Know Before Choosing a
Introduction According to 100 Data and Analytics Predictions Through 2020 by Gartner, an IT research and advisory company, Analytics will be pervasive and mission-critical for decisions and actions across the business. To survive in today s technological age, companies need to embrace analytics when developing strategies for future success. From an HR perspective, the pursuit of analytics begins before an employee is even hired. That is why it is imperative that companies implement the most comprehensive hire-to-retire software for their business. The ideal solution will bridge generation gaps among employees, make the recruitment process more effective, and help savvy HR directors boost employee engagement by providing easy access to company health initiatives and corporate social networks. When a company chooses a human capital management (HCM) software solution, it will know it is the right one when HR directors have a customized data management platform that is user-friendly, functions efficiently, and offers real-time data 24/7 to increase employee engagement and company profitability. The right HCM software will offer mobile functionality, allowing employers and employees to access data via an app or web portal. The best solution will harness powerful, cost-effective HCM technology to help businesses rise above challenges with timely data retrieval and report building. While there are many HCM software solutions today, key differences can impact business operations. Consider the following fourteen differentiating factors when choosing the right human capital management software. 2
Cloud-Based Platform Capability Mobile accessibility is an important factor to consider when choosing human capital management software. HR directors and managers are responsible for managing the productivity of in-house employees and those who telecommute. A cloudbased platform that is compatible on multiple systems enables all employees to access vital applications during the week, in the evening, and even on weekends. Thus, managers can supervise employees, whether they are working in the office or checking in from a company retreat in the mountains. This connectivity will help a business stay ahead of its competition. The right HCM platform will feature a user-friendly, engaging, native, and reactive mobile interface that is available for download from the App Store or Google Play. Extensive Document Administration With many companies employing a blended workforce of both in-house staff and freelance contractors, an extensive document administration feature is essential. An effective HCM solution will expertly store, back up, and secure all uploaded network data and provide easy access to it through the cloud. The right HCM solution will make collaborating on team projects much easier with an effective document administration feature that affords employees the opportunity to easily retrieve and revise documents, whether they are in the office, working from home, or checking in from a remote location. 3
Excellent Security HR directors and their administrators handle a variety of private employee information every day. Employees trust the HR department to keep confidential their social security numbers, background check applications and results, and bank account numbers that were provided for direct deposits. Employees expect this stored information to be protected at all times. HCM software must have the most updated security protocols in place, such as firewalls for cloudbased platform applications, high-level data encryption, and role-based access control (RBAC) to regulate which employees can access confidential information and control system functions. The right HCM solution will include all of these security features and guarantee compliance with privacy guidelines. Payroll Process Management Systems When choosing HCM software, companies need to ensure the platform will fully integrate with their current payroll system. The integration process should be seamless, giving HR directors maximum flexibility and data-sharing capacity with the majority of current payroll software systems available. Using an HCM solution that blends well with the current system minimizes, or even eliminates, the need to commit resources to timeconsuming data entry tasks. The right HCM solution will enable a smooth transition with no disruption to the payroll process, so paychecks and direct deposits are not delayed. 4
Effective Employee/ Manager Self-Service Solutions Employees reach out to the HR department with questions about company policies, health benefits, enrollment issues, time-off requests, and a variety of other inquiries. When these queries come from many employees at once, HR administrators can quickly become overwhelmed. Thus, another aspect that factors into the HCM software solution is whether or not it has a robust self-service platform for employees and managers. Not all HCM software platforms do. The right HCM software solution will enable the HR director to provide information through the system, allowing quick, easy access. Staff can log on with personal identification to request time off, review compensation history, view benefits information, check company directories, send and receive internal messages, submit expense reports, and review inhouse job listings. Additionally, they could access and edit their personnel information, if necessary. Employees might have questions that require a meeting, but the right HCM solution will offer a highly functioning selfservice platform that will optimize and expedite the operation of human resource departments. Long-Term Reliability Reliability is an important consideration when choosing HCM software. Working with a software partner that is new to the industry comes with risk; a high level of trust is a must. When a company invests in an HCM software solution, it is counting on the HCM s proven record of long-term performance to ease the implementation and safeguard the information. Savvy HR directors will expect the right HCM solution to have a reputation for industry credibility and long-term reliability, accompanied by testimonials about its exceptional customer service. 5
