How to get meaningful references for your shortlisted HRMS options

Are you in the market for a new HRMS? How can you whittle down your shortlist to the best HRMS options for your organization? Outside information sources can provide ‘make it or break it’ data points. Customer references, reviews and testimonials are crucial. How can you get meaningful and balanced advice for your shortlisted HRMS options?

1. Professional organizations and networks

HR and HRMS professional organizations can provide a wealth of unbiased and useful insight. As these groups are about sharing information and professional development, you’ll often find open and honest opinions about HRMS performance and functionality via articles, forums and conference presentations. If you’re looking to select a new HRMS, start with the established organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the International Association for Human Resource Information Management (IHRIM) and branch out further to more general networks such as LinkedIn and local HR networking groups to pose group questions and to gather input and insight.

2. Past colleagues and companies

One of your best sources of HRMS intelligence can be your former colleagues and employers. When you have past experience with a company’s operations and culture, you can get the full picture of why a software vendor was or was not chosen or get insider input of how it is to work with an HRMS vendor as their customer on a day-to-day operational basis once the contract is signed. As there is a high level of trust in such relationships, this option can be particularly helpful when you are seeking input prior to giving a current HRMS vendor notice to quit.

Recommended Reading: HRMS Vendor Guide - Shortlist your HRMS options with our vendor directory

3. Direct targeting and messages

Often you hear through the grapevine that a company has changed from software A to B. In the HRMS world, I’ve found many people are willing to speak off the record when they are approached directly via normal communication channels such as LinkedIn or other professional associations. It is recommended you tread carefully, with tact, to get the information that you seek.

4. Vendor-provided contact details

Vendors will often provide customer references as a part of their sales cycle. These should be approached carefully as they are often based on personal relationships or a vendor appreciation system where a customer reference earns points or credit toward training or other rewards. However, when you know of a customer reference, it can be helpful to reach out to another employee or HRMS user in your circle to see if the vendor reference aligns with the true picture of daily operations.