5 of the best HR apps for HR managers

Functions of human resources (HR) professionals include planning, coordinating, and directing functions that impact the core of an organization: its people.

From recruiting and talent management to benefits administration, HR professionals ensure the workforce is in place and properly supported so the organization can reach its goals. In today’s workplace, that means turning to HR apps.

Why use HR apps?

Gian Moore, partner at Mellowpine, says HR apps provide several key benefits:

• Greater efficiency. HR software typically automates manually intensive or tedious tasks. “Instead of chasing down managers to perform their employee reviews, the right HR app can do that job for you. It can also enable your HR team to delegate holiday approvals and absence verification to managers through self-service functionality,” Moore explains.
• Better use of the HR team. With more tasks automated, you free up your HR team to take on higher level work. “You can redeploy your HR team to more strategic projects that provide greater value to the organization,” says Moore.
• More positive perception of HR. Moore says employees expect their organizations, including the HR department, to be caught up with the times. Employees use their mobile device to do nearly everything in their personal lives, so they expect to do the same at work, such as requesting time off or viewing benefits. “They shouldn’t have to submit a paper form and wait weeks for it to be processed,” says Moore. “You want employees to see HR as forward-thinking and a strategically relevant enablers of good work.”

So what kind of HR apps can you find in the market? Here are a few that should go at the top of your list.

5 of the best HR apps

1. Jotform Apps

If you’re looking for an HR app that’s customizable to suit a variety of HR needs, Jotform Apps is a great option. You can easily build an app from scratch (no coding required) or get started quickly using one of over 700 templates in multiple categories, including human resources.

With Jotform Apps, you can add pages for specific use cases and bundle useful HR forms together in one convenient place. You can also add text, images, links, sliders, and other media. Check out a few of the available template options fit for an HR team:

• HR management app. Organize and store all your HR forms — like employee contact information forms, leave of absence requests, and time-off requests — in one place that’s accessible from any device.
• Employee absence tracking app. Give your employees an easy way to request time off and track absences. You can easily view submissions received through a time-off request form in Jotform Tables as a spreadsheet, calendar, or individual cards.
• Job application app. Easily post open positions for your company and collect submissions from interested candidates. This template includes several job application form templates for various manager and internship roles.

2. Paychex

Paychex is a cloud-based payroll management system offering payroll, HR, and benefits management systems for small to large businesses. Paychex covers payroll and taxes, employee 401(k) retirement services, benefits, insurance, HR, accounting, and finance.

“The software offers accounting and finance features, including payment processing services and expense management,” says Admir Salcinovic, marketing manager at PriceListo. “It also helps you observe federal state laws and local regulations while using the system.”

3. Paylocity

Paylocity is an HR app with payroll, workforce management, and talent management features. Salcinovic says Paylocity can help you simplify payroll, automate processes, and stay compliant with tax regulations. “Key features include pulling expense reimbursements into paychecks, running custom reports, and allowing employees to access a portion of their earned wages when they need it,” he notes.

4. ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is an HR management app that lets you manage key business functions like time tracking and scheduling. Your employees can view pay statements, benefits, retirement accounts, and more.

Salcinovic says this app integrates seamlessly with popular business software applications and leading payroll, HR, and financial systems. “With the aid of automation and machine learning, the software can often alleviate administrative burdens, streamline workflows, reduce compliance risk, and improve employee engagement.”

5. BambooHR

BambooHR is an HR app focused on people data and analytics, hiring, onboarding, compensation, and performance management. While the software does cover multiple areas of HR, Alina Clark, marketing director at CocoDoc, says BambooHR may not be the best for larger corporations. “It’s ideal for small organizations that require more rudimentary or basic HR tasks.”

If you are interested in exploring alternatives to BambooHR, you can check out our article that delves into various human resource management tools and their features.

HR is a vital function in any organization, so make sure your team has the right tools to perform it well. Simplify your search for HR apps by starting with the suggestions above.

Photo by Edmond Dantès