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The 9 Best HCM Software To Manage Your HR Needs in One Place

We've tested and demoed dozens of tools to create this guide to the best HCM software. Find pricing info, screenshots, pros & cons, and more below.

Rodrigo Vázquez Mellado
Written by
Rodrigo Vázquez Mellado
HR and B2B software analyst and advisor, tech writer and editor, former conversational designer
Contributing Experts
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Last Updated: Nov 27, 2023
TOP
Leading HCM & Flexible Pricing
BambooHR
4.6
Popularity Score
4.5
User Score
4.4
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Leading HCM & Flexible Pricing
BambooHR
4.6
Popularity Score
4.5
User Score
4.4
Product  Score
Learn More
TOP
Influential HCM for US SMBs
Paycor
4.1
Popularity Score
4.2
User Score
4.0
Product  Score
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TOP
Influential HCM for US SMBs
Paycor
4.1
Popularity Score
4.2
User Score
4.0
Product  Score
Learn More
TOP
Top-Rated HCM Suite
Ceridian
4.8
Popularity Score
3.8
User Score
4.5
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Top-Rated HCM Suite
Ceridian
4.8
Popularity Score
3.8
User Score
4.5
Product  Score
Learn More
Over 3 million HR leaders trust our advice

Introduction to HCM Software

Finding the best HCM software for your business starts with understanding what human capital management is. More than a software category, HCM is a set of practices within human resources that aim towards increasing the value that employees bring to the company.

HCMs provide specific competencies for workers in three categories: workforce acquisition, workforce management, and workforce optimization.

We found some great resources that can help you understand the difference between HCM software and HRMS software. Knowing the difference is important because some vendors try to create products with both HCM and HRMS capabilities, and though there is a lot of overlap in there are important differences you should be aware of.

This guide is HCM-focused and, after extensive research, we've compiled a list of top HCM software vendors. We cover the entire feature set, support, implementation, customer success, UX, and more.

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Best HCM Software

BambooHR

: Leading HCM & Flexible Pricing

Paycor

: Influential HCM for US SMBs

Ceridian

: Top-Rated HCM Suite

Rippling

: Prominent Platform for HCM & More

Oracle

: Remarkable Array of HCM Tools

WorkDay

: Eminent Enterprise HCM & More

SAP SuccessFactors

: HCM for Employee Experience

UKG

: Highly-Adaptive HCM Suite

Sage People

: Solid HCM for Global Teams

Our Criteria: Here's How We Chose The Best HCM Software

To select the best HCM software, our experts have gathered user feedback, sought insight from HR thought leaders, and participated in product demos with vendors. In our experience, the right way to go about shopping for an HCM platform breaks down into three general questions. First, are the HR ops functionalities in line with what you need? Second, how easily does it integrate with other systems? And third, does it scale, and will it grow with you?

HR Ops

Every company’s needs differ, and no two HCM systems are alike. Specifically, we assessed products for workforce acquisition, workforce management, workforce optimization, performance reviews, learning management, succession planning, and employee onboarding.

Integration Capabilities

Because it’s so important for your new HCM software to work with your existing tech stack, we assessed each platform’s capacity for seamless integration with the standalone tools you might be using currently, such as accounting software, applicant tracking systems, performance assessment tools, and time and attendance software.

Scale

We assessed each company’s HCM software for exponentially flexible features. Take customization and permissions, for example. As companies grow, their org charts tend to get more complex. Where a simple set of customized permissions would suit a team with only managers and non-managers, a more complex team needs the ability to customize permissions for an elaborate, interwoven network.

For anyone interested in more detail on our selection process, we recommend reading more about our editorial guidelines.

