Tag Archives for " Human Resources "

Best HR Software

 

Human resources can be a tough department to manage. Between hiring, onboarding, scheduling, benefits, and compliance, there are dozens of responsibilities to navigate. What if an employee wants to view an old paystub? How does someone access information about their vacation days or benefits?

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Without the right technology, it’s a hassle for everyone involved.

That’s why specialized HR software has become so popular.

Businesses of all sizes are using these tools to improve efficiency and employee experience at the same time.

Here are the five best HR software options out there.

I’ve reviewed each one in-depth and included a short buyer’s guide that highlights the key criteria you should use as you evaluate.

 

5 Best HR Software Options

#1 – Namely Review — The Best for Employee Self-Service

Namely is an all-in-one solution for HR, talent management, payroll, and benefits.

The platform makes it easy for businesses to improve their HR processes while remaining compliant.

It’s trusted by 1,400+ organizations worldwide.

The software is actually branded as a “people operations platform.”

It includes features for employee management, onboarding, talent management, recruiting, time and attendance, analytics, and more.

I’d say that Namely definitely falls into the human resources information systems (HRIS) category.

You’ll be able to manage all of your HR policies and procedures from the centralized platform.

I like Namely because the software is designed to improve employee engagement.

It gives your staff access to all of the HR information they could possibly need from an easy-to-use employee portal.

The software can be accessed from anywhere from the Namely mobile app.

You can even use Namely to share company news, improve communication, and set up a company directory.

Namely’s core HR package comes with tools and features like:

• Onboarding
• Performance and goal tracking
• Task lists
• Time off management
• Compliance database
• E-signature
• Employee self-service and workflows
• Custom fields

Then there are add-ons and extensions for things like payroll, benefits administration, recruiting, time & attendance, and managed services.

You get the powerful core system, and then customize it to fit your company.

Everything is synced, and your employees aren’t trying to get a payroll system to integrate with time clock software made by another vendor.

Overall, Namely is a good fit for midsize organizations.

 

#2 – APS Review — The Best for Payroll

The acronym “APS” actually stands for “Automatic Payroll Systems.”

As this name clearly implies, payroll is their specialty.

But with that said, APS is not a standalone payroll software; it’s an all-in-one solution for HR and payroll alike.

In addition to payroll, APS has HR features for benefits:

• administration,
• performance management,
• employee scheduling,
• recruiting,
• onboarding,
• compliance,
• employee self-service, and more.

They also have industry-specific solutions for:

• healthcare,
• restaurants,
• wholesalers,
• nonprofits,
• manufacturing,
• hospitality,
• financial services, and other unique categories.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the top benefits of using APS for payroll:

• Streamline tax compliance with accuracy, timeliness, and wage garnishment
• Automate your tax system to reduce your burden and risk
• Reduce time spent processing payroll with paycheck reconciliation
• Automate federal, state, and local tax filings
• Improve your efficiencies and reduce costs with paperless payroll processing

The self-service tools provided by APS are outstanding; on the employee end and administrative sides alike.

More than 2,000 businesses across different industries rely on APS. For those of you looking for an all-in-one solution for HR and payroll, APS should be at the top of your list.

 

#3 – BerniePortal Review — The Best Human Resources Information Software (HRIS)

BerniePortal isn’t as well-known as some of the other HR solutions available on the market today.

But that shouldn’t be a reason for you to pass up on considering it.

In terms of human resources information software (HRIS), BerniePortal really has everything you could possibly need.

For those of you who want to use technology to improve the total lifecycle management of your employees, BerniePortal should be at the top of your list.

BerniePortal was founded back in 2008, so they have over a decade of experience in the HR software space.

The software has been deployed in 5,000+ HR departments in all 50 states, and it has 210,000+ active users.

Why BerniePortal?

Let’s take a closer look at what this HRIS software has to offer:

• Attract and retain top-level talent with benefits administration
• Compliance, custom enrollment, and payroll reporting
• Improve productivity and engagement with seamless employee onboarding Collaborative hiring decisions with built-in applicant tracking features
• PTO tracking, time-off management, and custom policies
• Tools for time and attendance tracking with detailed reporting
• Mobile access with employee self-service tools
• Performance management and compliance features

You can even use BerniePortal for things like IRS filings.

While the software doesn’t have built-in payroll features, it can seamlessly integrate with your existing payroll system.

BerniePortal offers a free version, which helps with recruiting and applicant tracking.

Paid plans start at $9 per employee per month if you sign up for a year, or $11 per employee if you pay month-to-month.

 

#4 – Workday Review — The Best for Human Capital Management (HCM)

Workday is a popular HR software with a unique twist.

Every component of the tool is focused on finance.

It helps you manage your HR processes while always keeping your bottom line in mind—all from a single platform.

The software is used by industry leaders in a wide range of categories. Some of the well-known companies that rely on Workday include Visa, Toyota, Salesforce, CE, Target, Charles Schwab, and Adobe.

Overall, Workday is pretty versatile.

The software has solutions for human capital management, talent management, enterprise planning, payroll, and workforce management, spend management, and more.

Workday is robust, but also really easy to use.

