If you’re looking for new HR software, you’re in luck; there’s no shortage of options out on the market right now. However, you’ve also got quite the chore on your hands because of all those options. How are you supposed to know which HR software package to choose?
Your first consideration should arguably be finances. If your current company’s budget simply will not allow for the new purchase or upgrade, there’s no reason to be looking for a human resources management program at this time.
But if you know it’s imminent that you’ll need new software, you’ll want to ask yourself the following three questions. Make sure you answer each one thoroughly so that you’re prepared to go out and find the best HR software solutions available for your company.
1. Has your company properly analyzed the long-term benefits of HR software despite the rather hefty investment they’re looking at right now? Sadly, many companies do not progress because they see an initial price they must pay for a new program or system that doesn’t look like it’ll pay them back in any way. This lack of foresight can cause undue stress and continued poor performance over the years that could have been avoided with proper analysis. For example, HR software packages often significantly reduce the amount of paperwork your company needs to use, therefore saving you money on your office supplies bill. Also, your employees will be able to work with an automated human resources information system, which means their time will be freed up to spend on more important company projects, ultimately giving your company more bang for your buck.
2. What departments will be using the HR software, and will they be expected to contribute to its purchase? All companies function differently. Sometimes there is an over-arching employee program everyone uses to communicate everyday tasks and progress to each other, while individual departments use their own programs to function at maximum efficiency. Other times, a company may have only a few programs in use that are available to all employees. You need to figure out which departments will need to use the HR software package on a regular basis, and therefore if they’ll be in any way responsible for helping purchase it according to your company’s policies. Maybe you’ve already run the numbers for your own department and know that you can’t afford the employee management software on your own, and that you’ll definitely need the help of others. It’s up to you to make sure the software’s purchase is handled appropriately according to the company’s and departments’ needs.
3. Can you afford to purchase HR software all up front, or will you need to pay in a different scheduling format? When you’re running the numbers for your intended HR software purchase, you’ll want to separate your total budget from your monthly budgets, because both can make a difference as to what you can afford. For example, you may be able to put your total budget down on one particular piece of human resources management software, but you actually prefer the capabilities of another program that’s a bit more expensive up-front, yet 100% affordable on a monthly basis. In addition, if you plan to have your HR software as an online-only program, many of these do not accept payments in full and instead go on a month-by-month payment schedule. Still other employee management programs can be leased for a certain amount of years with payment spread out over those years. As such, it’s important to realize your total budget is not the only way your funds may end up being used.
There are of course other financial questions you’ll have to ask yourself in regards to purchasing new HR software, such as whether or not the product support is an extra fee. But once you’ve accurately assessed these main three concerns, you should be well on your way to finding the right HR software package for you.