35+ HR tools growing companies must use

Santhosh 23 min read 11 Aug 2023

Have you ever witnessed a symphony without a conductor? A talented set of musicians, each playing their heart out but lacking that guiding hand to weave their efforts into a harmonious masterpiece.

Just like that, a business, no matter how talented its employees, can feel like a discordant mess without the right HR software orchestrating the show.

So, we're about to dive headfirst into the vibrant world of HR tools – those magical instruments that transform chaos into a melodious rhythm within growing companies.

We'll unveil the secrets behind these tools, explore why they're as vital as coffee on a Monday morning, and share real-world stories that'll make you nod in recognition.

So, if you're curious to unravel how these tools can supercharge your business, hold onto your seat because we're about to uncover the captivating symphony of 35+ HR tools that'll have your company humming a hit tune in 2023.

What are HR tools?

Before that, what are HR tools, you ask? Well, imagine if you had a team of tireless assistants who effortlessly juggled the myriad tasks that come with managing a workforce.

HR software are the digital counterparts of these adept assistants, designed to streamline, automate, and enhance various aspects of human resource management within an organization.

At their core, HR tools encompass a range of software, applications, and platforms meticulously engineered to alleviate the complexities surrounding employee management.

From recruitment and onboarding to performance evaluation and payroll processing, these tools serve as your strategic companions, optimizing processes and liberating valuable time and resources.

Consider this: you're in charge of a rapidly expanding company. Traditional manual processes for hiring, training, and monitoring employee progress not only consume precious hours but are also prone to human error.

This is where HR software enter the stage. They step in to revolutionize the way you attract, retain, and nurture talent. By automating repetitive tasks, such as sifting through stacks of resumes or calculating working hours, HR tools empower your team to focus on high-impact initiatives that drive growth.

Why are HR tools important?

Group of employees planning together — Why are HR tools important?

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern business, HR software stands as steadfast pillars that uphold the foundation of seamless human resource management.

Their importance lies in their ability to transcend the realm of mere convenience and venture into the domain of strategic empowerment.

Consider the intricate web of responsibilities HR professionals navigate daily – from talent acquisition and performance evaluation to compliance adherence and employee well-being. Without the aid of HR tools, this intricate choreography can easily devolve into chaos.

These tools emerge as the architects of order, instilling efficiency and accuracy into processes that time-consuming manual interventions and error-prone methods could otherwise mar.

Furthermore, HR tools empower decision-makers with data-driven insights, transforming gut feelings into well-informed strategies.

In a business landscape where staying ahead of the curve is paramount, these tools act as the compass guiding you through the labyrinth of workforce dynamics.

Crucially, the impact of HR software extends beyond the realm of operations. They play a pivotal role in enhancing employee experience – a factor intrinsically linked to engagement, productivity, and ultimately, the success of an enterprise.

By automating routine administrative tasks, HR tools liberate HR professionals to focus on meaningful interactions and initiatives that foster a vibrant company culture.

What challenges do businesses face without HR tools?

An employee is climbing the wall to get to the other side — What challenges do businesses face without HR tools?

Here's a snapshot of the hurdles that can impede progress and disrupt the harmonious rhythm of organizational growth:

Operational bottlenecks: Without HR tools, routine administrative tasks such as payroll processing, leave management, and documentation become tedious, time-consuming endeavors, hampering overall efficiency.
Data disarray: The absence of HR tools often results in scattered, disorganized employee data stored in disparate systems, making it a Herculean task to retrieve and analyze crucial information.
Limited decision insights: Lacking HR software means basing decisions on intuition rather than data-driven insights, potentially leading to suboptimal talent management strategies and resource allocation.
Recruitment roadblocks: Manual recruitment processes can slow down candidate sourcing, screening, and onboarding, allowing top talent to slip through the cracks in a competitive job market.
Compliance conundrums: Adhering to ever-evolving labor laws and regulations becomes an uphill battle when HR department lack tools that automate compliance tracking and reporting.
Engagement erosion: Without tools for measuring employee engagement and feedback, businesses struggle to gauge the pulse of their workforce, risking disengagement and reduced productivity.
Ineffective performance management: The absence of performance tracking tools can lead to vague evaluation processes, hindering the nurturing of employee growth and potential.
Strategic stagnation: In the absence of HR tools' strategic insights, businesses may find themselves lagging behind competitors in areas such as skill development, succession planning, and workforce optimization.

What are the 7 pillars of HR?

An employee getting appreciated for their work — What are the 7 pillars of HR?