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Compare the Best HCM Software

Popularity Score
Best for
Key Differentiator
Pricing
Free Trial
Customers
Users Score
Product Score

BambooHR

Most Popular
4.6
Teams who need flexibility in package options
Flexible pricing and adaptable features
Custom Pricing
Yes
30,000+
4.5
4.4

Paycor

Most Popular
4.1
SMB needing flexibility and strong payroll capability
Flexible for growing teams and offers discounts often
Custom Pricing
Yes
40,000+
4.2
4.0

Ceridian

Most Popular
4.8
Data-forward product, best for teams who love analytics
Real-time updates on complex regulatory demands
Custom Pricing
Yes
5,000+
3.8
4.5

Rippling

Most Popular
4.2
Full-cycle HCM best for growing teams
Supports US and global payroll for employees
Starts at $8/employee/month
No
2,000+
4.2
4.1

Oracle

Most Popular
4.5
Best for teams who can make use of all features
Well-established with global presence
Custom Pricing
Yes
400,000+ companies
4.3
4.6

WorkDay

Most Popular
4.0
Best for enterprise teams and other operationally complex orgs
Stand-out reporting capabilities
Custom Pricing
No
10,000+
3.9
4.0

SAP SuccessFactors

Most Popular
4.0
Teams that prioritize user experience
Focus on humanizing and employee experience
Starts from $6.3/user/month
No
5000+ companies
3.9
4.0

UKG

Most Popular
4.0
Optimal for companies with growing, global teams
Ultimate Community feature fosters networking among users
Custom Pricing
No
80,000+
4.2
4.1

Sage People

Most Popular
4.1
Custom Pricing
Yes
1,000,000+ companies
4.3
4.2
Phil Strazzulla
HR Tech Expert, Harvard MBA, Software Enthusiast

Need Help? Get Custom Recommendations for Best HCM Software

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Detailed Reviews of the Best HCM Software

BambooHR

Visit Website
BambooHR
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Popularity Score
4.6 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked BambooHR

We picked BambooHR for its flexibility, UX/UI, and reliability. It is a leading HR software suite with extensive HCM capabilities and also offers optional payroll services for US employees, effectively transforming it into a complete HRMS solution.

PROS

  • Offers flexible pricing and customizable packages.
  • User-friendly interface streamlines employee management for both employees and HR teams.
  • Flexible packaging and custom pricing is the way they roll. You can pick out one or two packages and pick other modules as add-ons based on your needs. 
  • Very simple and straightforward tool, easy to use.

CONS

  • Payroll limited to the U.S.-based workers.
  • Support hours limited to U.S. time zones
  • Some modules, including time and attendance, performance management, and surveys are available as add-ons with BambooHR.
  • Payroll is only available for US-based employees 
  • Customer support is only offered during US business hours.
  • Some modules like time tracking, performance management, and surveys are only available as add-ons.
BambooHR dashboard screenshot - one of the best HCM Software

BambooHR Review

BambooHR deserves a mention within the HCM space (in most HR tech categories, really), even though they can technically be either an HRIS or an HRMS, depending on the package and add-ons you pick. 

Their HCM core features like benefit tracking, reporting, employee directory provide sufficient visibility for short and long-term decision making. Other HCM features like performance management and time tracking, however, are only offered as add-ons. This flexible packaging, however, is part of what makes BambooHR so popular among teams in all many sorts of industries. It’s a tool that can adapt to your evolving needs and there’s likely always something to discover.

BambooHR Customers

Among the 20,000+ companies that use BambooHR, you’d find names like Quora, Universal Group, Reddit, Asana, Change.org, University of Maryland, Grammarly, Stance, Postmates, Wistia, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and ZipRecruiter.

BambooHR Pricing

Pricing is not disclosed upfront, but they do offer a free trial of their all-in-one software and then go out of their way to find a version that will suit you. Before they come up with a personalized quote that will align with your budget, however, they are also likely to extend your free trial upon request or even give you a free demo of the advanced features.

Best For

BambooHR can be an ideal choice for companies in search of a customizable HCM tool that provides pricing options that reflect their requirements. Additionally, it is well-regarded by teams that are partially or fully remote.

BambooHR in action
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Paycor

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Paycor
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.2 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked Paycor

Paycor is an HCM system that offers a wide range of features, including payroll, time tracking, benefits administration, and employee self-service. The software is designed for small and medium-sized teams to streamline their HR processes and improve employee engagement.

