Onboarding has become a clear differentiator for companies looking to gain a competitive edge in today’s modern business world. In addition to attracting talent and boosting engagement, effective employee onboarding is vital for organizations to quickly and efficiently set their new hires up for success. 

As it stands, 61% of employers are struggling with employee retention, and 73% are having difficulty attracting talents. However, as noted in PR Newswire, “82% of employers have seen improvement in retention with a strong onboarding process. Re-imagining the onboarding experience is critical for success”. 

It is clear that to adapt to this changing landscape, businesses must make changes to their attraction and retention strategies, specifically the onboarding process. Thanks to employee onboarding software, HR teams can leverage technology to streamline and perfect their onboarding processes, and help retain your top talent while you’re at it.

What is Employee Onboarding Software?

Employee onboarding software is a digital solution designed to automate and optimize the onboarding process for new hires. It replaces manual paperwork, administrative tasks, and email exchanges with a centralized platform that seamlessly integrates multiple aspects of onboarding, such as document management, task tracking, compliance training, and employee communication. 

Simply put, employee onboarding software facilitates a smoother onboarding experience, reduces administrative burden, and improves overall efficiency.

Core Features and Functions of Employee Onboarding Software

Before diving into the evaluation process, let’s take a closer look at the core features and functions typically offered by the best employee onboarding softwares:

1. Document management

Modern onboarding software allows you to digitize, store, and access essential documents, such as employment contracts, tax forms, and company policies. This feature ensures easy access, eliminates paperwork, and enhances data security.

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2. Task automation and tracking 

Onboarding involves a series of tasks and deadlines. Employee onboarding software automates task assignments, sends reminders, and tracks progress, ensuring that no crucial steps are missed during the onboarding process.

3. Compliance and training

Compliance training is a critical part of onboarding. Onboarding software can provide a platform to deliver training modules, track completion, and generate compliance reports. This feature ensures that new hires are well-versed in company policies, regulations, and safety procedures.

4. Employee communication

Effective communication is key to successful onboarding. Employee onboarding software can facilitate seamless communication between new hires, HR personnel, managers, and team members, helping create an environment of collaboration and engagement.

Benefits of Adopting an Employee Onboarding Software for Your Business

Implementing an employee onboarding software can bring a wide range of benefits to your organization, facilitating an engaging and memorable onboarding experience for your new hires. From streamlining processes to enhancing compliance and improving the overall employee experience, here are the advantages you can expect:

Manual onboarding processes are time-consuming and prone to mistakes. Onboarding software automates tasks, reduces paperwork, mitigates human error, and streamlines the entire onboarding process, saving valuable time and increasing efficiency.

Enhanced compliance

Compliance with legal requirements and internal policies is crucial. Employee onboarding software ensures that new hires receive the necessary training, complete mandatory forms, and comply with regulations, thus reducing compliance risks. Automated reminders and task follow ups facilitate increased diligence and help ensure all training and paperwork is completed by their assigned deadline. 

Improved employee experience

A positive onboarding experience sets the stage for long-term employee engagement. With onboarding software, new hires feel welcomed, supported, and informed from day one, leading to higher satisfaction and retention rates.

Data centralization

Employee onboarding software stores all onboarding-related data in a centralized location. This enables easy access, simplifies auditing, and offers valuable insights for process improvements.

Free Employee Onboarding Tools

employee onboarding software

While you’re looking for the best employee onboarding tool, it’s worth considering low-cost options available on the market. Some software providers offer free versions of their tools, which can be suitable for small businesses or organizations with limited onboarding needs. 

For templates and guides to refer to as you develop your own onboarding process, check out the resources Omni has to offer to help equip your team with the tools they need to run a comprehensive onboarding process.

  • New Hire Training Plan Template
    Kick off your new hire experience with consistent and relevant training programs to provide your new hires with the training and onboarding they need to be successful in their role.
  • 9 Professional Employee Onboarding Email Templates 
    Utilizing employee onboarding email templates makes sharing information with new hires and ensuring they feel welcome easy, and helps reduce the overwhelming nature of an employee’s first days at a new job.
  • The Comprehensive 30-60-90 Day Plan Template
    Maximize employee productivity and identify goals with our customizable template for the first 30, 60, and 90 days of your new hire experience.
  • The Complete Employee Onboarding Checklist
    Consistency is key to the onboarding experience. Our employee onboarding checklist offers a comprehensive framework for your onboarding process, helping you run a smooth and uniform onboarding to boost employee engagement.

When and Why Should You Upgrade to Employee Onboarding Software?

If you’re still using manual onboarding processes or outdated tools, it may be time to upgrade to employee onboarding software. Consider the following situations that indicate the need for a more advanced solution:

1. Your organization is growing 

As your business expands, the complexity of your onboarding processes should increase. With a growing number of new hires, departments, and locations, manual onboarding becomes overwhelming and inefficient. Employee onboarding software provides the scalability and flexibility needed to handle a larger workforce and streamline the onboarding experience.

2. Increasing compliance requirements

Compliance regulations are constantly evolving, and staying up to date can be challenging. Employee onboarding software helps ensure that your organization remains compliant by providing standardized training modules, tracking completion, and generating compliance reports. This reduces the risk of non-compliance and potential penalties.

3. Onboarding a remote workforce

With the rise of remote work, onboarding employees who are geographically dispersed is a logistical challenge. Employee onboarding software enables seamless communication, document sharing, and training delivery regardless of physical location, ensuring a consistent onboarding experience for all employees.

4. Enhancing employee experience

Your employee’s experience during their onboarding sets the tone for their entire journey with your organization. Outdated or inefficient onboarding processes can leave new hires feeling disengaged and undervalued. Employee onboarding software provides a modern, user-friendly interface that enhances the onboarding experience, promotes engagement, boosts employee morale, and ultimately has a long-term positive impact on employee retention.

How to Choose the Best Employee Onboarding Tool for Your Organization

Now let’s evaluate and choose the best employee onboarding tool for your organization. Consider the following questions when you’re deciding which onboarding software is right for you:

Does it meet the needs of your organization?

Start by identifying your organization’s specific onboarding requirements. Consider the number of employees, onboarding process complexity, integration with existing systems, and any unique compliance or industry-specific needs. Also, ask whether the software you’re considering provides sufficient analytics and reporting capabilities to gain valuable insights and measure the effectiveness of your onboarding process. This will help you narrow down the options and focus on solutions that meet your specific needs.

Does it have a user-friendly interface?

Employee onboarding software should be intuitive and easy to navigate for both HR teams and new hires. Look for a tool with a clean, user-friendly interface that requires minimal training and allows for a seamless onboarding experience. A visually appealing and well-organized interface enhances the user experience and reduces the learning curve, facilitating seamless onboarding.

Does it integrate with existing systems?

You’ll need to evaluate how well the employee onboarding software integrates with your existing HR systems, such as applicant tracking systems (ATS), human resource information systems (HRIS), and learning management systems (LMS). Proper integration eliminates data silos, minimizes duplicate entry, and improves data accuracy.

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Is it customizable (and will it scale?)

Every organization has unique onboarding requirements. Consider whether the onboarding tool you’re interested in allows customization that enables you to align with your organization’s branding, policies, and culture. The ability to tailor workflows, templates, and forms ensures that the onboarding process reflects your organization’s unique identity. Also, evaluate the scalability of the software and make sure it’s able to keep up with your organization’s future growth and evolving onboarding needs.

Does the platform offer support and training?

Consider the level of customer support and training offered by the software vendor. Look for providers that offer responsive customer support, comprehensive documentation, and training resources to ensure a smooth implementation and ongoing support.

Employee Onboarding Software Revolutionizes Employee Engagement

Employee onboarding software represents a significant shift in how organizations approach the onboarding process. By leveraging technology to automate tasks, streamline workflows, and enhance communication, this software revolutionizes employee engagement from the very beginning of an employee’s journey. New hires feel supported, connected, and empowered, leading to increased productivity, satisfaction, and retention.

Omni makes it easy to recruit, onboard, and guide your employees with secure information storage, automated communications, and fully customizable employee profiles that amplify your employee brand and ensure an accurate and efficient onboarding experience.

With seamless integration with your favorite employee management tools, Omni makes it easy for employees and HR teams to interact with our system with minimal training required. 

Get ready to create a remarkable first impression with Omni’s superior onboarding experience. Whether your new hires are in-office or remote, Omni enables you to craft a modern, virtual onboarding journey that amplifies your employer brand and leaves a lasting positive impact.

Ready to end the headache of manual onboarding practices? Download our free tools to get started, or if you’re ready to take it to the next level,

8 Reasons Small Businesses Need an All-in-One HR Software

Human Resource departments are essential to creating high functioning businesses. From engaging employees to identifying and recruiting top talent, the role of HR is vast. And within a small business, the effectiveness of each department is felt strongly across the business.

HR professionals know better than anyone, administrative tasks are an essential yet time consuming component of People management. Particularly among small businesses, automating and digitizing administrative functions can free up valuable hours, where time is often a scarce resource, for your small team to focus on strategic matters that help drive business results. HR solutions for small businesses provide an easy-to-use, integrated platform that can help simplify and streamline your day-to-day tasks and workforce management. 

Here, we examine 8 reasons your small business needs an all-in-one HR software to optimize your effectiveness.

What is HR software and why is it essential to small businesses?

Small businesses are often challenged with limited resources, making efficient HR management crucial for success. By investing in an HR software solution, you can automate tedious tasks, such as payroll processing and time tracking. 