These pillars are the guiding principles that shape the strategic landscape of HR practices within organizations, ensuring a holistic approach to employee well-being and organizational success.

Recruitment and selection: At the core of any workforce lies the process of recruitment and selection. This pillar focuses on sourcing, attracting, and hiring the right talent for the right roles, aligning individual skills and aspirations with the company's overarching objectives.
Training and development: Nurturing talent doesn't end with hiring; it's an ongoing endeavor. This pillar is dedicated to equipping employees with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their roles, fostering professional growth and adaptability.
Performance management: Ensuring that employees are performing at their best is essential. Performance management involves setting clear goals, providing regular feedback, and conducting evaluations to enhance individual and collective productivity.
Compensation and benefits: Recognizing and rewarding employees' contributions is crucial for motivation and retention. This pillar encompasses designing competitive compensation packages and attractive benefits that acknowledge employees' value.
Employee engagement: Engaged employees are the lifeblood of a thriving organization. This pillar focuses on creating a positive work environment, fostering open communication, and implementing initiatives that bolster job satisfaction and commitment.
Workplace health and safety: The well-being of employees is paramount. This pillar centers on ensuring a safe and conducive work environment, adhering to health and safety regulations, and promoting physical and mental wellness.
HR technology and data analytics: In the digital age, data-driven decisions reign supreme. This pillar emphasizes the integration of HR software and technology to streamline processes, gather insights, and facilitate strategic planning.

The top 8 essential features of HR tools

An employee strategizing with a HR tool — The top 8 essential features of HR tools

The following are the pivotal features that stand as beacons of efficiency and effectiveness, shaping the landscape of modern HR practices:

Employee data management: Centralizing and organizing employee information simplifies core HR processes, from onboarding to performance evaluation, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Recruitment and applicant tracking: From job posting to candidate selection, this feature streamlines recruitment, enabling seamless collaboration among hiring teams and enhancing the candidate experience.
Performance management: Facilitating goal setting, feedback, and progress tracking, this feature enhances employee performance by promoting regular communication and transparent evaluations.
Learning and development: Robust learning platforms offer training programs, skill assessments, and personalized learning paths, nurturing employee growth and keeping skills aligned with business goals.
Time and attendance tracking: Automating time tracking and leave management minimizes errors, ensures fair compensation, and fosters workforce accountability.
Payroll processing: Accurate payroll calculation, tax deductions, and compliance adherence reduce administrative burden, ensuring timely and error-free payments for employees.
Employee self-service: Empowering employees to access and update their information, request leave, and manage benefits fosters autonomy and reduces administrative overhead.
Analytics and reporting: Data-driven insights allow HR professionals to identify trends, forecast needs, and make informed decisions, propelling the organization forward strategically.

What are the types of HR tools?

A team of five working and planning together for the next big thing — What are the types of HR tools?

HR tools for measuring employee engagement

Employee engagement is the heartbeat of a thriving workplace. These employee survey tools employ surveys, feedback mechanisms, and sentiment analysis to gauge employee satisfaction, gather insights into workplace dynamics, and identify areas for improvement. By understanding the pulse of your workforce, you can take strategic actions to enhance morale, retention, and overall productivity.

HR tools for recruitment

Finding the right talent is paramount, and recruitment tools are the compass guiding you through the talent landscape. These tools automate job posting, applicant tracking, resume screening, and even initial interviews. They streamline the hiring process, ensuring efficient collaboration among hiring teams, and fostering a seamless experience for candidates, from application to onboarding.

HR tools for performance management

Transparent and effective performance management tools facilitate goal setting, regular feedback, and continuous development. They provide a structured platform for managers and employees to track progress, assess achievements, and identify areas for improvement, fostering a culture of accountability and growth.

HR tools for training and development

In the pursuit of organizational excellence, training and development tools are invaluable. They offer e-learning platforms, personalized training modules, and skill assessment tools that empower employees to acquire new competencies, enhancing their value to the company and their own professional growth.

HR tools for people management

Managing a diverse workforce requires tools that streamline communication, collaboration, and employee relations. These tools facilitate easy interaction between HR professionals and employees, allowing for seamless information sharing, issue resolution, and the nurturing of a cohesive organizational culture.

HR tools for payroll management

Precise payroll management tools eliminate manual calculations, ensure timely and accurate salary disbursement, and handle tax deductions and compliance. By automating these processes, you not only save time but also minimize errors that could lead to dissatisfaction and legal issues.

HR tools for time and attendance management

Monitoring work hours and attendance manually is a time-consuming task prone to errors. Time and attendance management tools automate these processes, offering real-time tracking, leave management, and insights into workforce availability, enhancing efficiency and payroll accuracy.