You’ll benefit from features like:

• Automation to eliminate manual work and improve productivity
• Advanced analytics to guide decision making
• Improve communication and engagement
• Machine learning to identify employees’ skills
• Time tracking toolsCompensation, payroll, and benefits administration
• Employee directories and self-service tools
• The software can also adapt as your HCM needs evolve over time.

Another reason why Workday ranks so high on our list is because of its industry-specific HR solutions across a wide range of categories.

Some of these include healthcare, government, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, professional services, energy, and more.

 

#5 – Kissflow Review — The Best for Employee Onboarding and Applicant Tracking

Kissflow is one of my favorite tools for managing HR processes.

It’s a top choice for businesses that want to improve the talent management aspect of human resources.

The software comes with features for applicant tracking, employee onboarding, attendance management, absence management, leave management, and employee offboarding.

With Kissflow, you’ll benefit from features and functionality like:

• Get open jobs in front of top-level talent at the perfect time
• Improve employee engagement
• Employee self-service tools360-degree feedback and evaluations
• Customizable HR solutions

Kissflow pricing starts at $16 per user per month for the Basic plan.

There is a minimum of ten users required.

You’ll be able to start automating your HR workflows without writing a line of code.

The downside of Kissflow is that it’s not a true all-in-one HR solution.

It focuses on certain areas but lacks functionality for things like payroll. With that said, Kissflow does have a wide range of integrations, so you can sync it with your existing tools.

 

What I Looked at to Find the Best HR Software

There’s no one-size-fits-all HR software.

Products have evolved to meet the needs of businesses that face very different challenges.

Some companies need a system to recruit, hire, and onboard hundreds of people each month.

Others just want something dependable for payroll and benefits.

You know your organization’s situation better than anyone else.

Which capabilities are going to make the biggest difference for HR and employees?

Let’s walk through the major features of HR software, and how they can make a positive impact.

 

Employee Self-Service

HR software with an employee self-service portal is a must-have in today’s day and age.

This portal will give your staff access to crucial information, without having to call, email, or physically visit the HR department.

Want to access the employee handbook?

Log in and look it up. Have questions about your benefits?

It’s available in the portal.

Need to request a day off?

Just a few clicks away.

All of this information, and more, is available 24/7.

So if one of your employees is sitting home on a Saturday night and wants to look at an old paystub, they don’t have to wait until 9:00 AM Monday morning to call HR.

As a result, everyone on your team will be more productive, and your HR staff won’t be wasting time answering questions all day.

 

Mobile Access

The best HR software will have a free mobile app.

This app can be used on the employee side for the self-service tools mentioned above, but it’s also helpful from an administrative perspective.

HR managers and other admins can complete tasks and view important information in real-time from anywhere.

HR responsibilities won’t be tied to a physical office.

In some cases, you can even use these apps to communicate with your employees.

They can opt-in for notifications delivered straight to their devices, which can reach them faster than an email.

 

Payroll and Benefits Administration

The vast majority of HR solutions will allow you to run payroll directly through the platform.

This isn’t necessarily a make or break feature; it depends on your personal needs.

But since HR and payroll typically go hand-in-hand, lots of businesses look for an all-in-one solution for the two.

If you’re happy with your current payroll solution and don’t want to switch, that’s fine too.

See if you can find an HR software that integrates with whatever you’re using for payroll.

Your HR team and employees will like having access to everything from a single place.

 

Automation

Efficiency is the main concept behind using HR software.

Nothing is more efficient than automating repetitive tasks.

Look for software that eliminates manual labor.

For example, some HR tools will automatically track and calculate time-off requests, taxes, government filings, and more.

Think about how much money you’ll save in labor hours if you can eliminate even just 5-10 hours per week on these types of tasks. At scale, the savings are astronomical.

 

Company Size

Another way to narrow down your choices is by looking for software that fits the needs of your business size.

A small business with 15 employees won’t have the same HR needs as firm with 150 employees or an enterprise with 1,500 employees.

It sounds simple, but so many companies overlook this aspect.

Larger organizations will have more complex HR needs that some software just won’t accommodate.

On the flip side, small businesses usually won’t need all of the features offered by certain HR solutions.

 

Conclusion

Every business can benefit from HR software.

This statement holds true regardless of your company size or industry.

The five solutions recommended in this guide will be the best place for you to start your search:

1. Namely — Best for employee self-service
2. APS— Best for payroll
3. BerniePortal — Best human resources information system (HRIS)
4. Workday — Best for human capital management (HCM)
5. Kissflow — Best for employee onboarding and applicant tracking

Before you finalize a decision, make sure you go through the process explained in this guide. Figure out what type of HR software fits your needs the best by assessing the criteria I laid out.

It won’t take long, and you can ensure that you are choosing an HR software option that will meet the challenges you face.

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Best HR Outsourcing Services

HR is confusing. And the legal ramifications of doing something wrong… are huge. There’s a reason people spend their entire lives learning the ins-and-outs of human resources—there’s a lot to it. But the good news is that nobody expects you to know it all, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.

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The best HR outsourcing services exist to make your life easier.

