B2B Connection

All too often, Human Resource digitization and development feels like an afterthought, with consequences for businesses and employees alike. HR is a foundational aspect of acquiring, retaining, and getting the most value out of your personnel, and HR software plays a crucial role in enabling success. One obstacle to modernizing HR processes can be confusion over what kind of product can best fit your needs. The confusion around different HR software options is understandable since there’s a substantial overlap between what various product types offer. In particular, HRIS and HCM products both fall under HR management software, but are not identical product lines. A Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is the foundational system of record that underlies “core HR” functionalities that all businesses need, while Human Capital Management (HCM) suites provide a broader set of strategic HR functions on top of core HR. While there are still robust HRIS-only options, HCMs have become the most prevalent product. What is an HRIS? At its core, an HRIS is a central repository of employee data, including professional and relevant personal data like addresses and direct deposit data. This data source is used to enable HR functions that every business uses, such as […]

Buying new HR software can be challenging – how do you begin to go about finding the right product that meets all of your business’s needs? Read through this list of the top five HR software challenges that professionals face today based on a survey of HR professionals we conducted. Also, see our suggestions on how to make better-informed purchasing decisions. The Top 5 HR Software Challenges That Users Face If you are an HR professional who has had some difficulty finding the right HR Management software, you are not alone. According to our latest survey, more than 68% of HR software users agree that it’s difficult to find the right software. So which HR software challenges are professionals struggling with the most, and where do you start? Read through the five main challenges that HR software users face today and see our tips on how to resolve them, to find the right product for your organization. You can also check out instructional videos to make sure you are getting the most out of the systems you are paying for. Channels like HR party of One on Youtube can offer fantastic advice. Vendors also usually offer video content to help […]

TrustRadius has 33 HR software categories. There are some people who love reading through them all. For everyone else, there’s mastercard this piece. If you’re looking for a specific type of HR management software, a unique set of software types, or a full suite, we’ve provided a roadmap of different types of “management” software that help HR professionals. This roadmap breaks down each category, including what other categories it’s most similar or interconnected with, and what some of the top products in the category are (with an emphasis on standalone products). HR Management HR Management software is often used as an umbrella term for many different types of software. However, “HR Management” also refers to a specific type of software, also known as “Core HR” or “HR Information Systems.” These products cover three areas central to any HR activities: Benefits administration, personnel tracking, and payroll. Some Core HR products also offer Asset Management and Leave/Attendance Management. There is also a segment of products known as “Human Capital Management suites.” These suites have a Core HR foundation, but also include broader HR capabilities. Almost any type of software discussed in this roadmap could be found in an HR Management suite, but […]

Human Resources is no longer confined in the back-office attending to piles after piles of paperwork. Thanks to the Internet and modern technology, HR has completely transformed into a tech-savvy department that takes advantage of cloud-based HR Solutions to hire, manage time-off, conduct onboarding and offboarding activities, and so much more. The human resources department is usually a place of frenzied activity. Thanks to the benefits of cloud HR software, HR professionals now have the tools to reduce and simplify administrative tasks like payroll and record keeping. They can instead focus on issues that can make or break a company in this era of fierce competition— like employee engagement. Those looking for a quick refresher on cloud hr software should check out this video first. This is a vendor video, and  serves as a great crash course or refresher.  A Look Into 90s HR In 1995, when a manager at one of Hannaford Brothers Co.’s grocery stores wanted to check his 401(k), he needed to dial into a voice-activated telephone system. Interactive phone systems were at the heart of the 90s HR ecosystem. For many workers, the 16-line touch-tone system they used for HR purposes at the time was state-of-the-art. […]

