The 5 biggest challenges for HR software Users
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 you get up to speed, and this can help with many common issues.
#1 Application and system limitations
Although no HR software is perfect, it is crucial that you have a list prepared of your expectations of the product and its application, so that you can address any limitations that the software may have when implemented within your organization.
The HR software users that we surveyed highlighted many instances of disappointment due to application and system limitations, like integration and reporting. You may want to consider asking yourself the following questions when considering HR software:
- How easy is it to customize the product’s features?
- How well are the product’s modules integrated?
- Will the product provide and/or support all of the reports that your organization will need?
#2 Customer service and support
It can sometimes be difficult to anticipate what the customer service of your HR software will be like until after you’ve already made the purchase of a product. However, it is imperative that you have some understanding of what types of customer support your software vendor provides so that you are not left unsatisfied and upset soon thereafter.
Try to get clear information about this issue from your vendor, first and foremost, then, read reviews and work to talk with other HR software users about their experience of the types of supporting a vendor provides after a sale.
TrustRadius is well equipped to help you deal with the common problem of customer service and support issues. If this is something that is particularly important to you as a user, you can use it to inform your purchase decision.
Reviewers can score individual features types, out of ten. From here, you can directly compare the ratings and reviews with other software in the category. For example, if you were looking for HR Management software, you could see that UKG Pro is rated higher in Support than Ceridian Dayforce.
You can also click to read real reviews from users like yourself. These will allow you to make the most informed decision on areas important to you, like customer service.
#3 Internal issues
According to the HR professionals that we surveyed, getting everyone at a company involved and on the same page when purchasing new HR software is important. Internal organizational issues like coordination and implementation, which we will cover below, make this a top challenge among HR software users today.
By having open communication and a plan on how to confront any personnel or technical issues within your organization, you can avoid this matter.
#4 Implementation
Once internal issues in a company are resolved, the next concern that many HR professionals confront is the actual implementation of the product itself across the organization. Whether it is getting information from a former product and putting it into your new HR software, or having the software implemented without an understanding of your team’s needs, the implementation of the product is a frequent challenge for HR software users. In one user’s experience, the biggest challenge was:
Project management and change within the company itself during implementation. The product is great and the support teams they give you are great too. It’s coordination internally that will cause the most stress.
Fortunately, by reading reviews of the product and by asking your vendor direct questions about the implementation duration, support and any other organizational needs, you can plan for this challenge and set more realistic expectations for yourself and your team.
Much like you can for support, you can use implementation rating to directly compare two or more products.
You can also use a topic filter to read in-depth thoughts on the implementation process. Implementation is one area in particular where filters may be useful for human resources employees and HR departments to filter reviews. A workforce of 20 has a very different implementation to a workplace with 5,000 employees. Take advantage of filters like company size and industry to tailor the feedback to your HR teams needs.
#5 Learning curves
Although most HR software will have a learning curve, knowing what resources, like training, will be available to you and your organization once a product is purchased is vital. The HR professionals that we surveyed communicated that they often experienced some type of difficulty with the features of their software and how important it is to have access to online courses and training to shrink the learning curve thereafter.
You can plan for this challenge by being aware of all the resources that your HR software offers after you’ve purchased the product, as well as reading reviews and talking to your vendor about any learning resources and training that they may offer.
Successful HR teams will use filters to find products that fit their industry and size requirements. Smaller teams will not need the complexity of some more advanced software. Learning curves can be well or poorly designed, but the best-made shoe can still be the wrong size. This is true for software. Finding the right tools for the job can help avoid time-consuming mistakes.