Vital employee information for use across a business’s many human resources functions lives within a human resources information systems (HRIS) software. HR enters personal information related to payroll, benefits, time tracking, and performance for every employee into the system, which makes that information available for analysis and reporting. 

An HRIS also ensures that a company complies with regional and federal regulations regarding employment documentation, benefits, pay, time off, and the secure storage of employee contact information. HR staff can update records across the software and integrated apps, and employees can use the self-service portal to keep their records up to date. The system then uses that employee data for key HR functions, which reduces the amount of manual data entry each HR team member must perform, thus reducing time and money lost to human error. HRIS software systems come in all sizes, but they are best suited to medium and large businesses. Large and growing businesses can find additional recruiting software and applicant tracking software features in their HRIS. Other software options manage accounting software tasks by integrating with payroll features.

Many HRIS vendors also improve employee engagement metrics with valuable features from performance management software, learning management software, or gamification software. The best HRIS for your business will depend on your company size and the features and functions you want to prioritize.

If your company is rapidly growing, an HRIS with a robust ATS will probably be the most beneficial for your HR department. If your organization is an enterprise business with a lot of employees, streamlining payroll and time and attendance tracking may be your priority.