However, there are a ton of service providers on the market.

How do you decide which one’s right for you when they all appear to be precisely the same?

To help answer that question, I looked at countless options and narrowed it down to my top six recommendations. And by the end of this guide, you’ll know everything you need to know to make the right choice for your business.

 

Top Six Recommendations for HR outsourcing services

The top 6 options may work for you:

1. G&A Partners –For customization and flexibility.
2. Bambee – For policies and administrative tasks.
3. Paychex – For HR outsourcing services – SMBs focused.
4. Insperity – For PEO outsourcing – enterprises focused.
5. ADP – For full-service non-PEO outsourcing option.
6. CPEhr – For individual HR outsourcing & consultation services.

 

How to Choose the Best HR Outsourcing Service for You?

There are countless different HR outsourcing services to choose from.

And distinguishing between all of them can feel like an impossible task.

So, before we dive into my top recommendations, let’s talk about what makes my recommendations stand out, and how to decide on the best HR outsourcing services for you.

The following criteria may work for you:

#1 – The Size of Your Business

Handling HR for large companies is vastly different than doing the same at a startup or small business. As such, different HR outsourcing companies specialize in different things and offer services targeted to a specific type of customer.

On the other hand, some offer solutions for businesses of all sizes.

However, it’s essential to consider your business’s size and budget when making your final choice. You should also think about how fast you plan to grow and expand your team.

Always make sure to talk with a sales representative and be as detailed as possible about your current and future situation to make sure they can handle everything you need.

 

#2 – Types of Services

Some HR outsourcing companies (like Bambee) only provide a specific type of service. On the other hand, some offer everything you could ever possibly need… but at a higher price point.

It may be helpful to outline your processes for each HR activity you currently manage in-house.

This can help you identify problem areas or bottlenecks with room for improvement. Then, you can pinpoint exactly which tasks and services you should outsource.

If you already know, or you want to outsource everything, consider the associated costs to ensure it’s within your budget. And keep in mind that most providers don’t offer their pricing online.

So, you’ll get a chance to speak with their team before making your final decision.

Just remember to ask about the specific services you need to make sure they can help you with everything on your list. It’s also smart to compare your initial consultation experience and pricing of various companies before choosing one.

 

#3 – Short-Term Vs. Long-Term

Do you need help for the foreseeable future or just for a one-off event like a round of recruitment? Some providers (like CPEhr) offer a la carte options so you can pick and choose what you need.

On the other hand, some only offer all-in-one solutions. So, it’s important to understand your needs before you make any decisions.

If you need short-term help, make sure you communicate that during your consultation.

 

#4 – Level of Support

Do you want your HR systems to run completely hands-off? If so, you need more support than a team that needs one-off tasks or particular areas of their HR handled for them.

Here is a second, we’ll talk about the different types of HR outsourcing services.

But keep the level of support you think you need in the back of your mind, as this plays a large role in which company you should choose.

 

#5 – Flexibility

If you already have a benefits package or an internal HR team, you need more flexibility from your HR outsourcing provider. Especially if you want to keep the same benefits package you already have.

Some providers don’t let you do this as they have their own preferences and partnerships.

And you also need to draw a clear line between what your in-house team does vs. what your outsourcing company provides. That way, nobody wastes time doing the same tasks twice.

However, if you’re a brand-new company or don’t have any HR systems in place, you won’t need the same flexibility level. So, you have fewer restrictions to worry about.

 

#6 – Customer & Employee Support

HR matters, benefits, in particular, are confusing and hard to navigate.

Because of that, your employees must have easy access to someone in your HR department.

When you outsource this, your employees should be able to directly talk with the company, whether it be to ask a quick question or get help choosing the right benefits package.

Some providers offer a dedicated manager that handles this, making it much easier for you and your team to get the answers they need. Furthermore, they should also provide an employee self-service dashboard for paystubs, W-2s, time off, and more.

Regardless of who you choose, make sure they plan on taking great care of your team.

 

The Different Types of HR Outsourcing Services

HR outsourcing is technically separate from PEO and HR software, but they’re very similar in nature. So, let’s take a second to walk through the differences before we get started.

HR Software vs. HRO (Human Resources Outsourcing) vs. PEO (Professional employer organization)

HR Software:

• This is something companies provide to make in-house HR management easier.
• With HR software, you pay a monthly fee to use it every month. Alternatively, you could buy a license and install it on your computer.
• It’s mostly for automating processes or providing a network of benefits providers.
• You can use it as a tiny business without HR or if you have a dedicated HR team. Either way, it’s a software that requires you (or someone on your team) to run it.
• With that said, it’s very flexible and affordable.

However, don’t confuse it with HR outsourcing because they aren’t the same, although a few of the providers on this list also offer HR software.

 

Human resources outsourcing (HRO)

HR outsourcing means hiring a third-party to take on all or part of your HR management tasks.

