Finding the right HRIS system can feel overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to ask critical questions that focus on how your leadership team thinks and make decision to select a compatible system for your business needs.

Examples of questions to ask prior to selecting the best HRIS system:

• How does your leadership team make decisions?
• What is your company’s growth strategy?
• What tools do the recruiting, payroll, and IT teams use?
• How do your decision-makers think?

By answering these types of questions, and reviewing the classifications of HRIS systems, it can help you narrow down your search.

A comprehensive HRIS is your one-stop shop to perform all HR functions. It supports strategic, tactical, operational functions all-in-one. With valuable insights, it is a robust and expensive option.

For Leaders Who Say:

“How does this employee’s role fit into the company’s goals?”

“I want to see all the data across payroll, recruiting, and HR before deciding.”

Best For: Reporting, Employee Management, and Growth

Try: Bamboo HR and Paycor

How can we make the best decision possible by looking at the data, identifying trends, and enhancing our recruiting efforts? This type of thinking is strategic.

For Leaders Who Say:

• “How do we develop skills?”
• “Where are our role gaps?”
• “What does the data say?”

Best For: Enhancing Hiring and Focused on Growth

Try: Bitrix24

A tactical system is built for efficiency and compliance for compensation, recruiting, training, and benefits. Compensation and benefits features are your most expensive investment, and this option does it best.

For Leaders Who Say:

• “What are our competitors doing?”
• “Are our benefits plans being used by our workforce?”
• “How can we use internal resources to support our growth initiatives?”

Best For: Recruitment, Training, Benefits, and Compensation

Try: TriNet 

Simply, manage your internal workforce with an operational HRIS. If you’re focused on recruiting internally and making lateral moves, this is the best option for you.

For Leaders Who Say:

• “Let’s transfer that employee to work on another project.”
• “Let’s promote from within our workforce.”

Best For: Employee Development and Retention

Try:  Workable

For smaller organizations that only need one or two functions like payroll or benefits you’ll want a stripped-down version of an HRIS.

For Leaders Who Say:

• “If only our payroll was more efficient.”
• “We just need help in recruiting.”

Best For: New or small business with limited needs and budget

Try: Bitrix24

Analyzing how your leadership team makes decisions and understanding what’s important to them will allow you to determine what system will be the most compatible with their goals. When they want to see the data or a competitive analysis report, your HRIS system can support you with the tools to succeed and impress your team.