For small businesses, recruiting is already an expensive endeavor- anywhere from $1,000-5,000 per hire. Those preexisting expenses can price some companies out of using an ATS, despite how valuable they are for recruiting. Fortunately, there are a host of open-source or free versions of paid Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) platforms available for small businesses. This software tends to be limited in volume or scope of features, but the products we’ve listed here can provide the support small businesses need to find quality candidates on a very limited budget. The best free recruitment software can allow small businesses to find the best candidate on smaller budgets for their team.  Is Free Recruitment Right For You?  Free ATS software is typically a cloud-based service that supplies many essential recruiting capabilities and features. You should consider a free ATS tool if:  You are only hiring a limited number of people. You’re hiring for relatively basic/unskilled positions that aren’t very specialized. You only need an ATS for a very limited period of time (note: if you need an ATS once, odds are you’ll need it again later). Free products often mean there are certain limitations or drawbacks tied in. For example, free ATS products […]

In 2015 – 2016, HR cloud technology vendors have continued to receive massive, increasing amounts of funding from venture capital investors—so much so that the media has dubbed it an on-going “love affair.” Though legacy HR systems like PeopleSoft are still fairly common, these investors are banking on a mass migration to the cloud—and in fact, Deloitte’s 2016 Global Human Capital Trends report estimates that over 40% of companies are already working to replace their on-premise software with cloud-based HR technology. The influx of funding is largely feeding new, tiny startups that aim to solve small HR pain points, holes in the status quo technology. It’s also spurring new product developments from existing cloud vendors, and paying for acquisitions—like Workday’s recent acquisition of Platfora to add to its analytics and data integration capabilities, Ultimate Software’s acquisition of Kanjoya for employee experience management (soon to be Ultipro Perception), or Snagajob’s acquisition of PeopleMatter to add to its post-hire talent capabilities. These new industry developments are putting pressure on larger HR tech vendors to innovate as well (though typically, more slowly), and improve their cloud offerings. In order to address these changes in the marketplace, TrustRadius has compiled over 1,500 end-user ratings and reviews of 21 leading Core HR and Talent Management products. […]

E-Signature tools allow companies to make the contract and negotiations process faster and more accessible. DocuSign has become a common choice for many, yet it is not the only choice. Different electronic signature platforms will be suitable for different use-cases.  This piece will explore Docusign, as well as: Adobe eSign Pandadoc  HelloSign SignNow The Pros & Cons of DocuSign E-signature software allow users to take advantage of digital signatures. For a quick lesson on why these are so useful check out the video below DocuSign is an E-signature tool with a massive chunk of the market share in its category. According to DocuSign reviews on TrustRadius, some of the product’s benefits include: Reduced cycle time for contracts, particularly when multiple parties are involved Mobile functionality for signing documents on the go Multi-language support Dropbox integration (and other third-party integrations) Easy to use UI Support for multiple document formats and technologies Authentication, auditing, encryption and other security features On the negative side, no software will be the perfect solution for everyone. According to DocuSign users, the platform has a few potential drawbacks as well: The API leaves room for improvement Implementation in a live environment is different than in the sandbox […]

Free human resource software is out there but is often buried in paid advertisements and endorsements. Most no-cost HRM have scale and feature limitations. Since every use-case is different, it is possible to work within these constraints and find an option that works for you. Many places outline “free” versions that are either simply not free or are trial versions of paid software. Every tool on this list includes a usable, entirely free option. Once the limitations are outlined, you can decide if the no-cost route is right for you in human resource management software. The software covered in this piece are: Zoho HRM Homebase Freshteam Sentrifugo Are There Free HRM Options Available? In this category of software, there are very few fully functional free services. Vendor marketing can make it challenging to see and understand pricing on the front end. This dynamic can leave many buyers wondering, “is X really free?”. A look at our category page will show dozens of products. Almost none of these have free options.  This is a tool that will save most companies significant time. However, saving time usually comes at a cost. Choosing free HRM software will boil down to working within the […]