PROS

  • Paycor has a robust payroll solution that is easy to navigate.
  • User-friendly employee self-service portal.
  • Has multiple plans for small businesses and custom plans for teams with 50-1000 employees.
  • Often runs discount programs.
  • Works well on both Android and iOS devices.
  • Is acquiring the people development platform Verb to strengthen its learning management system.
  • Paycor payroll solution and mobile app are both straightforward to use.
  • Intuitive self-service employee portal.
  • Offers multiple modules for small businesses and custom plans for teams with 50-1000 employees.
  • Unlimited payrolls.
  • Offers discounts frequently. Though not listed on their site, a free trial is available to those who contact the support team directly.
  • On-demand pay is available for all plans.
  • With the acquisition of the people development platform Verb, it has improved its employee learning experience.

CONS

  • Lacks transparent pricing.
  • Customer support isn’t very responsive.
  • Not the right choice for businesses with 1000+ employees or require advanced customization.
  • Undisclosed pricing.
  • Customer support is reported to be slow at times.
  • It is not a good fit for teams with 1000+ employees or those requiring advanced customization to meet their unique requirements.
Paycor dashboard screenshot - one of the best HCM System

Paycor Review

Paycor is easy to use and can be customized to meet the needs of businesses with 2 to 1,000 headcounts. The software also offers a variety of payroll and HR features, such as ledger integration, AutoRun, direct deposit, on-demand pay, tax withholding, and reporting tools.

Paycor's employee self-service portal allows employees to access their pay stubs, timesheets, and benefits. Employees can also change their contact and banking info. Through Paycor, employees can finish onboarding paperwork online, choose the benefits package and payment methods, and update their information as needed. Moreover: all of this can be done from the app.

In May 2023, the software just rolled out a new feature named PayCor Engage on its mobile application. This newly launched feature allows employees and employers to interact with each other on the app, which is a massive benefit for engagement and transparency, especially for remote employees.

Paycor has also just acquired the people development platform Verb. We hope that with this acquisition, there will be an uptick in customer service and reporting quality in addition to improving its employee learning functionality.

Regarding Paycor’s downsides, we have heard some users complaining that the support team can be hard to contact at times. As for reporting and analytics features, Paycor charges extra for some custom reports, which are, unfortunately, less intuitive than one would hope.

Paycor Customers

Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Detroit Zoo, The Cincinnati Bengals, The YMCA.

Paycor Pricing

Paycor pricing varies and depends on your team size and the modules you select.

Best For

SMBs looking for an HCM with flexibility and strong payroll capability will benefit most from Paycor.

Paycor in action
Reviewer's Rating
9/10

I use Paycor daily and really appreciate how its workflows allow me to move candidates through the various stages of our hiring process, from initial screening to final offer. Moreover, Paycor's integration with our payroll system eliminated the need for manual data entry and ensured that all employee information was accurate and up-to-date. I could access employee data and manage HR operations from anywhere, at any time, through the Paycor mobile app.

What do you like about this tool?

The mobile feature of this system is a great convenience for managers and employees alike, as it enables them to easily access on the go. The user interface is visually appealing and easy to navigate, which makes it a pleasure to use on a daily basis. In addition, the reporting functionality is simple and intuitive, and the customer service team is highly responsive and helpful in case of any issues or questions.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

Our company was struggling with the hiring process and needed a more efficient and cost-effective solution than our current system. We needed a system that would help us manage job postings, resumes, candidate communication, and applicant tracking in one place. We also wanted a solution that would integrate with other HR tools we were using, such as our payroll system. Paycor provided us with a cost-effective and comprehensive solution that helped us improve our recruitment process and streamline our HR operations. It helped us save time, reduce costs, and improve our hiring outcomes. I have used Paycor for 3+ years.

What do you dislike about this tool?