A modern HR system for small businesses also integrates with other apps, including accounting and e-learning solutions like these alternatives to Docebo, allowing you to benefit from improved accuracy across multiple functions.

What are the benefits of using HR software for your small business?

Here are some key benefits of using HR software for your small business. 

1. Efficient administration

You can streamline routine administrative tasks, such as updating employee records, evaluating job performance, and managing benefit programs. And when you integrate it with LMS software, you can track attendance records, training completion dates, and vacation requests. 

With the integration of HR and different types of LMS software, you can stay organized while providing employees with information on goals, objectives, and career progression.

2. Improved recruitment process

From posting job openings to tracking applicants, HR software streamlines your entire recruitment process. This allows you to make better hiring decisions faster. You’ll also have access to real-time insights into who’s applying for jobs, so you can quickly identify top candidates and eliminate those that aren’t a good fit.

3. Digitized documentation

Software allows you to obtain employee data without the need for paperwork or manual entry. By digitally obtaining and storing this information, you can eliminate data entry errors, reduce the time it takes to seek and obtain data, and create a single source of truth for your employee’s information across your company. Additionally, digital documents such as salary information can be stored securely, so only authorized personnel can access them. 

4. Better communication

According to an analysis by Business Queensland, poor communication can ruin relationships and potentially result in a damaged company reputation and lost sales. 

Fortunately, HR software saves your communication woes by providing tools for collaboration and feedback loops. This helps break down silos between departments while allowing everyone to work towards a common goal. With automatic reminders and task tracking, HR software helps ensure employees stay on top of tasks, deadlines, and other important updates.

5. Real-time feedback

Real-time feedback allows you to identify any issues or problems that may be affecting productivity or morale before they become a problem. Access to employee performance insights provides HR with an opportunity to address concerns with employees early on, and create actionable plans to course-correct.

6. Filing and data management

Employees can easily update their profiles with pertinent information, such as health records or job history. And all documents stored in the software can be organized for easy retrieval and data analysis. 

For HR managers, easy access to data means they can analyze trends and track progress. They can also easily store files, such as contracts, recruitment documents, and performance reviews.

7. Talent management

HR software allows you to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as developing employee engagement plans or training programs that will help create a productive work environment. 

Additionally, its analytical tools enable you to track key metrics like headcount growth or turnover rate. Access to key data allows HR teams important insight to increase employee retention, maintain engagement, and help employees set goals to improve their performance.

8. Employee self-service

Instead of having a one-size-fits-all approach, employees can select from various benefit packages, such as health insurance, dental care, and retirement plans. This gives them greater autonomy over their work experience by customizing their benefits package according to their needs. 

Employees can also view and modify account information anytime without needing assistance from an HR manager or staff member.

Improve Business Performance With Omni

Omni is an all-in-one HR software designed for growing businesses to reach their full potential. Our easy-to-use platform helps you improve employee engagement and efficiency, streamline processes, increase productivity, and save time on administrative tasks for more strategic efforts that drive business results. . To learn more about how Omni can help improve your business functions and liberate your HR team, schedule a demo with our team.

5 Ways Employee Database Software Elevates Your Business

Your HR teams are busy. From performance management, payroll, employee engagement, recruiting, mentorship, to off boarding, there’s no part of a business that doesn’t have some touch point with HR. 

Yet many HR teams are operating on manual systems such as spreadsheets, or even worse, paper trails, to keep track of the various data points for their workforce. These systems may work for 5-10 employees — even if still time consuming — but as your company grows, manual systems present a challenge for scaling businesses. 

Employee database software is a tool often found within HRIS that opens up a world of possibilities for busy HR teams. By digitizing employee records, employee database software allows HR teams to easily communicate across the business, make timely updates to employee information, and access insightful analytics that drive business decisions. That’s not all, employee database software can also automate error prone tasks like payroll processing, performance reviews, and time and attendance tracking, saving your HR team valuable time, and reducing administrative headaches.

Key Benefits of an Employee Database Software

Simply put, employee database software is a tool that allows your HR department to securely store, organize, and manage your company’s employee data and documents. It may sound straightforward, but you’d be surprised to learn all of the benefits employee database software has to offer a business.

employee database software

1. Centralized employee management database

As a HR manager, you have to keep track of massive volumes of data pertaining to your company’s employees. This is made harder when all that data is scattered across multiple spreadsheets and paper documents, making it harder to get the full picture.

With employee database software, you can unify all of your employees’ information into a single database, with complete, searchable and secure files that contain information such as the employee’s personal data, bank details, emergency contact and even records for leave management.

This design creates a single source of truth for your employee data that is easy to access, and streamlined for faster reporting and overall people management.

The cloud-based nature of employee database software also means that not only can you update your employee’s data in real-time, it also ensures that all records pertaining to that employee (such as IT information) are subsequently updated automatically, with perfect accuracy.

It also means that you can access the same employee database from multiple locations. This is useful if your company has established multiple branch offices in different countries, and especially so today, with more businesses adopting remote work arrangements with employees.

2. Highly customizable

The original advantage of manual employee data management was that you could customize your records to track exactly what was relevant to your business. But gone are the days when employee database software offered rigid data fields that left HR either collecting too much irrelevant data or not enough information to support their unique People needs.

Now, many employee database software offer a highly customizable database, in which you can modify each field, from employee information such as visa or vaccine status, to engagement driven initiatives such as birthdays or work anniversaries. With the right employee database software HR teams can gather all of the information they need, and leave out anything that’s irrelevant to their business. Shaping the system to work exactly to support their unique needs.

3. Empower employees with employee self-service portal

With manual HR processes, employees are forced to be dependent on their HR teams and managers to perform simple tasks such as access pay slips or calculate their time off balances, which not only creates additional work for already busy HR professionals, but hinders employees from managing and accessing their benefits — a driver in employee engagement.

Employee database software takes the administrative burden off of HR and empowers employees to access their profiles to manage their benefits and employee information with ease. Self service allows employees to track their leave accruals, manage time off, review payslips, and update information such as addresses or bank details. 

Removing this barrier encourages employees to access their well-earned time off, which helps increase employee engagement and mitigate signs of burnout.

4. Increase employee engagement with key events and heightened communication

Employee engagement comes from various initiatives in your business such as your company culture, onboarding processes, and management styles. While these larger initiatives are huge drivers in keeping employees engaged, building a culture of belonging and making employees feel valued lives in the small gestures just as much. 

Employee database software helps you easily track key events such as work anniversaries and birthdays, and it’s customizable nature means you can track anything from pet’s names to employee’s go-to coffee order. This data may seem inconsequential, but it’s these very details that show your employees that you care. You can leverage your employee database software to easily track and be reminded of these key dates to ensure you’re acknowledging important milestones for your workforce, deepening your culture and employee engagement, and heightening communication between your departments and teams.

5. Leverage HR data analytics

Employee database software provides immense value for your company in how it unifies employee data, and provides a single source of truth into the performance of your workforce.

The system makes it possible to effectively analyze relevant employee data to drive business initiatives, from calculating turnover rates, to tracking employee performance, and assessing personnel budgets, employee database software arms you with the numbers so you can make informed decisions that benefit your organization.

6. Provide visibility into your organizational structure

Last but not least, employee database software sheds light on your organizational structure, making it easier than ever to identify bottlenecks and communicate team structures. 

Through features such as customizable org-charts and team calendar views, employee database software heightens communication abilities and offers a macro view of the inner workings of your organization which eliminates miscommunications and helps drive collaboration.

Considerations for Choosing Employee Database Software

Scalability and flexibility

employee database software

Consider the growth potential of your business and choose an employee database software that can scale with your needs and accommodate your future business or personnel expansion. Flexibility in terms of customization and module selection can be a huge benefit as your company continues to evolve, making room for new data needs while sun setting other initiatives where necessary.

Complete employee lifecycle

employee database software

HR teams know best, the employee lifecycle requires many features. Search for an employee database software that covers the full spectrum of the employee lifecycle, from onboarding to documents and e-signatures, performance management to payroll. By seeking an employee database software that encompasses the full end-to-end employee lifecycle, you can ensure accurate data management without having to patch together disjointed systems that aren’t built to communicate with each other.

User-friendliness and accessibility

employee database software

Employee database software will be used not only by HR and management but also by your employees. Evaluate the user interface and ease of use of any potential employee database software. Look for intuitive navigation, well-designed dashboards, and customizable options that can be easily adopted by your HR team and employees.

Security and compliance measures

employee database software

Pay close attention to the security measures and compliance features provided by an employee database software as it will be holding all of your employee’s sensitive data. Ensure they adhere to industry standards, have data encryption capabilities, and offer secure access controls to protect sensitive employee information.

Integration capabilities

employee database software

Your employees are likely accustomed to the systems and softwares you currently use, and may be reluctant to change if your employee database software doesn’t support those systems. This causes an added strain on both HR and employees. So seek an employee database software that can integrate with other systems or software you currently use, such as accounting software or applicant tracking systems. Seamless integration reduces data entry duplication and improves overall efficiency.

Vendor support

employee database software

Even the easiest employee database software will require an upfront investment to get up and running with your employee data. It’s important to find an employee database software that has a strong support team to aid in the adoption and implementation of the software, offering training and live support to ensure you and your team are adequately familiar and up to speed with the capabilities and functions of your employee database software. Further, some employee database software providers offer free implementation and local support, features that should be considered when determining which software is right for your business.