Buying new HR software, like many other large technologypurchases, can be a stress-inducing process. Some of the mostdifficult parts can be figuring out which products meet all yourbusiness needs, getting the information you need from vendors,making sure everyone is on the same page internally, andscheduling time for multiple product evaluations. With our Best of Awards, TrustRadius aims to recognize top technology products who are leading the way in terms of Customer Support, Usability, and Feature Set. Our winners were determined entirely on customer feedback from users with use cases and needs similar to yours. Here are the best HR software solutions for 2021: Corporate Learning ManagementLessonly, Customer Support, 1st PlaceTovuti LMS, Customer Support, 2nd PlaceArticulate 360, Customer Support, 3rd Place Tovuti LMS, Feature Set, 1st PlaceArticulate 360, Feature Set, 2nd Place Employee Performance Management15Five, Customer Support, 1st Place15Five, Feature Set, 1st Place HR ManagementBambooHR, Customer Support, 1st PlaceTriNet, Customer Support, 2nd Place Zenefits, Usability, 1st PlacePaycom, Usability, 2nd PlaceADP Workforce Now, Usability, 3rd Place Zenefits, Feature Set, 1st PlaceADP Workforce Now, Feature Set, 2nd PlacePaycom, Feature Set, 3rd Place Talent ManagementClearCompany, Customer Support, 1st Place Time TrackingEverhour, Feature Set, 1st Place Workforce AnalysisActivTrak, Customer Support, 1st Place ActivTrak, Usability, 1st […]

Recruiting software are tools that encompasses Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Job Board Softwares. While the function of Job boards are used as online employment listings where employers can post available jobs for potential employees to find them, Applicant Tracking Systems have further features to manage recruiting operations through the use of cloud or web-based services. Amongst the features Recruiting software tools should excel at are its ability to handle job requisition management, job site search posting, resume management, candidate search and application tracking, among many other features.  This year, TrustRadius is awarding the best in customer support and usability among some of the most common categories of Best of Recruiting tools in use today. The Best of Recruiting winners are:  Best Customer Support – Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) CEIPAL TalentHire, 1st Place Jobvite, 2nd Place JobDiva, 3rd Place Best Usability- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) CEIPAL TalentHire, 1st Place iCIMS Talent Cloud, 2nd Place Best Feature Set- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) CEIPAL TalentHire, 1st Place iCIMS Talent Cloud, 2nd Place Best Customer Support – Job Board Indeed.com, 1st Place Best Feature Set – Job Board ZipRecruiter, 1st Place Indeed.com, 2nd Place Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Customer Support Responsive and […]

A recent TrustRadius study of HR professionals found that the most common method for addressing diversity and inclusion in the workplace is reducing bias in recruitment. Despite visible displays of D&I training from big-name companies, the not-so-secret secret is that recruiting diverse groups is how diverse workplaces emerge. There’s a big difference between advocating for diverse workplaces, setting ambitious goals, and actually achieving those visions. Execution makes all the difference. The following steps will help you execute your goals for a more diverse workforce.  6 Crucial Steps to Reduce Bias in Your Recruitment Processes The strategies listed below come directly from insights shared by HR pros, vendors, and researchers in the TrustRadius community. We surveyed over 75 HR professionals for first-hand visibility into current recruitment practices. We also met with Jack Wei, Director of Product Marketing at SmartRecruiters, to discuss how recruiting software can enable your diversity recruitment goals. Read their advice below: #1 Recognize where you’re struggling Diversity, or lack thereof, manifests itself in different ways. Start by identifying the most underrepresented groups in your existing workforce by considering race, ethnicity gender, or religion, for example. Underrepresentation can often be less visible in large or decentralized companies where you […]

Differentiating between the different types of recruitment software can be extremely difficult A crucial step in overcoming this challenge is establishing which features matter to you and which are fluff.  Here are some universally essential features you should always consider:  Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) database Integrations with your other HR software Routine task automation Customizable candidate filtering To help you determine which recruitment software features will be most valuable in your particular recruiting environment, we’ve provided the following criteria to guide the rest of your feature exploration.  CRM: One Feature to Recruit Them All Candidate Relationship Management features form the bedrock of modern recruiting practices. The core CRM capability is a database that centralizes all communications, data, and outreach to the candidate.  If you aren’t already benefiting from a CRM, odds are your competitors are. In the survey of HR pros we mentioned above, 1 in 5 respondents identified Candidate Relationship Management features as the most important feature in achieving their recruiting goals.  Recruiters value CRM functionality so highly because it serves so many objectives. CRMs enable recruiters to maintain long-term relationships with candidates, including the masses of passive candidates not currently be on the job market.   CRMs are also […]