• This can include things like payroll administration, benefits management, recruitment, and employee training programs.
• The benefit of outsourcing in this manner vs. hiring or expanding your in-house team is lower associated costs. When you outsource, you don’t need to pay a salary or provide benefits.
• So, the overall cost is typically much lower than adding new people to your team.
• All of the options on this list offer HR outsourcing in some form or another. Some only cover specific tasks like policy creation, while others offer services covering every aspect of human resources.
• With HR outsourcing, you can decide if you want to outsource all HR activities or just a few.

 

Professional Employer Organization (PEO)

• PEO services are a specific type of HR outsourcing in which the company is your co-employer. Furthermore, the service provider becomes the employer of your employees.
• And since the PEO company is the employer, they’re responsible for payroll taxes.
• This type of agreement typically requires a lengthy contract. However, you’re in charge of what your team does on a day-to-day basis. So, everything stays the same on your end, except you’re no longer responsible for specific HR tasks or payroll taxes.
• Furthermore, the two parties decide how much responsibility each party handles.
• So, this type of agreement can be extremely flexible if that’s something you need. This is especially beneficial if you already have an HR department.
• One of the most significant values of this type of partnership is access to better benefits packages for your team. Plus, you can get those pesky HR tasks off your plate.
• However, you sacrifice a certain degree of control by inviting someone else into your business.

 

The Top Six HR Outsourcing Services

Now, let’s check the top six HR outsourcing services one-by-one.

No.1- HR Outsourcing Services – G&A Partners Review

It is an excellent HR outsourcing service for customization and flexibility

If you’re looking for a customizable and flexible all-around HR outsourcing solution, G&A Partners is my #1 recommendation.

They combine intuitive technology encompassing everything you need with world-class customer service to empower your business and employees. From payroll services to health insurance, retirement plans, and recruitment, G&A Partners covers it all.

Furthermore, each plan is custom-fit to your business and specific needs.

So, you don’t have to worry about cookie-cutter plans that don’t quite fit the bill. Plus, you also get a dedicated client service team to manage everything and help you out when you need it.

As a G&A Partners client, you can choose from countless services, including:

• Payroll administration and processing
• Self-service employee dashboard
• Time clock, scheduling, and PTO
• On-demand data access
• Benefits from the top providers
• Benefits administration
• Ancillary benefits
• Wellness and financial health
• Sourcing, recruiting, and hiring

And since each plan is custom to match your needs, you’re not stuck paying for services you don’t actually need. Plus, you can rest easy knowing you comply with local, state, and federal legal regulations.

From recruitment and onboarding to payroll and benefits administration, you’re in good hands.

With that said, G&A Partners doesn’t share pricing online. So, schedule a free consultation to build a service package tailormade for you, your business, and your #1 asset—your employees.

 

No.2- HR Outsourcing Services – Bambee Review

It is the best HR outsourcing services for HR policies and administrative tasks

If you’re a small business with fewer than 99 employees, Bambee is an affordable way to hire a dedicated account manager to handle HR policies and employee training.

Hiring an in-house HR manager can easily cost $4,000+ every month, plus benefits. So, it gets quite expensive and unattainable for really small businesses.

But with Bambee, you can outsource starting at $79/month (or $99/month if you pay monthly).

From the start, you get a dedicated HR manager to help build your HR policies and walk you through your state’s compliance regulations.

They can also help you, onboard employees, terminate them, and handle corrective action while staying in compliance.

Furthermore, Bambee can also help evaluate your risk for wrongful termination.

So, you don’t have to worry about expensive lawsuits or continually wondering what you’re responsible for after employee termination.

Plus, you get complete remote access to your manager via phone, email, and chat to answer questions and help you with anything you need. And the best part? Your employees can chat with them as well.

With Bambee, you get access to powerful and helpful features, including:

• Creating and implementing company policies
• Staff training, so they understand your new policies
• E-signatures and an online document viewer
• Staff folders for organization and compliance
• A smart cabinet for record-keeping
• HR forms and agreements (i.e., HIPAA notices or offer letters)

You get everything you need to create, implement, and manage internal HR policies. However, you are sacrificing several crucial features, like payroll administration and benefits management for affordable pricing.

So, keep in mind that you will have to manage those things on your own. Bambee can answer questions and look into those things for you, but they’re not included as part of the package.

 

No.3- HR Outsourcing Services – Paychex Review

It could be the top choice of HR outsourcing services for small to midsize businesses

Paychex is one of the most popular and trusted HR solutions on the market.

They’ve been around for more than 45 years, and over 680,000+ businesses trust them with their HR software and service needs.

From benefits and attendance to payroll, HR, and onboarding, they offer everything you need to run and streamline your small or midsize business without hiring in-house.

And the best part is that you can choose which services you need, rather than paying for everything and using a handful of features.

Plus, you can outsource everything… or a few things, depending on what you need.

They offer software and service packages for small, medium, and large companies. So, it’s an excellent option for everyone. But their small and medium sizes packages are where they truly shine.

In fact, more than half a million of their customers are small businesses.

With their small and midsize packages, you get access to Paychex Flex, their all-in-one HR automation software.

But you can also choose between 24/7/365 customer support or a dedicated specialist for help when you need it. So, whether you have a dedicated HR team or not, you can rest easy knowing you have an expert manager behind you.

