HR is a core function of any business. How well you manage your employees will have a huge impact on the organizations future, be it positive or negative.
If done right, your employees will stick around longer, and the workplace as a whole will be a much better place for everyone.
This, however, isn’t all that easy. There are a ton of different functions any HR department should be working on. Usually, this is payroll, recruitment, retention, employee wellness, and so on.
All this can be very overwhelming, even for the most experienced HR specialist.
There are, however, a ton of different HR tools that can make your job much easier. The tools can handle just about any given function, from payroll to onboarding.
To give you a better idea of what software you’d need, we compiled a list of all the must-have HR tools for every function.
Hiring & Recruitment
The most fundamental HR function is hiring. Whenever there’s a need for a new employee, you need to look for the right candidate – and that’s just the start. You need to vet candidates, find the right employee, conduct interviews, and so on.
These HR tools help streamline your entire recruitment process, all the way from posting a job ad to assessing candidates.
Job Posting – Better Team
These days, there are hundreds, if not thousands, different job boards.
If you want to make sure that your candidate search has maximum reach, you’d have to go through each and every one of them manually, copy + pasting the job ads.
So that you don’t have to spend an entire day posting job ads, BetterTeam allows you to post everywhere at once.
As an added benefit, the software also helps with other areas of recruitment. You can, for example, use it to create your own job board on your company website.
It can even help create the job descriptions, making your work significantly easier (and faster).
Applicant Tracking System (ATS) – Jobvite
Once you’ve posted your job ad all over the place, the resumes will start coming in. Depending on the job, this can range from hundreds to tens of thousands.
Manually going through all of them can be very exhausting & time-consuming. Chances are, you’ll glance through all the resumes real quick. In fact, that’s what most HR professionals do. The average time an HR looks at a resume is 6 seconds. So in most cases, you’ll rarely have the time (or desire) to dig into each resume.
Jobvite is an applicant tracking software (ATS) that helps you filter through all the resumes. You can specify any given requirement (X+ years of experience, a certain type of skill, location, etc.) and it does the filtering for you.
By simply eliminating all the irrelevant resumes, you’ll have more time to focus on candidates that are important for your organization.
Employee Screening – Harver
In a lot of cases, an applicant’s resume just doesn’t cut it. It can, after all, only hold so much information.
To make an adequate choice on whom to hire, you need to assess 2 very important things…
- Skill Level – As a given, you’d want your candidate to be an expert in their field. While the resume shows their experience in years, it doesn’t give you an accurate view of how good they are.
- Personality Fit – In addition to skills, you’d also want the new hire to get along with everyone else. Every company has a different culture with different types of employees. You wouldn’t, for example, want to hire a 50-something old-school manager in a trendy StartUp.
With Harver, you can create tests for both skill and personality, allowing you to make more educated decisions about your hiring
Employee Onboarding – Tallyfy
Most companies don’t put too much thought into their onboarding program.
In fact, most of them don’t even have one! They tend to just sort of wing it, the employee will show up at the office and their supervisor will take care of them.
Onboarding, however, is actually very important. In fact, a good onboarding program can increase your employee retention by 50% or more.
So, how do you make this work?
Well, you need to create an actual procedure. Onboarding shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be a well-defined, well-planned process.
To do this, create a list of everything that should happen for the employee to start being productive at work. So, steps such as…
- Fill in all the paperwork
- Have the documents approved by management
- Schedule a start date with the hire’s respective team
- Make sure that the new employee gets all the onboarding materials
- etc.
Once you’ve got your exact structure down, you can use Tallyfy to solidify the process. The software makes sure all the tasks are completed in a timely manner, allowing for a rock-solid onboarding process.
As an added benefit, Tallyfy also allows for automated approval processes. Think, if an employee wants to take a day off, they can simply fill in the form online and it’s going to be forwarded to the HR.
People Management
The day-to-day work of an HR is mainly administrative. Think, payroll, administrating the employee benefits, etc.
On paper, it can be pretty complicated – there are a lot of things you want to remember and consider. The software helps make this entire process significantly easier, allowing you to track everything through a single hub.
HR Suite – Zenefits
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for people management, Zenefits is your go-to. It’s one of the most popular HRM tools out there, and that’s for a reason.
The software offers just about every functionality you’ll need – time tracking, benefits, payroll, compliance, you name it!
The downside, though, is that it’s a bit pricey compared to other HRM software. It starts off at $5 per employee plus a $40 base fee. For full functionality (time off tracking, compliance support, etc.) the price goes up to $9 per user.
Core HR Functions – StaffSquared
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to Zenefits, StaffSquared might be a better idea.
Like Zenefits, it offers most of the core HRM functionalities…
- Absence Management
- Expense Management
- Time Tracking
- Reporting
StaffSquared, however, lacks a handful of features. Specifically, payroll and compliance. So, depending on which functionalities you need, you can pick either of the two HR tools.