Streamline Your Business with Omni’s Employee Database Software

A cloud-based employee database software is a powerful tool for unifying all of the disparate employee data scattered across your company. As a single source of truth for employee data, employee database software streamlines your HR processes and makes them more efficient.

By applying data analytics to your employee records stored in the database, you can gain actionable insights that inform business decisions and shape your company culture.

Powering Asia’s fastest-growing, modern companies, Omni’s employee database software scales alongside your company so you can customize and leverage the system to meet your business exactly where you are — as well as where you’re going. 

With a full suite of modules to support every aspect of your business, Omni liberates HR teams from administrative cycles by automating the entire end-to-end employee life cycle — from recruitment and onboarding to employee engagement and payroll and beyond — allowing you to redirect your time to strategic initiatives that drives your business’s growth.

Omni’s intuitive and fully customizable platform integrates with your team’s favorite tools for a seamless and timely adoption. And at only $3/employee/month, you can leverage HR automation to decrease administrative costs.

Book a demo with our team today to learn how Omni can help transform your small businesses HR processes.

5 Reasons to Switch to an All-In-One HR Software

Over the years, technology has transformed the way we live and work, and the HR industry is no exception. With the rise in remote and hybrid workplace models, there is a greater reliance on smart and advanced HR technologies

Moreover, the adoption of all-in-one HR software— also referred to as HRIS has become crucial in streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency in this evolving landscape. It is estimated that there will be a 12.8% increase in businesses adopting HR software from 2024 to 2030.

Whether for a large-scale industry or a smaller enterprise, optimizing workflows and processes should be prioritized. In this context, leveraging all-in-one HR software offers a comprehensive and agile approach to meet the demands of today’s dynamic business environment. Here’s why: 

1. It makes employee management easier

all-in-one HR software

Businesses today are still using excel sheets to handle employee data management. This manual process is extremely time-consuming and potentially exposes crucial information to errors. 

There may be a possibility of accidentally deleting a text in a cell, messing up a formula, or incorrect data entry. These types of mistakes can be costly to the business if it goes unrecognized and unrectified. 

However, with an all-in-one HR software, these can be avoided. There is no need for HR to manually key in information as employees can log in and provide all their information, minimizing the chances of errors.

2. It saves time

An all-in-one HR software helps simplify and automate manual HR tasks, reducing administration time. This allows HR to focus its time on strategic planning and execution. 

For example, managers receive instant notifications for any time-off requests submitted by employees. They can easily review the number of leaves requested, the remaining balance, and swiftly approve or disapprove the requests with a simple push of a button. 

The software also addresses common administrative queries like “How many leaves do I have?” or “Can I have the pay slips in PDF format for the last two months?” Through an intuitive employee self-service portal, all relevant information, including payslips, salary history, and remaining leave balances, is readily accessible. This empowers employees to manage their own HR-related queries seamlessly.

Furthermore, small businesses often invest considerable time in manual payroll preparation. Automating this process enables HR teams to swiftly calculate and review payroll variations, distribute payslips, and generate payroll reports effortlessly. 

3. It improves productivity

An all-in-one HR software boosts overall productivity. By centralizing various HR functions into one platform, the software allows for a streamlined and automated process, saving valuable time and minimizing the risk of errors. 

This efficiency extends to tasks such as payroll processing, leave management, and employee data tracking. With instant access to real-time data, HR professionals can make informed decisions swiftly. Additionally, the self-service features empower employees to manage their HR-related queries independently, reducing the burden on HR teams. 

The streamlined workflow and automation capabilities of an all-in-one HR software frees up time for HR professionals to focus on strategic initiatives, fostering a more productive and agile work environment. 

4. It provides real-time updated data

all-in-one HR software

An all-in-one HR software serves as a dynamic tool in providing real-time and updated data crucial for informed decision-making. By automating various HR processes, employees can seamlessly update their personal records and documents in the employee-self service portal. All-in-one HR softwares are able to maintain an accurate employee database including employee records, attendance, and leave balances, ensuring access to relevant statistics for both current and former employees. 

Preserving employees’ private information, employment contracts, performance appraisals, and other records in a secure, cloud-based database is also an invaluable aspect. Ideally, HR should maintain direct access to these records to respond effectively in the event of a former employee bringing a claim against the organization.

Furthermore, easy-access to current data allows HR professionals and decision-makers to stay informed about the existing status and performance metrics of employees. Real-time updates create a more agile and responsive approach, enabling quick reactions to upcoming trends or potential issues. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also empowers organizations to make timely, data-driven decisions that are consistent with their business goals and adapt to the changing needs of their employees. 

5. It reinforces data security

Efficiently managing employee files, which often contains sensitive and confidential employee information such as salaries, addresses, and social security numbers, has become a challenging task, especially when it comes to complying with data privacy laws such as the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Incorporating data management features into your HR software equips you to meet these demands, thereby addressing the increasing incidents of workplace disputes

With advanced encryption techniques, secure access protocols, and multi-factor authentication, these HR software initiatives safeguard private employee information from unauthorized access. Regular system audits can also be performed to further bolster the security, promptly identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities, as compared to storing data on paper or hard drives that can be easily destroyed in the event of a flood, fire or a ransomware attack that leads to complete data loss. 

In the event of data loss, recovering the data manually is extremely difficult to manage. However, with cloud-based HR software, disaster recovery is a swift and effective process for both the employees and HR. Data stored on the cloud gets backed up and saved in multiple designated locations. Thus, even in times of a system failure or other issues, you can safely restore all information with just a few clicks.

The Versatile HR Software for Your Needs

Adoption of an all-in-one HR software would be advantageous for all stakeholders in the organization. Businesses across various industries and scales are increasingly embracing automation and digitization to maximize productivity. HR software stands out as a pivotal avenue through which corporations are undergoing digital transformation. 

By leveraging a comprehensive HR solution like Omni, you gain access to data-driven insights that empower informed decision-making, as well as seamless integrations that effortlessly connect with your existing employee favored systems, making your entire engagement process more efficient and modern.

With a full suite of modules to support every aspect of your business, Omni’s platform offers an intuitive and fully customizable platform that integrates with your team’s favorite tools for a seamless and timely adoption.

If you’d like to learn more about how Omni’s all-in-one HR software automates the entire end-to-end employee lifecycle,

HR automation can bring significant benefits to not only HR departments but the organizations and employees they serve. Relieving HR from the burden on repetitive administrative tasks can lead to more strategic problem solving, higher employee engagement, and higher profitability. But many CEOs and leadership teams are disconnected from the benefits and necessities of HR software.

Pitching HR software — also referred to as HRIS — to leadership requires a well-structured approach that effectively communicates the benefits, value, and potential return on investment (ROI) of implementing HR automation to adequately communicate and convince stakeholders to make the investment. 

We’re breaking down exactly how to go about pitching HR software to your leadership team to get you one step closer to leveraging HR automation to power your People operations.

Preparing for Pitching HR Software

If you’re going to be successful in pitching HR software to your higher-ups, you’re going to need to prepare. Let’s break down the preparation process for pitching HR software.

Understand the needs and pain points

Before approaching leadership, it’s crucial to have a deep understanding of your organization’s HR needs and pain points. Identify areas where your current HR processes can be improved and determine exactly how HR software can address those challenges. Consider aspects such as talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, training, and compliance.

Common benefits of HR automation

Let’s look at some specific benefits of HR automation to get you started.

Talent acquisition

HR automation software helps streamline talent acquisition efforts by compiling and scanning resumes to aid in the initial screening process. With application tracking systems (ATS), HR can easily manage incoming inquiries and engage with prospects in one platform, helping source the best talent for the role.

Onboarding

Onboarding is a huge driver of employee engagement. HR software brings consistency and efficiency to the onboarding process with customizable templates, automated training progress trackers, and robust employee profiles to easily integrate new hires into the organization’s various workstreams.

Performance management

Performance management system software utilizes HR automation to facilitate goal setting, performance reviews, feedback and communication, and tap into performance metrics and analytics, helping HR and management drive performance and nurture employee growth. 

Employee engagement

HR software supports consistent and in-depth onboarding programs and highly targeted performance reviews, which helps drive engagement among employees. With additional tools like employee-self service, which help employees better utilize their benefits such as paid time off, employees are empowered to manage the benefits that are effective engagement and retention tools for your organization.

Training and compliance

HR software allows HR and managers to closely monitor training programs as well as send automated reminders to ensure training is completed in a timely manner, helping ensure compliance. Data collection and analytics helps ensure payroll is run accurately, and sophisticated data privacy keeps organizations compliant with current regulations.

pitching HR software

Research and select the right HR software

Conduct thorough research before pitching HR software to identify program solutions that align with your organization’s specific needs and objectives. Consider factors such as functionality, scalability, user-friendliness, integration capabilities, data security, cost, and customer support. Prepare a shortlist of a few software options that best meet these criteria to present to leadership.

Quick guide to choosing the right HR software

  • Ensure the software has all of the features you’re looking for.
  • Evaluate data security measures and customer support.
  • Request demos and trials to experience the software firsthand.
  • Check for compatibility with existing systems and ease of implementation.
  • Consider the software’s cost and potential return on investment.
  • Seek recommendations and reviews from trusted sources.


For a deeper dive into how to choose the right HR software for your business, check out our previous blog!

how to choose the right HR software for your business

Quantify the benefits

To ensure effectiveness in pitching HR software to your leadership team, quantify the benefits it can offer. Focus on the potential ROI, time and cost savings, improved productivity, enhanced data accuracy, increased employee engagement, reduced turnover, and streamlined compliance processes. Use statistics, case studies, and industry benchmarks to support your claims.