Paychex Flex comes with a wide range of powerful features, including:

• Recruiting and applicant tracking
• Time and attendance
• Hiring and onboarding
• Retirement and termination
• Health insurance administration
• Payroll management
• PTO, 401(k)s, and other benefits

You won’t find their pricing online, so get a free quote to learn more about Paychex today!

 

No.4- HR Outsourcing Services – Insperity Review

It is an excellent selection for PEO services for enterprises

Insperity is an all-in-one HR service provider for small businesses and enterprise organizations alike. They offer individual solutions and a full-service PEO option, making it perfect for small to medium enterprises.

It’s an excellent choice if you have the budget for their PEO choice as an alternative to hiring or expanding an in-house HR team.

They also offer a wide range of HR software if you’re a smaller business interested in managing HR activities on your own. However, that gets old very quickly, especially if you have a ton of other things on your plate.

Insperity’s PEO all-in-one solution covers every HR service imaginable, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• FSA and HSA accounts
• Disability, employee assistance, and retirement
• Payroll processing and administration
• Time and attendance tracking
• HR administration and wage garnishments
• An employee self-service portal
• Risk mitigation and legal compliance
• Recruiting and performance management
• Training and development programs
• Company culture development
• Advanced analytics and reporting
• Personalized customer support for your employees

As if that isn’t enough, they have a team of specialists dedicated to managing different HR tasks. So, you know you’re getting the best of the best.

It’s essentially an extension of your business (or HR department if you already have one).

Insperity’s services are a practical way to reduce risk, improve productivity, automate your HR processes, and get a bird’s eye view of your most valuable asset—your employees.

They offer two-year pricing guarantees, billing transparency, and fixed service fees, so you never have to guess how much you’re going to pay every month.

However, their prices aren’t available online, so get in touch with their sales team to learn more.

 

No.5- HR Outsourcing Services – ADP Review

It is good for full-service non-PEO outsourcing.

If you’re interested in full-service HR outsourcing but don’t want to go the PEO route, ADP is an excellent choice. They provide complete outsourcing for everything from administrative tasks to payroll processing and more.

With that said, they do offer a PEO option. But they’re one of the few providers that offer complete packages without the complexity of an enterprise-grade PEO partnership.

 

On top of that, they also offer one of the most popular HR software packages on the market.

So, you can create an entire HR department using their services and software without having to hire in-house or expand your existing team.

ADP’s team of experts is ready to help reduce your risk and everyday burden, regardless if you’re just looking for a helping hand with administrative tasks or facing an acquisition, merger, or an at-risk termination.

So, no matter the situation, ADP has you covered.

They offer a variety of individual services and more strategic offerings, including things like:

• Payroll and benefits administration
• Time and attendance tracking
• Employee handbooks and internal policies
• COBRA insurance administration
• Dynamic analytics
• Compliance training, tracking, and reporting
• Recruitment and staffing

On top of that, they also offer a bundle of business processes and HR outsourcing if you need even more assistance with the ins and outs of your business.

Because each package is tailored for your business, you won’t find ADP’s pricing online.

As such, you’ll have to get with their sales team to learn more and start building out your HR outsourcing package.

 

No.6- HR Outsourcing Services – CPEhr Review

The best HR outsourcing services for individual tasks and HR consultations

If you’re interested in outsourcing individual HR tasks or receiving HR consultations, CPEhr is a smart choice. They offer a wide variety of different services designed to help make your life (or your HR department’s) life a bit easier.

So, rather than spending time running payroll or finding the best benefits for your team, you can work on things that actually move the needle for your business.

Plus, they also take pride in helping customers develop long-term and short-term HR strategies, so you’re never left to figure things out on your own.

 

Whether your HR department needs some extra assistance or you need one-off services, like recruitment for an open position, CPEhr has you covered. Their services span basic administrative tasks to more complex strategy planning, including:

• Payroll and tax administration
• Recruiting, onboarding, and training
• Benefits administration
• COBRA insurance management
• Disability and retirement
• Employee benefit orientations
• Employee and management training
• Risk management consulting
• Employee handbooks and policies
• Unemployment and disability administration
• Performance reviews
• Legal compliance
• Government audits

Essentially, CPEhr covers anything you need, whether you want to outsource everything or a short-term one-off situation.

They also offer PEO and full HR outsourcing plans, if that’s something you’re interested in. However, they have a “la carte” services and complete flexibility, which are making them stand out from everyone else on the list.

Like most providers, you won’t find pricing online.

Get in touch with their team to talk more about your needs and learn more about how CPEhr can help your business today!

 

Wrapping Things Up

G&A Partners is my top recommendation for most users. It’s incredibly flexible with the ability to handle businesses of all shapes and sizes. Plus, they offer a wide range of services to help make your life easier.

But that doesn’t mean they’re right for everyone.

So, don’t forget to use the criteria we talked about as you go through the process of finding the best HR outsourcing services for you, your team, and your business.

How do you handle human resources at your company?

 

The post, Best HR Outsourcing Services appeared first on Neil Patel.

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Best Applicant Tracking Software

An applicant tracking software, also known as ATS software, can help businesses reach a wider pool of qualified applicants as well as manage data from various sources – all at a single platform.