I think the ATS function was better when it was under Newton, but since it was acquired by Paycor, it has taken some time to adjust to the changes. I also wish it was capable of serving larger organizations to compete with iCIMS or Workday.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Paycor stands out from its competitors due to its user-friendly interface, customizable features, and seamless integration with other HR tools like payroll systems which is why I prefer Paycor.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

When purchasing a tool like Paycor, people should consider important criteria such as the software's integration capabilities, installation process, security features, customer support, available features, and pricing. These factors can help individuals make an informed decision and choose a software solution that best fits their needs and budget.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

The beauty of using this system has been that you are grandfathered in from the time you purchase the tool. Which means as they continue to update the system with innovative functions they do not charge extra.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

I think it's excellent for small to mid-size organizations

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Large organizations

Ceridian

Visit Website
Ceridian
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.8 / 5
User Score
3.8 / 5
Product Score
4.5 / 5

Why we picked Ceridian

Ceridian is the creator of Dayforce, a cloud HCM platform that efficiently handles the employee lifecycle end to end, including payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management.

PROS

CONS

Our reviewers took screenshot of Ceridian HCM Solution during the demo

Ceridian Review

Dayforce HCM by Ceridian consolidates data from all employee lifecycle stages, enabling informed decisions and data-driven insights. This comprehensive platform integrates HR, payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management.

Notably, Dayforce features a flexible rules engine that handles intricate regulatory demands, delivering real-time updates and computation.

Ceridian Customers

  • Guitar Center
  • Danone
  • Spirit Aerosystems
  • El Pollo Loco
  • Crescent Bank

Ceridian Pricing

Pricing for the Dayforce HCM suite is not provided upfront.

Best For

Ceridian’s Dayforce HCM is best for enterprises with over 1,000 employees.

Ceridian in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

I used Ceridian for about 2 years and was a power user, as well as part of the implementation team. The main workflows were new hire onboarding, promotions with secondary approvers, leave of absence management, scheduling, attendance and offboarding. Considering that we used to do all of these processes using a paper form, the platform helped us save a lot of time and work more efficiently.

What do you like about this tool?

We selected Ceridian primarily due to the level of customization that could be done. The secondary factor was value - what we received for the cost. The third advantage was that it was easy to use and train users in a decentralized workforce.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

Our organization was paper-based with numerous tools and systems that didn't communicate with one another. The goal was to gain efficiency and make it easier for managers at the 200+ locations to manage workflow for the onboarding, maintenance and offboarding of over 4000 employees. Ceridian eliminated employee paperwork, consolidated payroll, HRIS, benefits, and time and attendance, not to mention the ease of approving employee changes such as promotions, transfers and terminations.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Some of the items I wish were improved with Ceridian have to do with support. During implementation, you have a high level of support but afterwards, you need to get into the ticketing system to get support and it takes a long time to resolve issues through it. The reporting feature is difficult and requires significant training, there is nothing intuitive. If you need help with a report or changing a config in your system, everything has an additional cost.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Ceridian had a skilled implementation team that was higher performing than some others I've worked with in the past. They took time to understand detailed requirements and worked with us side by side to get the customizations in. It was overall a positive experience.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

I'd suggest that you consider how your current processes can be streamlined and not just design workflow with how it's done today. Look at existing tools that might be able to be eliminated for cost savings. Lastly, make sure that you have $ in your budget for an HRIS administrator to oversee and manage the system post-implementation.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

I've seen many changes and expect that they will continue to evolve. The introduction of mobile access was a game changer, especially for a workforce like ours where the employees did not use the desktop application often. There is also a forum where users can make suggestions and the dev team will look there for features to build out in future releases. I expect that with the increased use of AI, that the tool will leverage that to improve the already efficient processes.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

I would suggest this tool for a large organization. Cerdian is not the least expensive option out there, but if you need customization and can eliminate other tools, or benefit from the integration, you'll see some savings. It is a great solution for a high turnover workforce such as hospitality as it's easy to use and handles the volume with ease.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

I'd not suggest this to a small business or company shopping on a budget. If you don't need a lot by means of customization or integrations, there are less expensive options available. I'd also not recommend this to a company that doesn't have the budget to assign a full time HRIS Manager to it. Depending on the size of the company, it may even require additional staff to support it.