Due to ever-increasing professional specialization and historically low unemployment, the competition for top talent is fierce. To meet these challenges head-on, veteran recruiters attest to the value of an applicant tracking system (ATS)—a software solution that maximizes your talent pool and helps you attract top candidates over your competition.   What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)? An applicant tracking system is a database that manages job candidates’ application information, including resumes and demographics. There are some features that you should consider standard, if not universal, across full ATS software. These functions include:  Candidate sourcing Resume management Resume Parsing Facilitating communications with candidates Candidate Relationship Management (this capability is not quite standard, but will soon become so) Many ATS products have built on this database capability to support more aspects of recruitment, from the initial job posting to new employee onboarding. These strategic recruitment functions include: Native video interviewing Social media publishing Assessment creation and storage Interview note-taking and document management Job offer management Integration with onboarding, talent management, and HR management software EOE compliance checking Most ATS products, like the rest of the HR software space, have been expanding their offerings to support the entire recruiting process on their single […]

Greater emphasis is being put on the quality of learners’ experiences. This trend encourages greater focus on intelligent personalization, self-guided learning, and mobile accessibility within learning systems. The entrance of Gen Z into the workforce will bring a greater demand for communication skills development, video content, and mobile accessibility. The growth of nontraditional and nonlinear career paths necessitate the normalization of retraining throughout your career, including personal skills development and customized learning paths.  Workplace learning is changing. New economic realities, evolving workplace dynamics, and a fresh generation of employees are aligning to shift how corporate-driven learning is conducted. What are the primary drivers of these changes, and what are the implications for corporate learning professionals? Cornerstone’s talent management and content production teams shared their view on the top corporate learning trends. As one of the most reviewed standalone talent management and learning management products on TrustRadius, they have some unique insights to share. Here are three current corporate learning trends, according to Cornerstone, and what they mean for you. 1. Rise of the Learner’s Experience The primary, overarching change that Cornerstone professionals identify is how corporate learning has become an employee-driven, employee-demanded aspect of the modern workplace. This shift is […]

Mobile accessibility to your learning platform is a must-have, not a luxury. Professional skills, like communication and conflict resolution, are an increasingly robust content area often tailored to Gen Z. Microlearning isn’t new- figure out whether it’s useful to you before factoring it into your buying decision. Artificial Intelligence can be beneficial, but don’t get FOMO- ask vendors the hard questions to figure out how much it actually matters for you. If you’ve seen any “trends of 2019” articles, you’ve probably seen references to “microlearning,” “mobile-first,” and the all-present, inescapable “AI.” As 2020 approaches, which trends should you focus on, and which ones are smoke and mirrors? We had Cornerstone, a 20-year incumbent in corporate learning management, lend us their Content team to help us pull back the curtains on 4 of the most important trends for 2020. Here’s what each trend means to software buyers like you, and how it might influence how you buy and use learning management systems. 1. Mobile Accessibility Trend Status: Need to Have Mobile access to learning content is now a necessity in your platform.  So what’s driving this trend? Doug Segers, Head of Original Content at Cornerstone OnDemand, argues that mobile accessibility emerges […]

As the skills necessary for employees to excel in their roles change more rapidly, businesses are realizing the importance of continued professional learning and development. To ensure their talent stays top-tier, organizations can turn to corporate learning management systems (LMS) to stay competitive. Corporate learning management systems (LMS) are platforms designed to help companies teach and train employees, customers, and/or partners. They can provide industry-agnostic technical and professional skills development, as well as serve specialized training and knowledge. If you want to help provide your employees with continued training and skills development, but don’t know how best to do so, we can help! If the 139 listed corporate LMS products and over 1600 reviews seem daunting, we’ve provided a topshelf breakdown of what the software is, what it can do, how it can help you, and how to begin evaluating and comparing products. Let’s not bury the lead: What can corporate LMS do for you? 5 benefits of corporate LMS #1 Cost Savings Continued training can be expensive. Flying employees and trainers to a centralized location, putting together an event, and possibly paying for a venue itself can be cost prohibitive. Corporate LMS software aims to mitigate these costs. While […]