Pro tip: when scheduling a demo with prospective HR softwares, prepare a list of questions that will reveal these data points to help you gather the necessary information to quantify your benefits.

Craft a compelling pitch

To state the obvious, pitching HR software will require you to develop a persuasive pitch that highlights each of your shortlisted HR software’s features and benefits. Keep the following elements in mind while crafting your pitch:

Executive summary: Start with a concise overview of the HR software solution, emphasizing its potential impact on your organization.

Problem statement: Clearly articulate the current challenges and pain points faced by your HR department, highlighting the consequences of inaction.

Solution description: Present the HR software as the solution to these challenges, explaining how it addresses each pain point and supports HR process improvement.

Benefits and ROI: Demonstrate the quantifiable benefits and ROI of implementing the HR software, emphasizing the positive impact on the bottom line.

Implementation plan: Outline a high-level implementation plan that includes timelines, required resources, and potential risks or obstacles.

Cost analysis: Present a cost breakdown that includes software licensing, implementation costs, ongoing support, and potential savings from process efficiencies.

Demonstrations and testimonials: Whenever possible, provide live demonstrations of the software and include testimonials from other organizations that have successfully implemented it. For example, Omni’s customer case stories serve as a useful tool to demonstrate the real-life benefits of our software.

Pitching HR Software to Leadership

pitching HR software

Customize your pitch

Tailor your pitch to the specific needs and interests of each leadership stakeholder. Highlight the aspects that are most relevant to their role and address any concerns or objections they may have. For example, the CFO may be interested in cost savings, while the CEO may focus on strategic alignment and long-term benefits.

Anticipate and address objections

Anticipate potential objections or concerns and prepare well-reasoned responses. Common objections may include budget constraints, implementation complexity, data security, and resistance to change. Address these objections by providing relevant information, case studies, and testimonials that alleviate their concerns.

Follow-up and seek feedback

After pitching HR software, follow up with your leadership team to gauge their level of interest and address any additional questions they may have. Be proactive in seeking feedback and refining your pitch based on their input.

Pitching HR software to leadership requires a comprehensive understanding of your organization’s needs, a well-crafted pitch, and the ability to effectively communicate the benefits and ROI of the software. By following this guide and tailoring your pitch to your specific stakeholders, you can increase the likelihood of successfully obtaining leadership buy-in for implementing HR software.


If you’re in the process of determining the right HR software for your organization, book a call with our team to learn how Omni can help automate your HR processes and drive business results.

Small businesses often operate within a leaner budget and smaller teams, making each decision and movement in the company have a higher impact on the overall success and trajectory of the business.

As the business world continues to recover from Covid-19 and the Great Resignation, it’s more important than ever for HR professionals and managers to invest in their People management practices to ensure higher retention, engagement, and productivity from their teams. 

All in one HR software — also referred to as HRIS — offers a number of benefits to small businesses such as improved employee happiness, streamlined workflows, and great performance management (to name a few).  As it is, studies have shown HR automation can decrease administrative costs by 30% for HR professionals and 49% for employers.

Which is why understanding exactly what to look for in HR software for small business is so essential to building a thriving workforce. 


Here, we examine why it’s important to consider HR software for small business, as well as what it takes to determine the best HR software for small business, including key features, benefits, and common small business pain points that HR software helps address.

5 Reasons to Switch to HR Software for Small Business

Overall, implementing HR software can significantly benefit small businesses by increasing efficiency, ensuring data accuracy and security, promoting self-service capabilities, facilitating compliance, and enabling data-driven decision-making, helping HR do their job better, faster. Let’s take a look at 5 ways HR software for small business can boost your HR department’s efficiency and streamline your business objectives.

1. Streamlined HR processes

HR software for small business

HR software automates and centralizes the various time-consuming administrative HR processes that your team does manually, such as employee data management, leave and attendance tracking, performance evaluations, and payroll. When you switch to HR software for small business, your HR teams reduce the risks of manual errors, streamline their HR operations, and save valuable time that can be used to focus on strategic initiatives such as employee engagement ideas for company culture rather than repetitive administrative tasks.

2. Improved data accuracy and security

HR software for small business

Maintaining accurate employee records and sensitive HR data is crucial for small businesses. HR software for small business provides a secure and centralized database to store all of your employee information, ensuring data integrity and minimizing the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access. Additionally, some of the best HR software for small businesses offers data backup and encryption features to protect valuable HR data such as payroll information or visa status.

3. Enhanced employee self-service

HR software for small business

HR software often includes employee self-service portals, which empower employees to manage their own HR-related tasks. HR software for small business employee self-service features allows your employees to update their personal information, submit leave requests,  track and manage their time-off balances, access payslips, and view company policies. By enabling self-service, small businesses can reduce their HR’s administrative workload while empowering employees to access their benefits and manage their information without requiring the assistance of their managers or HR department.

4. Compliance with employment laws and regulations

HR software for small business

Small businesses must comply with various employment laws and regulations, such as tax requirements, minimum wage laws, and labor standards. HR software can help automate compliance processes by generating accurate reports, easily tracking employee hours, and quickly calculating payroll taxes. These functions not only save time, but reduce the risk of non-compliance, penalties, and legal issues associated with HR-related regulations.

5. Data-driven decision-making

HR software for small business

HR software for small business provides your teams with valuable insights and analytics regarding your workforce. It allows HR to track employee performance, identify skill gaps, analyze turnover rates, and monitor overall HR metrics. These data-driven insights enable informed decision-making, helping small businesses optimize their workforce, identify training needs, and implement strategies to prioritize employee engagement and retention.

Determining the Best HR Software for Small Business

Assess your HR needs

Start by evaluating your organization’s specific HR requirements. Depending on the size of your business, the number of employees you manage, and the HR tasks your team oversees, you may need different features. Identify these key functionalities you are looking for in a HR software for small business.

Set a budget

Determine a reasonable budget you can allocate for HR software. Consider both the initial investment and ongoing costs, such as subscription fees, training, and support. Some HRIS offer complimentary implementation and training services, which should be considered in your evaluation.

Further, while HR software for small business comes at a cost, it’s worth noting the upfront investment versus the long term gains. Studies have shown HR automation can decrease administrative costs by 30% for HR professionals and 49% for employers.

Research available options

Conduct thorough research to identify HR software providers that cater to small and growing businesses. In addition to offering the features your business is in need of, look for reputable vendors that offer scalable solutions, have positive customer reviews, and provide comprehensive support. 

Make a shortlist

Based on your research, create a shortlist of HR software for small business that align with your business needs and budget. Narrow down your options (typically three to five solutions) to take a closer look at the features and costs that will best fit your team.

Evaluate features

Review the features and functionalities offered by each shortlisted HR software for small business. Assess which solution covers your essential requirements such as payroll processing, benefits administration, time and attendance tracking, employee self-service, performance management, or compliance management. This is a good stage in the process to schedule a demo to learn more about the software and better understand its functionality.

You’ll want to get a good understanding of the following features to help determine which HR software for small business is the best fit:

  • Consider user-friendliness

Evaluate the user interface and ease of use of each HR software solution. Look for intuitive navigation, well-designed dashboards, and customizable options that can be easily adopted by your HR team and employees.

  • Integration capabilities

Check if the HR software can integrate with other systems or software you currently use, such as accounting software or applicant tracking systems. Seamless integration reduces data entry duplication and improves overall efficiency.

  • Scalability and flexibility

Consider the growth potential of your business. Choose an HR software solution that can scale with your needs and accommodate future expansion. Flexibility in terms of customization and module selection can be a huge benefit as your company continues to evolve.

  • Security and compliance

Pay close attention to the security measures and compliance features provided by each HR software solution. Ensure they adhere to industry standards, have data encryption capabilities, and offer secure access controls to protect sensitive employee information.

Compare pricing and support

Review the pricing plans and packages offered by each HR software provider. Consider the value for money, contract terms, and any additional fees or charges. Additionally, evaluate the level of customer support and training provided by each vendor.

Make a final decision

Based on your evaluations, select the HR software solution that best aligns with your small business needs, budget, and future goals. Take into account factors such as functionality, user-friendliness, integration capabilities, security, and customer support.

Implement and train

Once you have chosen the best HR software for your small business, develop an implementation plan and schedule training for your employees. 

HR Software Features for Small Business

There’s a lot of features to review and look out for in HR software for small business. While each function of HR is important, some features are more impactful than others for small businesses. Let’s take a look at the most impactful HR software for small business features.

Automated onboarding

Onboarding has a huge impact on employee engagement and can set the tone for the culture of your organization. While all businesses benefit from a cohesive and comprehensive onboarding process, small businesses in particular feel the benefits (and pitfalls) of their onboarding programs. 

This is often because small businesses operate with small teams, meaning culture and employee engagement has an immediate and profound impact on the productivity and outcome of the business. 

HR software for small business helps keep your onboarding program consistent, by allowing your HR team to build out processes and communications that can be easily duplicated and scheduled to ensure a timely, routine onboarding program for each new hire. From building customizable offer letter templates to easily tracking onboarding training completion, automated onboarding procedures help HR stay on top of making a great first impression for new hires.

Time and attendance tracking

Employee benefits such as time off are a key driver for attracting and retaining top talent. But so often HR teams get bogged down with calculating and tracking leave balances and time off requests, which creates bottlenecks and prohibits employees from accessing their benefits. 