Perfect Fit with Company Culture A company s culture is defined by its people and processes. The cumulative traits of the people combine with system process, protocol and technology. Implementing a new HCM system is going to take a concerted effort on the part of management and support staff. Employee engagement needs to be high. The system must be intuitive, so the platform will integrate well in daily operations. Training is a major consideration. What guidance will the software partner offer to acclimate team members to the new HCM platform? When contemplating future system updates, how will that procedure affect the staff? With the right HCM solution, steps will be in place to assure seamless transition that fits company culture. Depending on the structure of the company, the right HCM solution might be one that offers enhanced customization features to ensure the smoothest implementation and utilization. Operational Functionality and Goal Planning A basic HR software program that handles only a few features, such as payroll or management of employee attendance records, is not going to advance the business. Having an HCM that ties into strategies and goal-setting can increase efficiency and efficacy. Consider which features are needed to reach goals, both on a day-to-day basis and long-term. The right HCM platform will grow with the business and help with employee training and performance reviews. The perfect solution will align HCM with strategy and goal planning. 6
Efficient Applicant Recruitment Recruiting new candidates can be an exhausting process, from advertising the employment opportunity, to screening resumes, to interviewing candidates. Choosing the right HCM software platform can mean the difference between a quick and confident hire and a lost opportunity to hire. The right platform will provide HR professionals with the opportunity to streamline the recruitment and screening process using automated techniques. The platform would allow users to capture candidate leads and search the platform database to screen prospective candidates. HR department administrators would be able to easily list new job postings via the online interface. Ultimately, the right HCM software solution will let administrators create a more user-friendly online environment for recruiting. Potential candidates will feel more appreciated when they receive personal treatment, instead of an automated response. Effective Onboarding of New Employees Onboarding, or organizational socialization, enables new employees to acquire the pertinent skill set, workplace knowledge, and behaviors to become vital, productive, and invaluable team members in the organization. The right HCM system will provide effective tools initially to assimilate employees, and over time, to increase employee retention, boost morale, and improve productivity. An effective platform will monitor performance progress through detailed metrics during the probationary period. Perceptive HR directors use HCM systems that fully immerse new employees in company operations and culture in a short time frame, while maximizing their productivity. 7
Proactive Personalization Practices An effective HCM software solution takes proactive measures to integrate solution validation and personalization practices into the workplace. Managers taking a personal approach with employees will have much more success than those who treat employees like a number. Personalization and solution validation work hand-in-hand to make all team members more effective. The right HCM software will facilitate the marriage of the solution s appropriateness and the technical concepts in a manner that employees will fully comprehend. Personalization succeeds when team members are encouraged to cultivate a unified mindset to achieve company goals. The right HCM solution will enable the implementation of team expertise and role designation, such as team leader or technical support, to increase productivity in the workplace. When individual employees know their roles and can come together as team members, they will achieve greater success. Optimized IT Support New software implementations require intense IT support to ensure successful integration and productivity. The right HCM software solution will provide optimized IT support that does not require major support from inhouse IT departments. This will ensure that the system functions at maximum capacity 24/7 and allows company employees to focus on business and strategy versus data input and troubleshooting. 8
Enhanced Software Functionality Enhanced functionality with builtin upgrades will ensure nonstop software efficiency and effectiveness. A company is only as strong as its people, and its people are only as strong as the tools and technology that guide them. The right HCM solution is one that implements the most upto-date software version, inclusive of automatic upgrades to avoid future cost and time expenses. Cost-Effective Software Everyone s business dream is to achieve maximum results, while reducing costs. The right HCM software solution will offer a low initial set up cost, where purchasing underlying hardware infrastructure is not necessary. Subscription plans, where use of the software is paid over time, reduces the costs compared to the purchase of traditional enterprise software. With the right HCM solution, costs will be more predictable; a contract can be signed to lock in the current price for years to come. Contact us today to discuss how to choose the right HCM software solution and to schedule a product tour of ECI s Human Capital Management Solution by emailing info@ecipay.com, or calling our office at 1-800-320-9530. We look forward to hearing from you and discussing the best way to service your company s needs. 9