Employee Wellness
An engaged employee is a happy employee. In fact, according to [X], employees that are engaged within the workplace tend to be Y% more productive.
These apps help keep your workplace more interesting, be it through rewards of gamification.
Employee Recognition – Bonus.ly
Recognition is important in any work environment. Your employees love to feel valued for their work. Sometimes, however, it can be hard to recognize everyone.
Bonus.ly allows your employees to give credit to each other, and when they collect enough points, they can be redeemed for a custom reward. This can be anything from free lunch to an extra day off.
The way this works is, everyone gets a monthly allowance of points. The employees can then use the points to recognize work done by their colleagues.
This can either be done through your very own Bonus.ly platform, or through any other communication tool your company uses. Think, Slack, Microsoft Teams, etc.
Goal-Setting and Development – Trakstar
Feedback is important for company growth.
Your employees can have a wealth of knowledge on how to improve the organization as a whole. More often than not, though, they don’t have the opportunity to share feedback.
Tools such as Trakstar make general company-related feedback, as well as 360 employee evaluations, simple and easy.
The software also helps with goal-setting and personal development. Your employees can create their day-to-day goals, which you can then track and determine who’s performing well and who isn’t.
Gamification – nGUVU
Gamification, other than being an overused buzzword these days, is a great way to keep your employees engaged within the workplace.
nGUVU offers a gamification solution for just about every industry, from phone sales to retail.
With sales, for example, the platform helps create an achievement-based environment. Here are a handful of features that the platform comes with…
- Rewards & Recognition – nGUVU tracks your KPIs and lists your top-performers on leader-boards. You can then reward the individuals as you see fit.
- Competitions – Friendly competition is good for everyone. Create micro contests for your employees to compete in.
According to nGUVU, the entire gamification platform has the potential to increase all of your KPIs from 2% to 10%.
As a given, if you’re working in a different industry other than sales, the features and functionalities the platform comes with are different.
HR Tools Make People-Management Easier
Whatever human resources function you want to streamline or automate, there are a handful of HR tools out there to help you.
Do you have experience with any of these tools? Is there any HR tool we missed out on?
Let us know down in the comments!
Related Questions
What are the most essential HR tools for small businesses?
Modern HR teams need simple, effective tools to manage people. For small businesses, the best options include BambooHR for employee data management, Workday for payroll, and Tallyfy for streamlining employee onboarding. The key is choosing tools that grow with your company and make daily HR tasks easier to handle.
What tools does HR use for recruiting?
HR teams rely on applicant tracking systems like Greenhouse and LinkedIn Recruiter to find and evaluate candidates. They also use video interviewing platforms like Zoom, assessment tools, and background check services. The most effective recruiting happens when these tools work together smoothly in a single workflow.
How can HR automate their daily tasks?
HR automation starts with identifying repetitive tasks like employee onboarding, time-off requests, and performance reviews. Workflow tools like Tallyfy help create digital processes that run by themselves, saving hours of manual work. This lets HR teams focus on what matters most – taking care of people.
What are the 7 major HR activities?
The core activities in HR include recruitment, employee relations, training and development, compensation and benefits, compliance, performance management, and workplace safety. Modern HR tools help manage all these areas through digital workflows and automated processes, making it easier to handle multiple responsibilities.
Which HR tools are best for employee onboarding?
The most effective employee onboarding combines several tools working together. A workflow platform like Tallyfy manages the entire process, while specific tools handle document signing, equipment requests, and training modules. This creates a smooth experience for new hires and reduces work for HR teams.
How do HR tools improve employee experience?
Good HR tools make life easier for employees by providing self-service options for common requests, clear communication channels, and easy access to important information. They turn complicated processes into simple steps that anyone can follow, leading to happier, more productive teams.
What should companies look for in HR software?
The best HR tools are easy to use, integrate well with other systems, and scale as your company grows. Look for solutions that offer mobile access, good customer support, and regular updates. Most importantly, choose tools that solve your specific problems rather than following industry trends.
How can HR tools help with compliance?
HR tools help track important deadlines, store required documentation, and maintain accurate records. They can automatically update when laws change and send reminders for important compliance tasks. This reduces risks and helps companies stay on the right side of employment laws.
What role do HR tools play in performance management?
Modern HR tools make performance reviews more meaningful by collecting feedback throughout the year, tracking goals, and facilitating regular check-ins. They help create a continuous feedback culture rather than relying on annual reviews, leading to better employee development.
How do HR tools support remote work?
HR tools are crucial for managing remote teams by providing virtual onboarding experiences, digital document management, and online training platforms. They help maintain company culture and keep remote employees connected through structured communication and collaboration features.