HR software for small business allows employees to manage their time off balances and requests directly, empowering them to get the most out of their benefits while alleviating HR and management teams from the administrative burden of time tracking and scheduling syncing.

Time and attendance tracking further supports your company’s efficiency by making it easier and faster to generate data and analytics for functions such as payroll, personnel budgeting, performance management, and employee engagement efforts.

Compensation and benefits administration

So often, small businesses rely on disjointed spreadsheets to manually track time off, pay cycles, and employee benefits, relying solely on manual entry and employee self-reporting, a system highly prone to human error. 

Many HR software for small business help you manage, maintain, and process your payroll at the end of each monthly cycle with auto calculations and clean systems that make it easy to quickly fix any errors. When it comes to setting up a payroll for small businesses, the right HR software ensures compliance with tax laws and employment regulations and enables you to streamline your workflows while reducing errors.

Benefits of HR software for small business payroll processing include:

  • Automated calculations and deductions
  • Higher pay slip accuracy 
  • Insightful financial analytics and reports 
  • Helps ensure you meet and maintain compliance
  • Stores payroll data securely
  • Simplifies reimbursements for business expenses

Implementing HR software in your company reduces complex calculation processes and provides you with a centralized platform to view and manage the most important asset of your company, your employees.

Employee self-Service and data management

Without an HRIS in place, employees are reliant on their managers and HR teams to help them access everything from updating their home address to applying for time off to reviewing their performance review results. These simple tasks take up valuable time for HR professionals, and creates a bottleneck for employees to access their own information, creating a frustrating employee experience all around.

HR software for small business offers a centralized data management system that holds all of your employee documents in a single, secure platform. Assign different levels of access to your employees, managers, and CEOs while maintaining control of the data, and empower your teams to self manage their information, relieving HR of the time consuming burden and building a culture of trust among your employees.

Performance management

Performance management is no small task for HR teams and managers. Consisting of annual, bi-annual, and even quarterly performance reviews, regular 1-on-1 check ins, 360 degree feedback, and project performance data, the information required to establish and maintain an accurate and impactful performance management system is vast. HR software for small business helps simplify the entire performance management process. From scheduling reviews and assignment reviewers, to automated tracking and reminders, to confidential feedback collection. HR software for small business has well designed systems to make this management process easy for HR teams. And with built in reports and analytics, you can easily and quickly run reports that provide actionable insight into your workforce, no spreadsheet required.

Reports and analytics

Data matters, particularly for small businesses, it is necessary to measure the impact of every strategy you enact. From performance management to payroll for HR, to equipment assignments and office building access for IT, the data you hold for your employees affects each aspect of your small business. With manual or disjointed reporting tools, information can easily get lost, or go out of date, causing miscommunication and errors in your workflows.

HR software for small business houses the vast amount of data and information you track for your workforce and automatically updates relevant stakeholders of changes or updates when relevant. With reporting tools built into the HRIS, it’s easier than ever to run various reports in a matter of minutes to access accurate and insightful data to help your business run.

Elevate Your Small Business with Omni’s All-in-one HR Software

Powering Asia’s fastest-growing, modern companies, Omni’s HR software for small business scales alongside your company so you can customize and leverage the system to meet your business exactly where you are — as well as where you’re going. 

With a full suite of modules to support every aspect of your business, Omni liberates HR teams from administrative cycles by automating the entire end-to-end employee life cycle — from recruitment and onboarding to employee engagement and payroll and beyond — allowing you to redirect your time to strategic initiatives that drives your business’s growth.

Omni’s intuitive and fully customizable platform integrates with your team’s favorite tools for a seamless and timely adoption. And at only $3/employee/month, you can leverage HR automation to decrease administrative costs.

Book a demo with our team today to learn how Omni can help transform your small businesses HR processes.

In the last few years alone, the HR industry has undergone drastic changes. From pivoting to remote environments and weathering massive layoffs and resignations, the role of HR has been more essential than ever. But many HR professionals find themselves caught in time-consuming administrative cycles that, while essential to People management, take attention away from the more impactful, strategic work of Human Resources.


The emergence of HR automation has opened a new world of possibilities for the effectiveness of People management by offloading repetitive administrative tasks to streamline HR workflows and bring consistency to employee relations.

What is HR Automation?

With the use of software to automate and streamline tasks such as onboarding, leave management, and performance reviews — HR automation has revolutionized the way Human Resource teams operate. HR automation uses Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) to digitize and program the repetitive yet time-sensitive administrative tasks that are crucial to managing HR initiatives (and often prone to error when done manually). 

5 Key functions of HR automation

Onboarding

When it comes to onboarding — a top driver of employee engagement and retention — HR automation helps bring consistency and efficiency to the process. Because HRIS stores templates, you can build out your unique onboarding program, complete with welcome letters, employee handbooks, and training materials, within the system to easily route incoming employees through your onboarding cycle with just a few clicks.

When a new employee joins your organization, you simply build them a profile in your HRIS which can include custom fields for the information relevant to your business such as position and reporting details, Visa status, and payroll information. Their information will automatically be generated into each relevant document, and HR can track the completion status of forms and training all under one platform for a uniform and seamless onboarding experience.

hr automation

Leave management

Leave management is another essential function of HR. Leave benefits are a common acquisition tool and help promote work-life balance as well as combat employee burnout. But managing leave requests manually can cause a headache for HR and managers with bottlenecks, lack of visibility, and inaccurate leave calculations.

HR automation makes leave management tools possible to facilitate:

  • At-a-glance visibility to easily view and assess your entire team’s availability in real-time
  • Allows employees to submit their time off requests and automatically route to the correct party to review
  • Tracks and calculates time accrued so employees can manage their leave balances
  • Generates reports for accurate accounting such as payroll, benefits reimbursements for unused time, and personnel budget analysis

Performance management

Managing, measuring, and improving employee performance is done through intentional, ongoing communication with employees. And as a central strategy for employee engagement — 48% of employees care more about their work when they receive feedback in the workplace — it’s a task that HR and management can’t afford to overlook. 

Performance management system software utilizes HR automation to facilitate goal setting, 360 degree performance reviews, feedback and communication, and tap into performance metrics and analytics so HR can have a firm grip on performance management. 

Rather than set and track goals on paper, HR automation allows you to set goals that you can digitally track in real-time, making the performance review cycle more accurate and targeted. Performance review cycles can be scheduled and digitized allowing managers to schedule reminders and automatically track completion so no review goes unfinished or behind deadline, all without having to manually track or email a single employee.

HR automation

Reporting and analytics

Generating reports to inform payroll, personnel budgets, performance metrics, employee leave accrual, and other HR functions such as employee equipment distribution can be time consuming and prone to error when handled manually through disjointed spreadsheets. An HRIS leverages HR automation to house all of the important data surrounding your business and people practices to generate months of reports in a matter of minutes. For recurring reporting needs, you can create custom templates to pull any relevant data to easily replicate whenever necessary. 

An added bonus? HR automation facilitates communication between departments, meaning whenever you update any information on an employee’s profile, such as an employee’s offboarding date, relevant stakeholders receive the same information so final benefits can be paid out on time, security accesses can be set to expire, and company property such as computers can be collected all in a timely manner.

Employee self-service

There’s a lot of middle-manning that gets done with managers and HR leave their people processes to manual efforts. From tracking employee leave to updating personal information, these tasks can be a constant distraction pulling managers away from their more strategic initiatives and frustrating employees by slowing down the process to simply request time off. 

HR automation empowers employees to manage and access their own benefits, as well as strengthens communication between your workforce and their supervisors. With tools like employee self-service, managers and HR can be relieved of the administrative burden of updating employee records and managing leave requests. 

With highly customizable security controls, leadership can determine exactly what employees see and access, allowing for company-wide information sharing such as org charts and important dates, while protecting sensitive information like payroll and Visa information for employees. 

6 Advantages of HR Automation

HR automation frees up extensive time and resources for leadership and employees to focus on more strategic initiatives that drive progress and profitability. Let’s examine the various ways in which HR automation contributes to the overall effectiveness of your HR workflows and business operations.

Time and cost savings

HR automation helps save significant time and reduce costs associated with the various manual tasks performed every day by HR and leadership. Studies have shown HR automation can decrease administrative costs by 30% for HR professionals and 49% for employers.

Routine HR workflows, such as data entry, employee onboarding, leave management, and payroll processing, are streamlined and automated, freeing up HR teams to focus on more strategic and value-added activities that drive productivity and profitability for your organization.

Increased efficiency and accuracy

HR automation enhances efficiency and accuracy. Manual data entry and paper-based systems are prone to errors and can be incredibly time-consuming. HR automation eliminates these issues by automating data collection, storage, and retrieval, ensuring data integrity and reducing the likelihood of errors. Additionally, automated HR workflows enable faster and more streamlined processes, reducing bottlenecks and improving overall efficiency.

Improved employee experience

HR automation enhances the employee experience by providing self-service options and reducing administrative burdens. Employees can access HR systems to update personal information, view pay stubs, request leave, and access other HR workflows without relying on HR teams or managers to facilitate these simple yet time-consuming tasks. This empowers employees and gives them greater control over their HR-related activities, leading to increased satisfaction and employee engagement.