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

Here’s a business cliche for you: Employees are the greatest asset for every company.

Precisely why recruitment is so challenging for HRs or recruiters. The process is quite elaborate and comprises several steps ranging from job posting to managing and streamlining applications.

Let’s talk statistics:

A corporate job post receives 250 resumes on average. And even after that, 45% of employers say that they can’t find candidates with the skills they need.

With the high influx of CVs, it’s crucial for HR specialists to raise their efficiency levels, which brings us to our next stat – recruiters only take six seconds to evaluate the candidate’s resume.

Now, six seconds isn’t necessarily enough for recruiters to make the right decision every time, especially because every business has unique needs when it comes to recruitment.

At the same time, technology is changing how we did things manually, which is why we now have a tool dedicated to automating the process of recruitment and hiring.

An applicant tracking software, also known as ATS software, can help businesses reach a wider pool of qualified applicants as well as manage data from various sources – all at a single platform.

This software is used by departments and hiring managers to carry out internal hiring. Even third parties, such as recruitment and staffing agencies, use an ATS.

According to research:

• 86% of recruiting professionals agree that using ATS software has accelerated their hiring process
• 78% of recruiting professionals found that using ATS software has given them access to higher qualified candidates

So adding top-level talent doesn’t have to be time-consuming and troubling anymore.

In this guide, we’ll review the best applicant tracking software on the market that can help a company employ the most suitable candidate for the job with minimal effort.

 

The Top 5 Options For Applicant Tracking Software

• BambooHR – Anchor Link to Subhead Below
• Bullhorn – Anchor Link to Subhead Below
• SAP SuccessFactors– Anchor Link to Subhead Below
• Workable – Anchor Link to Subhead Below
• JazzHR – Anchor Link to Subhead Below

 

How to Choose the Best Applicant Tracking Software for Your Needs

Every business has unique recruiting and applicant tracking requirements, depending on specific factors like size, niche, and so on.

It also means that no ATS software offers an a-one-size-fits-all solution.

There are a few pointers that can help you determine the best applicant tracking software for your needs, though. Read on as we discuss them in greater detail below.

ATS Software Type

Every ATS software has been conceived to cater to a specific set of needs.

You see, while some software is designed to handle higher volume recruiting, which is typically carried out by enterprises, some are created to help small businesses specifically.

Similarly, you’ll also find software focused on satisfying the needs of staffing and recruitment agencies.

We’ll do a more in-depth assessment of the different types of applicant tracking software later on in this article. (Anchor link to H2 below)

Hiring Frequency and Volume

A business that hires around 20 employees every year won’t have the same requirements as an enterprise that is hiring 20 employees every month.

You need to figure out software that meets your hiring frequency and volume.

Generally, ATS software has a maximum limit or restriction on how many active openings you can have at a time.

Moreover, most of the brands offer additional features and tools to help businesses efficiently manage large-scale recruiting, which are understandably far more tricky to manage.

So how do you find software that is suitable for your company?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. How frequently does your company hire new employees?
2. What is the average number of employees that you hire at once? Is the volume high or low?

These two questions will help you weed out software that doesn’t fit your needs instantly.

Feature List

Most ATS software offers add-on features to enhance the efficiency of your recruiting strategy.

This can include candidate sourcing, applicant tracking, employee onboarding, recruiting analytics, and workforce planning.

Your aim should be to pick software that fulfills your recruiting needs in terms of efficiency and scalability.

For instance, small businesses can opt for cloud-based ATS software that is more affordable and doesn’t require an on-site tech support team.

Contrarily, large-sized enterprises don’t need to go cloud-based since they have a higher budget and can afford an in-house support team to cater to their higher hiring frequency.

Budget

Every business has a budget for various processes. Whether its marketing or recruitment, teams have to operate within the constraints.

Try to find an applicant tracking software that fits within your budget while simultaneously helping you improve the efficiency within your organization.

The good news here is you have several options.

You‘ll find software that costs less than $0.50 per employee – provided you opt for an add-on to HR software – and also plans that have a monthly charge of $249.

 

What are the Different Types of Applicant Tracking Software?

Here, we’ll compare the different types of ATS.

Small Business vs. Midsize Business vs. Enterprise Business

Small business buyers are anywhere between 1-50 employees. Generally, this category doesn’t have a department dedicated to human resources and recruiting initiatives.

On the other hand, mid-size business buyers and enterprise business buyers have employees anywhere between the 51–500 and greater than 500 range, respectively.

While the former is headed towards rapid growth, the latter is more developed.

Besides that, mid-size businesses often seek to hire an internal recruiter, whereas enterprise business buyers already have a hiring team and a dedicated IT department.

The hiring frequency and volume for each of these businesses are obviously different.

Staffing agencies, for example, would do well with software plans that offer them sourcing, tracking, and hiring. For corporates, however, hiring may have to be customized further.

It’ll be better for larger companies to opt for plans that allow them to customize their career pages and employee referral portals, followed by pre-screening assessments, e-signature verification, and background screening, and lastly, HRMS integration.