HR tools for startups

Tailored to the unique needs of startups, these tools provide cost-effective solutions for various core HR functions, from recruitment and onboarding to employee engagement and performance management. They enable startups to establish strong HR foundations, ensuring efficient growth and scalability.

Incorporating these diverse types of HR software into your organizational framework isn't just a tech-driven trend; it's a strategic necessity.

35+ HR tools you should use in 2023

HR tools for measuring employee engagement

1. CultureMonkey

CultureMonkey - An employee engagement platform

CultureMonkey is a robust HR tool designed to measure and enhance employee engagement throughout their lifecycle. It offers a comprehensive range of features that empower organizations to set, track, and analyze engagement goals.

With over 100 meticulously researched survey templates, CultureMonkey enables HR leaders to gain valuable insights into their workforce's sentiment and experiences.

One standout feature is the ability to send fully customizable, multi-lingual employee surveys. This functionality facilitates high participation rates from both blue-collar and white-collar employees, fostering a comprehensive understanding of workplace dynamics.

The employee lifecycle module ensures continuous listening from onboarding to separation, aiding in predicting attrition and taking proactive measures. Pulse surveys provide real-time feedback, offering a dynamic understanding of workplace culture and employee sentiments.

CultureMonkey's advanced engagement metrics assess 15+ drivers, encompassing work-life balance, mental health, leadership, recognition, and more. Powered by GPT technology, the platform swiftly processes extensive employee feedback, generating actionable engagement analytics for informed decision-making.

Prioritizing employee privacy and security, CultureMonkey is GDPR compliant, ensuring anonymous feedback collection, analytics, and reporting. Its seamless integration with various business tools, including Zoho People, Darwin Box, Keka HR, and Workday, adds flexibility and convenience to the engagement assessment process.

Learn more about CultureMonkey

2. Qualtrics

Qualtrics is an employee experience platform that includes features for measuring and improving employee engagement. It enables HR teams to design and distribute surveys, gather feedback, and analyze results to gain a deep understanding of employee sentiment.

With real-time analytics and predictive insights, Qualtrics empowers organizations to proactively address engagement issues and create strategies for fostering a positive workplace culture. This tool's holistic approach helps organizations drive higher levels of engagement and productivity.

Learn more about Qualtrics

3. Culture Amp

Culture Amp specializes in employee feedback and engagement analytics, offering a comprehensive platform for measuring and improving workplace culture. HR professionals can create customized surveys, gather actionable insights, and track engagement metrics over time.

Culture Amp's data-driven approach helps organizations understand the factors influencing employee engagement, enabling them to make informed decisions to enhance employee satisfaction, retention, and performance.

Learn more about Culture Amp

4. TINYpulse

TINYpulse is an employee engagement platform that focuses on real-time feedback and continuous improvement. Through regular pulse surveys and anonymous employee feedback, TINYpulse enables HR teams to gauge employee sentiment and identify areas for enhancement.

The platform's user-friendly interface and customizable features make it easy to track engagement trends and gather actionable insights. TINYpulse promotes open communication, giving organizations the tools they need to create a culture of transparency and empowerment.

Learn more about TINYpulse

5. Officevibe

Officevibe is an employee engagement platform that enables organizations to measure and improve workplace satisfaction. Through regular pulse surveys and feedback collection, Officevibe provides insights into employee sentiment and identifies areas for enhancement.

The platform's data-driven approach empowers HR professionals to address engagement issues, foster a positive work environment, and drive productivity. Officevibe's user-friendly interface and actionable analytics make it a valuable tool for organizations seeking to boost employee engagement and overall company performance.

Learn more about Officevibe

6. Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace offers a robust suite of tools for measuring and enhancing employee engagement. Its comprehensive platform includes features such as surveys, feedback collection, and performance management.

Through its data-driven insights, Quantum Workplace enables HR teams to understand workplace dynamics, identify trends, and implement strategies for improvement. The platform's focus on continuous feedback and employee development contributes to a culture of engagement and growth within organizations.

Learn more about Quantum Workplace

7. SurveyLab

SurveyLab is a versatile survey and feedback platform that can be utilized for measuring employee engagement. With its customizable surveys and reporting capabilities, SurveyLab allows HR professionals to gather insights into employee satisfaction and sentiment.

The platform's flexibility enables organizations to tailor surveys to their specific needs, ensuring that engagement metrics are accurately captured. SurveyLab's user-friendly interface and analytics tools make it an effective solution for organizations seeking to understand and enhance employee engagement.

Learn more about SurveyLab