Enhanced compliance and data security

Many HR workflows involve sensitive employee information such as payroll and visa information, and compliance with data protection regulations is crucial. HR automation systems often incorporate built-in security measures, ensuring that employee data remains secure and confidential. HR automation can also help organizations stay compliant with labor laws, regulatory requirements, and internal policies by enforcing consistent processes and providing audit trails for HR workflows.

Data-driven decision making

HR automation generates a wealth of data that can be leveraged for strategic decision making. Automated systems provide comprehensive reports and analytics on various HR metrics, including employee performance, turnover rates, training needs, and workforce demographics. These insights enable HR teams and organizational leaders to make data-driven decisions, identify trends, and develop effective HR strategies that align with your organization’s goals.

Scalability

As your organization grows and evolves, your HR needs also expand. HR automation provides scalability by accommodating increased employee numbers, organizational structures, and geographic locations without significant additional resources. Automated HR systems can handle a larger volume of employee data, manage complex workflows, and scale up to support the needs of your growing organization. This ensures that your HR workflows can adapt to changes and effectively support your organization’s expansion, without requiring a proportional increase in HR staff or resources.

Which HR Workflows Can Be Automated?

While there are many benefits to HR automation, it’s not intended to replace Human Resource professionals. HR brings personalization, empathy, and warmth to your organization, and that human touch can not be replicated or replaced by technology. 

That said, when used strategically, HR automation can actually improve the human-likeness of HR workflows.

To do so, we must distinguish between two forms of HR workflows: those that require human involvement and those that do not. HR automation should be used when a person is not required to perform the task.

HR workflows without human involvement

Typically, these tasks share at least one of the following traits:

Frequent and/or repetitive – involves following the same steps each time

Simple does not require strategic thought or analysis

Scheduled –  occurs regularly at the same time or day

Predictable – routine workflow or process

Examples of these tasks include:

  • Submitting employee leave requests
  • Performance review deadline reminders
  • Releasing weekly or monthly payroll 
  • Generating reports

HR workflows with human involvement

There is still room for HR automation even in tasks that demand human involvement, such as problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.

For example, a member of the HR team must complete a number of touch points in a typical employee onboarding workflow, such as:

  • Contacting new hires to extend a warm welcome
  • Conducting orientations
  • Providing clarification and addressing concerns
  • Assisting new hires with any unforeseen challenges
  • Creating schedules

Although these duties are dependent on people, these same activities also require a lot of repetitive and supporting tasks that can be automated, such as: 

  • Creating and sending welcome letters
  • Delivering notifications
  • Status updates
  • Capturing signatures
  • Sending documents to the appropriate department
  • Sending calendar invitations

For teams with large workforces, or businesses planning to scale recruitment efforts, automating these kinds of HR workflows can make a huge difference in terms of workload for your HR team and create a positive employee experience. When paired with integration, the amount and types of tasks that can be automated increases.

10 Step Guide to Implementing HR Automation

1. Assess your HR workflows

Before implementing HR automation, assess your current HR workflows to identify areas that can benefit from automation. Focus on routine and time-consuming tasks that can be streamlined or eliminated through automation, and refer to the guide in this article to help identify which tasks can be automated.

2. Set clear objectives

Define clear objectives for HR automation, such as improving efficiency, reducing errors, enhancing your employee experience, or achieving specific business outcomes. Having clear goals will guide your automation efforts and help you measure success.

3. Choose the right automation tools

Research and select HR automation tools, such as HRIS, that align with your organization’s needs and objectives. Consider factors such as ease of use, scalability, integration capabilities with existing systems, and vendor support. For more information, check out our previous blog on How to Choose the Right HR Software for Your Business!

4. Involve HR stakeholders

It’s imperative that you involve your HR team and other relevant stakeholders throughout the automation process. Seek their input and gather insights about pain points, challenges, and opportunities to ensure that the HR automation solution addresses their needs effectively.

5. Streamline and standardize processes

Before automating, streamline and standardize your HR workflows as much as possible. Simplify processes, eliminate redundant steps, and establish clear guidelines to ensure that automation is built on optimized processes.

6. Ensure data accuracy and security

Implement robust data management practices to ensure data accuracy, integrity, and security. Define access controls, data encryption measures, and regular data backups to protect sensitive employee information.

7. Provide adequate training and support

Offer comprehensive training and support to the HR and leadership teams who will use the automation tools, as well as your employees. Familiarize them with the system functionalities, provide documentation or tutorials, and offer ongoing assistance to ensure they can utilize the automation effectively. Many HRIS providers will include staff training in the implementation process.

8. Monitor and evaluate performance

Continuously monitor the performance of your HR automation processes. Track key metrics, such as processing time, error rates, and employee satisfaction, to assess the impact of automation and identify areas for improvement.

9. Stay agile and adapt

As your organization evolves, regularly assess the effectiveness of your HR automation. Be open to making adjustments, updating processes, and adopting new technologies to stay aligned with changing needs and industry best practices.

10. Embrace continuous improvement

Encourage a culture of continuous improvement within your HR department. Foster a mindset that embraces innovation and identifies opportunities for further automation, optimization, and enhanced HR workflows and operations.

Free Tools to Streamline Your HR Workflows

hr automation

Not quite ready to take the leap into HR automation yet still looking for ways to improve your HR workflows? Check out these free resources to help improve your manual processes:

Whether you’re a manager looking for the right words to inspire your employees or an HR professional aiming for a streamlined review cycle, this kit provides you with new and encouraging ways to communicate feedback and champion performance conversations.

Create a seamless and impactful onboarding experience that boosts retention rates and equip your new hires with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles with Omni’s comprehensive onboarding kit.

Omni’s employee handbook template offers a customizable guide that helps you communicate all the essentials — while also building your company culture — to ensure a positive onboarding experience that’s sure to boost retention and enable employee engagement.

Utilizing offboarding checklists help aid in a smooth and positive offboarding experience that promotes a positive employer brand for both the existing and departing employees. Start facilitating a smooth transition that keeps company goals on track with our employee offboarding checklist.

HR teams and managers need a system to easily track and manage time off requests for their employees. This time off request form makes it easy to gather the information you need to manage employee time and attendance.

Automate Your HR Workflows with Omni

Company Culture Examples

Omni frees HR teams from administrative cycles by offering HR automation for the entire end-to-end employee lifecycle — from recruitment and onboarding to employee engagement and payroll — allowing you to redirect your time to strategic work that drives business growth.

Powering Asia’s fastest-growing, modern companies, Omni scales alongside your company so you can customize and leverage the system to meet your business exactly where you are — as well as where you’re going. 

With a full suite of modules to support every aspect of your business, Omni’s platform offers an intuitive and fully customizable platform that integrates with your team’s favorite tools for a seamless and timely adoption. 

Want to see for yourself? Try us out for a free 14-day trial

What is a Leave Management System? Why Every Business Needs One

Leave management systems help businesses manage employee time off requests and absences. As a business owner, you might wonder if you really need an employee leave management system. After all, can’t you just keep track of employee vacation days and parental leave in a spreadsheet?

While tracking employee’s leave manually may work for a small business with just a few employees, it quickly becomes unmanageable as your business grows and employees increase. Manually tracking, entering, and calculating employee time creates an administrative bottleneck for HR, and makes it more difficult for employees to engage with their benefits — one of the things that helps maintain employee retention and engagement.

A leave management system provides an easy to use solution to help you automate the processes associated with managing employee time off policies, and empowers employees to utilize their time off benefit, helping combat employee burnout and promote higher productivity and employee happiness.

Leave Management System Defined

A leave management system is a software application that helps organizations keep track of employee leave and absences.Often included in a larger HRIS system, a leave management system can automate time off related processes such as applying for leave, approving requests, calculating leave entitlements, and determining the remaining leave balance. A leave management system is also sometimes referred to as a paid time off tracker (PTO tracker), and manages everything from PTO, sick leave, personal time, parental leave, and sabbaticals.

Benefits of a Lead Management System

Leave management is a core component of any HR workflow, as it allows organizations to effectively track and manage employee time off, which affects various aspects of your business, from payroll to personnel management, benefits and even employee engagement.

Accurate calculation

Time off is heavily connected with employee compensation. Failure to determine the accurate time off balance may lead to incorrect salary calculations and administrative headaches. A leave management system can help determine accurate time off balances, which helps streamline payroll, benefits administration, offboarding, and overall scheduling logistics for your team.

Streamlined processes

A leave management system eliminates the need for manual leave tracking and automates the processes associated with applying for, approving, and managing leave. Your employees can easily access a comprehensive view of the remaining number of days they have left, allowing them to plan time off without having to rely on their managers or HR team to calculate their time off. This relieves HR of the administrative burden of employee time off, and empowers employees to fully access their benefits.

Ensured compliance

Most countries or states have statutory requirements on sick leave, maternity leaves, and other mandatory leave entitlements for employees. A leave management system can help your business easily comply with employment regulations by calculating the accurate balance of the various types of leave each employee should be entitled to, so you don’t have to worry about oversights or miscalculations that could lead to larger compliance issues.

Increased visibility

An employee leave management system not only allows individual employees to access their leave allowance, but provides a simplified platform for their managers to do the same. Many leave management systems have the option to create a shared calendar where entire teams or companies can access a view of the company collective calendar, so that everyone can have a clear view of who is going to be on leave at any given time and plan accordingly. This way, your team can avoid disruptions to workflows and maintain a high level of productivity.