In-house Recruiting vs. Recruiting Agency

Some applicant tracking system software is created for in-house recruiting that allows them to enjoy higher personalization and automation.

Other software focuses on servicing recruiting agencies and firms with scalability for high-volume and white labeling for getting clients.

Although you’ll also find ATS software that offers capabilities for both groups, it’s better to find one that’s right for your company.

All-In-On Option vs. Specialty Tools Availability

Different businesses will require different add-ons depending on their hiring process.

While most ATS software does come with additional specialty tools like SEO, payroll, HR, and CRM, some don’t.

SEO tools are useful for all businesses since they make job advertisements more successful.

Not only will companies be able to build up wider reach, but they’ll also attract new candidates to their ‘Careers’ page.

Similarly, CRM capabilities are an essential component for inbound recruiting that allows companies to carry out long-term candidate tracking and build their talent pool.

Core Applicant Tracking vs. Full Recruiting Cycle Support

You’ll find two types of ATS products: one that focuses exclusively on tracking candidate’s application materials, and two, that provide support for other aspects of the recruitment life cycle.

You can also differentiate between the software based on feature lists. Interviews, document signing and management, note-taking, scheduling, and integration are some common differentiation points.

After carrying out extensive research and taking demos, we can confidently recommend the following five applicant tracking software to transform the way your company recruits and hires employees.

 

Examples of Applicant Tracking Software

Keep reading as we discuss the features, benefits, and pricing of each software below:

#1: BambooHR – The Best Overall Applicant Tracking Software

BambooHR can provide the ultimate solution to your human resources department for handling the company’s recruiting and onboarding needs.

While it may not be the cheapest option, you do get features that make the investment more than worth it.

The ATS system of BambooHR provides ideal solutions for small and mid-size businesses.

It has a well-organized and visually appealing set of tools for handling application information throughout every stage of the hiring process.

BambooHR allows you to post job positions on the go too. You’ll have access to top-level talent from the leading job boards and sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Indeed, and Twitter – all at your fingertips.

The software has a hiring mobile app that is available for both Android and iOS.

Sending offer letters directly within the platform as well as collaborating with your team for recruiting, sending automated alerts, and so on is also possible.

Additionally, since BambooHR is a complete human resource management software, you‘ll be able to manage your new employees for their full duration with your company.

Prominent Features

• User-friendly
• Streamlined processes that are easy to learn, along with easy pre-boarding and onboarding facilities
• Customizable email templates
• Automated emailing system
• Message scheduling to multiple candidates
• Job boards and social media integration

Pricing

BambooHR offers two packages: Essentials and Advantage.

While both the packages are feature-rich, the ATS isn’t available with the Essentials plan.

So if you want applicant tracking, you have to get the Advantage plan.

Keep in mind that this software may not be the best solution for your company if you only want ATS.

Unfortunately, BambooHR doesn’t feature pricing on its website. In case you want a free quote, you‘ll have to contact them.

Pros

• Impressive design
• Easy to set up
• Open API that allows simple integrations with HR tech vendors
• Provides an all-in-one solution for HR departments

Cons

• Pricey
• ATS software isn’t available with the entry-level plan

#2: Bullhorn – The Best Applicant Tracking Software for Large Enterprises

Bullhorn is a powerful, easy-to-use applicant tracking system that helps you streamline all recruitments from a single interface that can either be a desktop, mobile device, or any internet browser.

In fact, it’s a tailor-made solution for staffing businesses and traders.

The software allows you to keep track of candidates throughout the recruitment process, along with initiating team member collaboration.

You can use Bullhorn to fill jobs and automate the onboarding process. It offers 100+ pre-integrated solutions for customizing the software to accommodate specific needs.

Even calculating bills for time tracking and invoicing are also possible.

All in all, you can manage clients as well as candidates with Bullhorn.

That being said, we would recommend this software for staffing and recruiting agencies only.

Generally speaking, there are better options on the market for internal reporting, making Bullhorn a bit too much for in-house hiring managers and HR departments.

Plus, the premium price may be too expensive for smaller businesses that have limited budgets.

Prominent Features

• Automatic candidate tracking on the application system
• Allows you to add new candidate resumes from job boards
• Mobile recruiting software for viewing and managing candidate records
• LinkedIn and email integration
• Dashboard reporting
• Facilitates addition of notes to records
• Real-time updating of records
• Reporting and management options to check the recruiting team’s progress

Pricing

Bullhorn offers three plans: Team, Corporate, and Enterprise.

The rates for Bullhorn plans aren’t available on the website. You’ll have to request a pricing quote to get more details.

Pros

• Excellent user interface
• Gmail and Outlook integration
• Intuitive features like bowling alley layout for easy and efficient data input
• Unlimited customizations

Cons

• Very expensive
• Lacks iOS or Android mobile applications

#3: SAP SuccessFactors – The Best Cloud-Based Applicant Tracking Software

SAP SuccessFactors aims to provide all-inclusive ATS software to give companies wider access to top-level talent with minimal effort. In fact, in terms of reliability, this software might be one of the best options available to you.

