automated processes save HR specialists time, allowing them to focus on tasks requiring more specialized skills and attention, like conflict resolution or designing employee training programs.

Employees can also benefit from self-service portals to access their pay stubs, request time off, view their schedules, or update their personal or tax information.

Which human resources software programs are often used?

ADP

Perhaps the most widely known name in HR, Automatic Data Processing (ADP) offers HR software based on business size, allowing small to large organizations to customize their payroll, tax, and benefits features. Plans feature self-service platforms for employees, nearly 200 financial reports, and automatic tax liability calculations.

BambooHR

Founded in 2008, BambooHR is a cloud-based HR solution designed to keep payroll and benefits simple for HR professionals and employees. The company offers two plans, each with benefits tracking, hiring, onboarding, and HR reporting. The Pro plan adds performance management features to track employee feedback and performance.

Deel

Deel is a payroll and compliance platform designed for remote and global teams. In addition to employee and contractor payroll and workforce management, Deel provides salary insight tools, guided entity setup, and in-house expert guidance on tax and benefit regulations.

Gusto

Gusto is an all-in-one HR platform with payroll, benefits, and compliance tools, like time-tracking software and tax filing. It's a go-to option for companies working with contractors, providing onboarding and seamless payments to global contractors.

Paycor

Paycor provides HR services to more than 50,000 U.S. businesses. Its human resources software goes beyond payroll and benefits management, offering automation and advanced analytics to enhance decision-making, recruiting, and talent management.

Rippling

Rippling is a workforce management system combining HR, information technology (IT), and finance management. Its HR management software offers smart scheduling to reduce labor costs, repeatable recruitment workflows, and an employee feedback system.

Workday

Numerous global companies choose Workday to manage employees across continents while complying with their local regulations. Workday's unified HR system integrates compensation, organization, and benefits management and provides data-driven insight to help companies determine what skills matter most to their operations.