Improved employee satisfaction

Strong employee management is centered around removing as many roadblocks for your employees as possible. Leveraging an employee leave management system allows employees to manage their time off benefits with ease, and removes the need for managers or HR to facilitate leave access. This empowers employees to manage their benefit, as well as fosters a sense of trust and autonomy that is central to employee happiness and engagement.

Improved communication and coordination

With an accurate PTO tracker in place, managers will easily be able to plan for any absences on their team. By providing managers with real-time access to employee leave information, a leave management system can help minimize instances of missed meetings or important deadlines due to lack of visibility into team’s time off plans. Additionally, a leave management system can enable employers to identify and address staff shortages and scheduling conflicts before they become significant issues.

Indicators That Your Organization is Ready for a Leave Management System

Can you identify with any of the following? It might be time to invest in a leave management system.

  • You or your team is losing track of who is on leave and when.
  • You are having issues calculating time off entitlements accurately and keeping them up to date.
  • You are spending more than 5 minutes a day managing leave requests, updating leave balances, and answering employee queries.
  • There is a lack of communication and coordination between employees and managers regarding leave requests and approvals.
  • You are finding it challenging to ensure compliance with employment regulations.
  • You are struggling to manage staffing requirements due to unplanned or unexpected absences.
  • Your small business is growing and scaling, with more employees to manage.

Key Features of a Leave Management System

An effective employee leave management system should easily help you manage time and attendance for your employees. Here are some key features to look out for when considering which leave management system is right for you:

Scheduling at-a-glance

Provides a dashboard or calendar view that makes it easy to see leave requests, approvals, and other relevant information all at once.

Ideally, a leave management dashboard should allow users to:

  • Easily submit leave requests (this means without the intervention of management or HR).
  • View leave balances, including vacation policy, sick days, unpaid time off, and long-term leave such as parental or sabbatical.
  • Approve or reject leave requests in one system.
  • Send notifications to employees and managers about leave requests, approvals, and other relevant information.

Flexible leave policy setup

Because every company has their own unique time off policies, your leave management system needs to be powerful enough to accommodate your exact policy.

A good leave management software should support settings such as assigning unique leave allowances to each employee or team, and calculate intricacies such as whether unused time off can be carried over to the next period and how time off should be prorated in the first/last month when an employee joins/leaves the company.

leave management system

Customization

Your requirements for leave requests will likely vary from other companies. So having an employee leave management system that allows you to define the types of information you want to collect from employees when submitting leave requests is a huge plus. This can include information such as start and end dates, reasons for leave, employee department, and whether a supporting document is required.

The system should allow you to configure settings such as leave type, duration, and approval process to meet the specific needs of your organization. This includes setting up workflows to automatically route employee leave requests to the appropriate managers.

Automated leave tracking

The system should automatically send time off requests to managers, track leave balance, and notify employees when their unused balances are about to expire, all without the intervention or input from HR or management. Automation saves HR hours a week in administrative tasks.

Customizable approval workflows

Your employee leave management system should allow you to customize the approval workflow to match your organization’s specific needs. For example, if you use a hierarchical approval process, the system should allow you to specify the order in which leave requests are approved.

Easy to use

Many traditional leave management systems are very difficult to use, requiring additional training for employees to simply know how to apply for time off. A leave management system that is user-friendly and easy to use should be a priority for organizations who want to quickly and seamlessly adopt a system.

Pro tip: While selecting a system, sign up for a free demo so you can try the product first-hand to ensure the system is easy to operate and fits your needs.

leave management system

Seamless integration

A modern leave management system may have built-in integrations to help improve your team’s productivity. This includes synchronizing time off events with your employees favorite tools like Google calendar or Microsoft Outlook calendar, as well as easily integrating with any existing employee database management softwares you may be using.

Reporting

The system should provide reporting and analytics tools to help you track and optimize leave-related processes. You will be able to better assess employees’ leaves and apply the data to other processes such as calculating personnel costs and payroll.

leave management system

Leave management systems offer a practical solution to reducing administrative work and streamlining People management processes. If you’re not quite ready to take the leap, try leveraging some free tools to simplify your leave management efforts for free. Download Omni’s Employee Time-off Request Form Template to easily gather the information you need to manage employee time and attendance.

time off request form

What is HRIS? Why HR Needs Automation in 2024

Human Resource leaders have had a tough couple of years, to say the very least. The pandemic introduced an incredible strain on businesses and employees around the world, and the years since haven’t let up. In 2024 and prior, HR Leaders have been on the front lines of these major changes to the business world. From navigating remote and hybrid work environments, to massive layoffs across industries, to a global recession, it’s been more challenging than ever to nurture and guide workforces, leaving HR teams and employees burnout and overwhelmed.

Thankfully, HRIS exists to help simplify the complexities of People management. HRIS systems aid organizations to track, manage, and organize important employee data across departments — making it a great value add for not only HR, but managers, finance, and even employees.

We’ll dive into all your burning questions, from ‘what is HRIS?’, to understanding when you’re in need of an HRIS system, how to implement, and what to look for when deciding which HRIS system is right for your organization.

If you’re here because you’re in need of an HRIS system to simplify your HR functions, Omni offers an intuitive and highly customizable HRIS system that is loved by HR pros and employees alike. Book a free demo today to chat with our team!

What is HRIS? Definition and Meaning

HRIS stands for Human Resources Information System, and is often referred to as HRIS, HRIS software, or HRIS system.

An HRIS system makes it easier for you to manage your HR processes and data. It’s a software that companies use as a central source of information for all of their employee management needs. Functions of an HRIS system include:

  • Managing employee time off and attendance
  • Benefits administration (such as insurance)
  • Performance reviews
  • Onboarding functions
  • Payroll
  • Employee self-service
  • Documents and e-signatures

What Does an HRIS System Do?

For starters, HRIS manages all of your end-to-end human resources functions, such as the collection and storing of employee data including names, addresses, salaries, work permits, and benefits information.

This information system then helps carry out the many functions of HR, including recruitment, onboarding, applicant tracking, employee time and attendance, learning and development, performance reviews, analytics, and reporting.

The byproduct of streamlining these functions is the seamless access to valuable employee data that helps drive strategic business decisions. HRIS quickly and easily calculates employee time and attendance data, performance metrics, profit and losses as it relates to payroll, and tracks and unifies employee engagement efforts such as onboarding programs and performance reviews.

Finally, by using digital software to manage your employee records, you can replace the need for paper-based filing systems which take up space, time, and are vulnerable to human error. Instead, an HRIS system automates your human resources workflows so that your HR team can focus on more strategic and high-value work.

HRIS System Benefits For Every Department

Despite its name, HRIS systems benefit more than just HR departments, and are typically used by various teams across an organization. Now that we’ve answered the question, “what is HRIS?” Let’s take a look at how various teams can benefit from HRIS software.

Finance

  • Payroll automation: HRIS systems automate payroll calculations, ensuring accurate and timely processing of employee salaries, deductions, and tax calculations. This reduces manual errors and saves time for finance teams.
  • Cost analysis: HRIS provides data on employee compensation, benefits, and expenses, enabling finance teams to analyze and track costs related to HR.
  • Compliance and reporting: HRIS easily generates payroll reports, tax forms, and other financial documents required for regulatory compliance. This helps finance teams stay in line with labor laws and regulations.

Managers 

  • Performance monitoring: HRIS systems enable managers to track and monitor employee performance in real-time. Providing important information to set goals, provide feedback, and assess performance, helping identify areas for improvement early on, and ultimately nurturing employee growth.
  • Employee self-service: HRIS systems that offer self-service portals allow managers to access and update employee information, such as employee leave management, training records, and performance evaluations, helping improve communication between employees and their managers and reducing the administrative burden on HR.

IT 

  • System integration: HRIS systems can integrate with other IT systems, such as time and attendance systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, and employee benefits platforms. This streamlines data exchange and reduces manual data entry and errors.
  • Data security: HRIS ensures the security of sensitive employee data by implementing access controls, encryption, and regular backups. IT teams can manage user permissions and monitor system security to protect confidential HR information.
  • System maintenance: IT teams play a crucial role in maintaining and updating the HRIS system, ensuring its smooth functioning, resolving technical issues, and managing system upgrades.
  • Seamless communication: HRIS systems allow your department to be inter-connected, meaning when you make an update to an employee profile in one area, all other relevant stakeholders receive the same update. This can be a game changer for IT teams who need to keep track of equipment such as computers or manage access to sensitive information for the organization.

Human Resources

  • Employee data management: HRIS systems serve as a central database for employee data, including personal information, employment history, training records, leave management, and performance evaluations. HR teams can easily access, update, and maintain accurate employee records without having to maintain lengthy spreadsheets or paper-trails that are prone to error.
  • Recruitment and onboarding: Applicant tracking and onboarding processes streamline recruitment workflows, automate candidate screening, and facilitate new employee orientation. HRIS onboarding helps ensure uniform and comprehensive onboarding efforts, helping boost employee engagement and retention.
  • Reporting and analytics: HRIS systems provide HR teams with comprehensive reports and analytics on various HR metrics, such as workforce demographics, turnover rates, and training needs. This data helps HR professionals in workforce planning, talent management, and strategic decision-making.

Employees

Employee-focused features of HRIS systems empower individuals by providing self-service capabilities, facilitating personal growth and development, and improving communication and access to important information.