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is finally recognized by many as a necessary part of developing any company culture and achieving HR and talent management goals. This is particularly true in a competitive job market, where millennials prioritize D&I in the workplace more than older generations. Given the close relationship between the two, effective HR management software can also enable better diversity and inclusion in your business as well. While D&I is more commonly prioritized than it used to be, how businesses should go about creating a diverse organization is less well’defined. Of HR professionals we surveyed on how their organizations deal with bias or discrimination in the workplace, some form of training is by far the most popular method of internal-facing D&I enablement for companies. Unfortunately, there’s a mountain of evidence pointing to the fact that training isn’t effective, and can even be harmful. So what should companies and professionals do instead, and what tools can help them along the way? Dr. Alicia Ingersoll, a diversity and inclusion researcher at Utah State University with an emphasis on diversity in leadership positions, provided some insights from what the data has been telling experts in the field. She has experience with both […]

As the holiday season approaches, there’s a topic that probably appears on most HR pro’s business wish lists—reporting and insights that are more of a benefit than a hassle! According to reviewer feedback, reporting capabilities are frequently the lowest-rated features for the leading HR management software. Fortunately, HR and talent management software developers are doing their best Santa impression with better support for the next evolution of HR reporting, people analytics, in their products. People analytics is the consolidation and use of data to solve people-problems and answer personnel-based questions for businesses. Some research says it can yield massive ROI for businesses when deployed well. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, these are all fairly broad statements, because what people analytics looks like in practice can vary dramatically based on your business’s size and particular needs. However, there are some common themes across the field that can help you determine what benefits you can get from people analytics, as well as how much work it takes to implement. The problems people analytics can solve People analytics can benefit both your HR department as well as the broader company. For you HR professionals out there, people analytics provides a more robust method […]

As modern workforces become increasingly specialized and advanced, companies are recognizing the value behind investing in their personnel and talent. However, there are myriad processes that go into talent management, which can make the HR area vague and difficult to define. While many talent management software vendors make their products as inclusive as possible, not every type and size of business needs every talent management function. We surveyed talent management reviewers on TrustRadius to find out which talent management features are used the most by various sized businesses. For instance, employee self-service, recruiting, and onboarding are frequently popular functions across business sizes, but other modules’ usage can vary dramatically. These granular results can help provide a starting point for which capabilities are most essential to your business! Startups and Small Businesses (1-50 Employees) Among respondents from business with 50 employees or less, self-service capabilities, performance management, and compensation management are the most commonly used features. Self-service is the most frequently used capability, with 64% of small businesses leaning on employees’ ability to manage more of their own talent management, and broader HR, capabilities. Just shy of half of small business respondents (45%) also used performance management and compensation management features. […]

Last year, Starbucks made headlines for closing over 8,000 stores to conduct anti-bias training in response to a racial bias scandal. It was a very visible event that many argue ultimately meant little. Starbucks’s response to this discrimination, mandatory training, is a common response to social injustice in the business world. Unfortunately, bias and sensitivity training is as ineffective as it is popular. Why is bias training so popular if it’s proven to be so ineffective? And what should businesses do to address bias and discrimination instead? The answers, while not always the easy way, can make a positive impact on employees and the business as a whole. Why Training is an Appealing Approach Trainings are a very standard way of addressing bias within a business. In a survey of HR management and talent management professionals, nearly half identified some form of training as the primary method of teaching employees and/or managers about bias. In an increasingly knowledge-based economy, it shouldn’t be surprising that “more training” is the answer to many obstacles, workplace issues, and company evolutions. Continued learning has become central to the HR and talent management playbook, with many HR products incorporating content like bias trainings as standard […]