Rippling

Visit Website
Rippling
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.2 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5

Why we picked Rippling

Rippling is a prominent platform for HCM. And more than that, it gives growing teams flexibility in their shopping. All Rippling modules — applicant tracking, onboarding, self-service, payroll, benefits, time tracking, training, engagement, and reporting — can be purchased according to customers’ needs.

PROS

  • Rippling offers a full-feature HCM with great automation support.
  • Payroll automatically updates work hours, deductions, and tax filings.
  • Supports both US and global payroll.
  • Strong integration capabilities (500 third-party apps).
  • The Benefits module enables users to collaborate with their preferred broker.
  • Provides a mobile app.
  • Modules can be purchased separately or wholly as a full suite.
  • All-in-one platform for employee management + PEO services offered, and even a suite of other IT products 
  • With 500 integrations, it’s very likely that they integrate with other key tools from your tech stack.
  • Operates globally with any currency
  • Workflow automation
  • Analytics opportunities
  • Provides a holistic view of company outflows—headcount costs included

CONS

  • No payroll automation
  • There’s no free trial, not a tool for tight budgets
  • Telephone support is an added fee
  • Not a great fit for teams greater than 2,000
  • The mobile app can be slow and doesn’t perform as well as the web browser version.
  • Total buy-in to Rippling is essential 
  • Very SMB-oriented, in case you’re a larger company. 
  • New features tend to be buggy in ways that tech teams are not accustomed to fixing
Rippling dashboard screenshot - one of the best HCM Solution

Rippling Review

Rippling stands out as a strong HCM platform, providing a complete cycle of human capital management functions, encompassing acquisition, management, and optimization.

The features are rich in automation and customization, while the UI maintains a clean look that soothes the eyes. We’re surprised at how fast the solution has evolved since it started the business back in 2016.

Integration capabilities are a standout feature for Rippling, with over 500 software solutions connected across various categories. The self-service feature empowers employees to manage onboarding, benefits, compensation, and personal information through mobile accessibility.

Furthermore, Rippling has taken good care of workforce management and optimization, offering US and global payroll automation for faster payroll processing. Running payroll for employees and contractors is quick, taking only a few minutes. The synchronization between the time tracking app and payment app ensures accurate work hours, deductions, and tax filing. Additionally, the benefits administration tool offers flexibility, allowing us to select our preferred broker and choose from 4,000 plans.

However, we expected more accessible customer service, as Rippling doesn’t offer 24/7 support, and phone consultations come at an additional cost. Additionally, the requirement to purchase the Rippling Unity module to access other modules limits flexibility.

Rippling Customers

Vox, Maximum Games, Superhuman, Compass Coffee, Highnoon.

Rippling Pricing

Rippling pricing starts at $8 per employee per month. Contact the Sales rep for more info.

Best For

Rippling is a powerful HCM for both US-based and international teams to manage their workforce. With its current feature set, the ideal team size is from 50 to 2,000 team members.

Rippling in action
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Oracle

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Oracle
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Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.3 / 5
Product Score
4.6 / 5

Why we picked Oracle

Oracle is one of the top names in IT. Their HCM is popular among enterprises with more than 1,000 employees and boasted for its implementation and CS practices.

PROS

CONS

Oracle HCM - one of the best human capital management systems

Oracle Review

Oracle’s HCM suite is built for the cloud and made for connecting every single HR process. It’s good for teams looking to have a single source of truth for HR data in order to improve decision making. Their product includes talent management, recruiting, workforce management, payroll, and HCM analytics. The interface is not the best-looking out there and UX can be frustrating for employees and HR alike, but they're still one of the top choices for large scale implementations.

Oracle Customers

  • Axa
  • Blackboard
  • Deutsche Bahn
  • Marriott, Cisco

Oracle Pricing

Oracle doesn’t provide pricing details for their HCM upfront. To get a quote, you’d have to request a demo, but they also offer interactive product tours that you can take before chatting to a sales rep.

Best For

Enterprises with over 1,000 employees in most parts of the world.