  • Self-service portal: HRIS systems often include employee self-service portals, allowing employees to access and update their personal information, review pay stubs, request time off, and access company policies and benefits information. This empowers employees and removes a barrier to accessing their benefits.
  • Performance management: HRIS systems provide employees with a platform to set and track their goals, receive feedback from managers, and access performance evaluations. This promotes transparency, employee engagement, and personal growth.
  • Time and attendance tracking: HRIS may include time and attendance features, allowing employees to clock in and out, submit timesheets, and track their attendance records. This helps ensure accurate and efficient time tracking and simplifies the process of requesting leave or overtime.

What to Look For When Choosing an HRIS System

With numerous HRIS systems on the market, it can be difficult to know which one may be the best fit for your organization. Let’s examine the key features you should assess for choosing the right HRIS system for your business.

Key HRIS features

Onboarding
This feature helps you automate your onboarding workflows so that you can standardize and perfect your onboarding experience — a key driver in employee retention. HRIS onboarding features allow you to digitize offer letters, create smarter document management systems, and customize onboarding tasks and templates for a smooth and consistent process for every employee who joins your organization.

Employee database
Employee databases allow you to create and maintain a digital record system that is organized, up-to-date, and accessible at any time and from any place. HRIS facilitates secure data management for all sensitive employee data, and connects your organization in a way that facilitates seamless information updating which improves efficiency in your management practices.

Time off and attendance management
You can use this tool to manage, approve and track your team’s time off requests through a simple and user-friendly interface. Time and attendance modules make it easy for employees to easily access and understand their company’s time-off policies, and reduces the administrative burden on HR and managers.

Document management

A handy feature for organizing and securely storing all your employee documents through a centralized and encrypted document library, document management also makes sending customized communication such as offer letters in just a few clicks.

Employee portal and self-service
Employee self-service offers a dedicated space for your team members to manage requests and access important information whenever needed. This enhances the employee experience, which increases employee satisfaction and engagement levels.

Performance management
Set and track employee goals, conduct performance reviews, provide feedback, and analyze performance data. Performance management enables the creation of development plans, facilitates competency assessments, and offers insights through performance analytics for informed decision-making.

Payroll
HRIS should allow you to streamline and automate the calculation and processing of your employee salaries, bonuses, and deductions in a few clicks. Payroll functions also ensure accurate tax management, facilitate direct deposit, generate payroll reports, and help maintain compliance with labor laws and regulations.

Integration capabilities

The purpose of an HRIS system is to improve the functionality and efficiency of People management, not add more complexity. Seek an HRIS that integrates with your team’s favorite tools, like Gmail and Slack, to further streamline your processes.

Your Guide to Implementing HRIS

Now that you’ve answered the question of ‘what is HRIS?’ Let’s examine how you should go about implementing an HRIS into your organization.

Identify business requirements

  • Begin by assessing your organization’s HR needs and identifying specific pain points that an HRIS can address.
  • Gather input from various stakeholders, including HR personnel, managers, employees, and IT experts, to ensure you’ve gathered a comprehensive list of requirements.
  • Clearly define the goals and objectives you wish to achieve with the implementation of an HRIS.

 

Research and select a vendor

  • Conduct thorough research to identify reputable HRIS vendors that align with your organization’s needs. This article is a great place to start, you’re on the right track!
  • Evaluate vendors based on factors like system capabilities, scalability, user-friendliness, customer support, and cost.
  • Request demos, references, and case studies to gain insights into the vendor’s track record and the success of their implementations.
  • Consider factors such as data security, integration capabilities, and future system upgrades when making a final vendor selection.

 

Plan and design the system

  • Develop a detailed implementation plan that outlines key milestones, timelines, and responsibilities.
  • Collaborate with the selected vendor to configure the HRIS according to your specific requirements.
  • Customize the system to align with your organization’s HR policies, processes, and workflows.
  • Define data migration strategies to transfer existing employee data from legacy systems to the new HRIS.

Omni’s expert team of customer success specialists offer hands-on implementation guidance and advice. With Omni, we can have your team up and running in a little as 3 weeks. Chat with our team today!

Test and validate

  • Conduct comprehensive testing of the HRIS to ensure its functionality and compatibility with your organization’s infrastructure.
  • Test various scenarios, including data entry, reporting, payroll processing, and employee self-service features.
  • Validate the system’s accuracy and reliability by comparing results with existing processes or conducting parallel runs.
  • Gather feedback from key users, such as HR and managers, to identify and address any issues or usability concerns.

 

Train users

  • Develop a comprehensive training program to educate HR, managers, and employees on using the HRIS system effectively.
  • Provide hands-on training sessions, user guides, and online resources to facilitate user adoption.
  • Encourage users to ask questions, provide feedback, and share their experiences to continuously improve the system’s usage.

Rollout and monitor

  • Execute a phased rollout of the HRIS, starting with a pilot group to validate system functionality and gather feedback.
  • Gradually expand the implementation to the rest of the organization, ensuring adequate support and assistance during the transition period.
  • Continuously monitor the HRIS usage, performance, and user satisfaction to identify areas for improvement and address any issues promptly.

Remember, successful implementation of an HRIS requires thorough planning, effective communication, and ongoing support. By following this guide and engaging relevant stakeholders throughout the process, your organization can harness the benefits of HRIS and optimize HR operations efficiently.

When is it Time to Invest in an HRIS System?

If you’re asking ‘what is HRIS’, knowing the right time to invest is just as important. Timing is crucial for organizations seeking to improve their HR processes and enhance overall efficiency. The following are indicators that it might be time for your organization to make the switch.

You have many manual and time consuming processes

Manual data entry, tracking multiple spreadsheets, and managing a paper trail is time consuming, prone to error, and takes energy and focus away from more strategic planning and decisions. If you’re running your HR department manually (especially if you have a large team), it might be a good time to invest in an HRIS system to automate and streamline your processes.

You’re experiencing difficulty in data management

When handling employee data becomes challenging due to the lack of a centralized system, leading to difficulties in maintaining accurate records, tracking employee information, and complying with data security and privacy regulations, an HRIS can provide a comprehensive solution. HRIS centralizes and seamlessly integrates employee data making management easy and efficient. HRIS systems also offer a secure way to store sensitive information such as pay or visa information.

Your onboarding program lacks structure or consistency

Onboarding is a huge driver of employee engagement, and requires a thoughtful and consistent approach in order to have a positive outcome for your new hires. If your onboarding process lacks structure, or just lacks an overall process, it might be time for you to invest in an HRIS. HRIS helps streamline and optimize your onboarding, and helps to create a process that’s easy to replicate to decrease the amount of administrative work necessary to kick off a great onboarding experience.

Not quite ready for an HRIS but still looking to improve your onboarding processes? Download our free Onboarding For Company Culture kit to help streamline and improve your onboarding program.

You’re facing compliance and reporting challenges

When staying compliant with ever-changing labor laws, regulations, and reporting requirements becomes a complex task, an HRIS can help automate compliance checks, generate accurate reports, and maintain audit trails to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.

You lack a performance management framework

Managing employee performance — goal setting such as KPIs and OKRs, providing feedback, and conducting performance reviews — is an essential to nurturing employee growth and engagement. But it can be challenging to manage if there’s no formal system in place. HRIS can provide a structured framework for performance management, tracking progress, and facilitating continuous feedback, as well as help capture and analyze performance data that can lead to actionable insights for your organization.

Not quite ready for an HRIS but still looking to refine your performance management framework? Download our free Total Performance Review Kit to help bring structure to and impact to your performance management process.

 

Your company is growing and scaling 

Manual HR practices may work fine for a smaller organization, but once your company experiences significant growth or plans to expand, manual processes become increasingly difficult to scale effectively. An HRIS can handle increased employee data, facilitate self-service capabilities, and provide scalability to support your growing workforce… and save you a lot of headaches.

Employees have no self-service capabilities

A lack of employee self-service capabilities creates a bottleneck for basic housekeeping tasks that makes it both frustrating for employees and difficult to manage for HR pros. HRIS with employee-self service can offer self-service portals that empower employees to access their personal information, submit leave requests, review time-off allowances, view their pay stubs, and update their details such as phone numbers or addresses. This helps reduce the administrative burden on HR and increase benefits usage for employees, which is a key driver of engagement.

You struggle to access HR analytics or insights

HR requires a clear view into analytics in order to make informed decisions about personnel planning, talent management, and strategic initiatives. Without a formal HRIS system, it can be incredibly challenging for HR teams to gather and analyze the data that provides context for these impactful decisions. An HRIS system can provide robust reporting capabilities and data analytics that is easy to generate and access, saving time and aiding in more precise People management practices.

You have multiple systems, and none of them communicate with one another

Many companies operate off of spreadsheets, paper lists, and desktop folders, all tracking different information — like payroll, time and attendance, benefits, or employee records — and leaving teams operating in silos and making updates to multiple systems any time a single change is made. This system is not only incredibly time consuming, but deeply prone to error. Adopting an HRIS can streamline information exchange, improve data accuracy, decrease the likelihood of human error, and eliminate redundant manual data entry.

Automate Your HR with Omni’s HRIS system

Omni frees HR teams from administrative cycles by automating the entire end-to-end employee lifecycle — from recruitment and onboarding to employee engagement and payroll — allowing you to redirect your time to strategic work that drives business growth.

Powering Asia’s fastest-growing, modern companies, Omni scales alongside your company so you can customize and leverage the system to meet your business exactly where you are — as well as where you’re going.

With a full suite of modules to support every aspect of your business, Omni’s platform offers an intuitive and fully customizable platform that integrates with your team’s favorite tools for a seamless and timely adoption.

To learn more, chat with our team for a free demo!

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