Do you need multiple HR tools or one system?
When it comes to those jobs around the home, are you a fan of multitools, Swiss army knives, etc? Or do you prefer a selection of specialized tools, each perfect for its own purpose but no more?
In the world of hammers, screwdrivers, and pliers, both are possible. The full toolkit for bigger, more complex jobs and the integrated multitool being handy for simpler, ad hoc tasks. However, in the world of HR automation, nobody would really want to maintain two sets of tools. Unlike the DIY scene, you’re licensing or renting HR software, and each piece of tech relies on access to an up to date workforce database, and… well, there goes the analogy. With HR tools, you can have one or many, a single integrated HRMS or a selection of best-of-breed modules, you just have to decide what’s right for you…
What is available on the market?
Broadly speaking, there are two typical routes for automating your HR functions. You can use a different piece of software for each process, or you can seek out an integrated suite that does everything. Though naturally, ‘everything’ may be defined differently, depending on which suite or vendor you’re looking at.
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Starting at the beginning, automation options are available for the following elements of HR:
- General HR – staff database, benefits administration, employee and manager self-service.
- Time and attendance – clocking in and out, employee scheduling, absence management, integration with payroll, compliance.
- Analytics – real-time reporting, personal dashboards, predictive capabilities, succession planning
- Recruitment and onboarding – forecasting and analysis, internal applications, applicant tracking, social media integration, resume parsing, automated reminders, gamification, succession planning.
- Learning and development – administration of certifications, training directory and booking tool, scheduling, training plans, evaluation.
- Payroll – calculations and payments, online payslips, overtime.
Which way do you leap – multiple tools or a single HR system?
As for which of those features you need, that depends on the nature and state of your business, and your strategic plans for the next few years. Whether you decide to search for those features individually, in the form of best-of-breed software packages, or as a single off-the-shelf HRMS suite, the following table summarises the differences between the two options:
Multiple HR automation tools | Single integrated HRMS | |
---|---|---|
Implementation |
Installation and implementation of each individual piece of software is usually quicker and easier due to the narrower scope and smaller number of users compared to an organization-wide HRMS. However, multiple tools means multiple projects, with multiple project teams, and unconnected project timelines and activities. |
Though a larger endeavor, an implemented and installed HRMS is more likely to work out of the box, as opposed to a collection of separate items that must be made to work together. Furthermore, an HRMS implementation is a single project, with a single team and management process. |
Features |
Any best-of-breed software tool is likely to be more advanced or offer more sophisticated functions – in other words, a payroll module is likely to be better at managing your payroll than the payroll element of an all-inclusive HRMS. |
The lack of specialization means than an HRMS is more generic and likely to be more limited in function… which does not mean it can’t be a perfect fit - it depends on your business needs). |
User training |
A specialized, one-function piece of software will almost certainly have less users than an HRMS. This means shorter and more focused user training which is likely to be more effective (though narrower in scope) than the equivalent training in an HRMS implementation project. If you’re working with multiple individual tools from multiple vendors there is likely to be less consistency across your HR tech user training. |
Larger-scale training programs for greater numbers of users can have benefits in terms of costs (economies of scale) and consistency (a single trainer or team of trainers for the whole system). |
Data |
To get the best from your HR tools, they need to be working with the same employee data. This leaves two options: either double (or multiple) entry of information, or exchange of information between tools. The former risks mistakes and complaints. The latter can be a significant technical problem. |
An HRMS uses a single, integrated information database, avoiding issues of compatibility and (with single input) human error. |
Security |
Multiple logins for multiple tools can result in security risks. As can the complex architecture between disparate best-of-breed platforms. |
A single login on a single platform reduces the potential points of ingress for a cyber-attack. |
User experience |
The usual user experience of several HR tools includes not only multiple logins but also multiple and varied interfaces and processes. |
A clear benefit of an integrated HRMS is that once a user has learned to navigate the system, has understood the system’s logic and structure, then that knowledge applies to the whole system. In other words, the uniformity of the user experience means it’s not necessary to learn the basics every time a user learns to use a new automated process. |
Management and strategy |
Individual HR tools may come equipped with more sophisticated reporting and analytics capability. But the benefit of HR analytics depends on the depth and variety of data available and so the above issues around data compatibility and sharing apply. |
An HRMS suite usually comes with a single reporting function that draws on the system’s common database (i.e. all your digitally-available HR data). |
Maintenance and support |
On the one hand, specialized HR tools are easier to maintain and upgrade, working on a much smaller scale to an integrated suite. However, though individual updates may be more frequent, if those tools are from multiple vendors then it becomes much more difficult to coordinate the support across your HR function. |
A more coordinated schedule of updates and upgrades is not only easier to manage, but it also reduces any burden on your in-house IT managers. |
Vendor relationship |
A vendor that specializes in one or two types of HR tools is likely to be bringing a degree of expertise to the table. Also, dealing with multiple vendors mitigates the risk of a vendor going out of business – you may lose vendor support for time and attendance, for example, but the fallout will not affect your recruitment activities. |
Your relationship with a vendor supplying all your HR software needs via an integrated HRMS will potentially be deeper and more involved than those with a collection of vendors, each supplying a different tool. |
To put it simply, the choice between using multiple HR tools versus a single system is far from clear cut. You have to focus on your business needs and cut through the sale-speak. In fact, even if you lean towards an all-in-one system, you still need to differentiate between HRMS, HRIS and HCM and the varying definitions used by different vendors.
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