SuccessFactors has a plethora of support and features, such as comprehensive applicant management, onboarding portal, global talent sourcing, and candidate relationship management. You can also avail of performance metrics, employee engagement, and payroll management.

In other words, it’s a holistic, cloud-based HR management system that facilitates all processes of the recruiting cycle.

We particularly like how deeply insightful the software can be for talent acquisition thanks to its analytical reporting and progress tracking features.

Prominent Features

• Centrally managed global job distribution and access
• Effective and efficient candidates relationship management
• E-signature solutions
• Online offer letter and other documentation
• Key insights into 4000 job boards, social media platforms, and campuses spanning across 80 countries
• Responsive career site creation facility

Pricing

SAP SuccessFactors is available as SaaS through a monthly subscription based on the number of users. It‘s priced at $3 per user per month, but you can also avail of the HCM suite that costs $84.53 per user annually.

Pros

• Comes with a great feature list for small to medium-sized businesses
• Intuitive setup wizard
• Provides descriptive video tutorials
• Superb performance tracking features
• A great option for fast-growing companies

Cons

• Steeper price tag than its competitors
• Doesn’t include add-ons offered by rivals

#4: Workable – The Best Applicant Tracking Software for Small and Midsize Businesses

Offering the best value for small and medium-sized businesses, Workable is an easy-to-use recruiting software solution.

It’s a holistic tool that can be accessed on mobile devices as well as desktops.

You get a wide array of applicant tracking (AT) solutions, along with access to a large pool of premium job boards.

Besides this, you can also customize the dashboard to boost the efficiency of your hiring process further.

Workable aims to help businesses of all sizes find, evaluate, and automate recruitment and hiring.

Companies can fill in their pipeline with one-click job postings on nearly 200 sites through AI-powered search.

Moreover, team collaboration for applicant evaluation, gathering feedback, and automating manual tasks like scheduling interviews and getting approvals is also possible.

Workable also has various add-ons that can make your account more functional – provided you‘re ready to pay for them.

Basically, your company can stay on top of the entire recruiting process right from posting ads to onboarding employees.

It’s also a good option for scalability since you can upgrade to an annual plan to get access to advanced features like one-click candidate sourcing and applicant tracking tools too.

Prominent Features

• Data protection with access rights for hiring team
• Confidentiality control
• Organized reporting lines, with role assignment, job creation, and job posting
• Productivity and activity report generation
• One-click postings on multiple job boards
• Interview scheduling with email-calendar synchronization
• Offer letters and single sign-on (SSO)

Pricing

Workable has two pricing plans: Hire As Needed and Hire At Scale. While the Hire As Needed plan costs $99 per job, per month, the Hire At Scale plan doesn’t have clear pricing.

You can also take advantage of free demos and a 15-day free trial program to test the software before committing.

Pros

• Easy-to-understand UI
• Robust integrationOffe
• rs great email and interview templates
• Well-organized

Cons

• Not very customizable
• Search across tabs needs to be improved
• Inefficient support functionality

#5: JazzHR – The Best Applicant Tracking Software for Internal Hiring and Staffing Agencies

JazzHR can assure you seamless job requisition, interview scheduling, and other aspects of the hiring process.

You can use this software for organizing and tracking all of your job openings, candidates, resumes, customers, and contacts.

This intuitive ATS tool can automate every manual process connected with hiring, allowing recruiters and HR managers to curate recruitment processes and source qualified candidates efficiently and quickly.

No wonder it’s trusted by over 5000 organizations across the world!

JazzHR is an excellent option for staffing agencies and internal hiring.

It has an unlimited user feature that allows businesses to bill on a per-user basis, which simultaneously eliminates any additional charges.

The software is also highly customizable.

You can tailor-make a process to suit your team’s needs and preferences when it comes to recruitment and hiring.

Prominent Features

• Efficient candidate sourcing, along with employer branding facility
• Job posting and syndication
• Collaborative hiring
• Job-specific recruitment teams
• Compliance management and reporting
• Interview scheduling and other assessments
• Job offers and e-signature solutions

Pricing

JazzHR has three plans on offer: Hero, Plus, and Pro.

At $39 per month, the Hero plan caps the maximum open jobs at three.

While this might be suitable for small teams, it still doesn’t offer an applicant tracking system.

For ATS and other benefits like interviews and assessments, all-access support, and so on, we would recommend the Plus and Pro plans, which cost $219 and $329 per month, respectively,

You can also request a free demo and get a free trial for 21 days.

Pros

• User-friendly and flexible
• Job posting integration and job syndication
• Auto-reject functions for unqualified candidates
• Allows you to keep track of interview notes

Cons

• Reporting feature needs to be improved
• Lacks mobile app support

 

Wrapping Up

Finding the right talent is crucial – more so because employees serve as the foundation of an organization.

We hope you were able to find an ATS software that suits your companies recruitment and hiring needs from this guide.

Irrespective of your choice, an application applicant tracking software will help you select the best candidates from a talent pool of thousands of people in a surprisingly efficient manner. So, why wait? Get your ATS now.

The post, Best Applicant Tracking Software appeared first on Neil Patel.

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