Oracle in action
Reviewer's Rating
6/10

We utilize Oracle daily for various aspects of the HR management process. Firstly, we use it for talent acquisition and recruitment: job posting, managing candidate applications, and conducting interviews. Secondly, we can set goals and track progress to help align individual and team objectives with the organizational goals. Thirdly, we utilize the employee self-service features to empower our workforce. They have the ability to access personal information, request leaves, update their profiles, and access training modules. By doing this, we are able to reduce the workload. Lastly, we are able to manage payroll and benefits easily. The reporting capabilities allow us to measure our HR metrics and enable data-driven decision-making and strategic planning.

Overall, we are able to optimize our HR processes and effectively manage the entire employee lifecycle from recruitment to retirement.

What do you like about this tool?
  • I like that we have a one-stop shop for all of our HR needs.
  • I love that employees can access their profiles, submit leaves, and access their pay stubs through Oracle.
  • I like that we are able to pull data easily for strategic purposes.
Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

My organization acquired Oracle to better align with our complex HR needs. Oracle offered a wide range of functionalities that included talent acquisition, employee self-service, analytics, and more all in one platform. Using this HRM tool allowed the company to streamline the HR process to improve data accuracy and enhance decision-making through data-driven insights.

We have been using Oracle for about 7 years so we are still in the early stages of this software. Up until about 4 years ago, we were using it for basic needs like documenting records. We are now working with Deloitte on solutions to make it more user-friendly for us and integrate all of our business through the same platform. Since COVID, we have consistently undergone regular updates and enhancements to ensure we stay up to date with industry standards and technological enhancements. Overall, Oracle has enabled us to achieve greater efficiency, compliance, and strategic HR planning which contributes to the success of our organization.

What do you dislike about this tool?
  • Sometimes, I feel as though it is not user-friendly.
  • I sometimes have a problem manually entering information.
  • It can be a little glitchy at times.
How is this tool different than their competitors?

I have used similar tools and they all seem to have the same issues for the most part. The biggest one is user-friendly initiatives. More time needs to be spent on creating a better experience for customers.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

Consider things like functionality, features, scalability, user-friendly interfaces, customization, integration, data security, compliance, and lastly, training and customer support. Be mindful of these reasons and ensure that this system aligns with the needs of the organization.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Oracle is constantly improving its user experience by listening to customer feedback and staying up to date with industry trends. A major update was to make Oracle accessible on mobile phones. Once our organization implemented that update it was easier for our employees to access self-service as many people do not have computers at home.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

I think Oracle is a suitable choice for government agencies, schools, and diverse industries.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Smaller corporations might not use all the functions of the software to their full capacity, making it less ideal for them.

WorkDay

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WorkDay
Learn More
Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
3.9 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked WorkDay

Workday is a popular HRMS solution, primarily targeting enterprises. It offers a centralized source for managing workforce administration, engagement, compensation, and benefits data across various worker types. This includes contingent workers, employees, contractors, and retirees, making it a comprehensive solution for all aspects of workforce management.

PROS

  • Workday process flows are easily adjustable to conform to global and local needs.
  • Self-service is available for both employees and managers.
  • AI-driven assistance for detecting skills gaps.
  • Mobile apps...
  • Offers phone, email, community, and live chat support.
  • Complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and includes a robust, configurable security model.
  • Accessible customer support from the community, live chat, and telephone.
  • Compatible with 300 HR systems such as ERP/GL, CRM, HR, and PSA.
  • Configurable dashboard with AI and ML-driven insights.
  • Ability to maintain real-time alignment of budgets and workforce plans.
  • SOC 2 Type 2 compliance.

CONS

  • Not transparent with pricing.
  • No free trial is available.
  • Long implementation process (4.5 months on average).
  • Navigation for beginners can be confusing and may need training to understand all features.
  • Mobile apps aren't very user-friendly.
  • Undisclosed pricing.
  • No free trial for its talent management software.
  • Time-consuming implementation period (average 4.5 months).
  • Challenge navigating for first-time users may require training.
  • Issues with logging in were reported by users.
Workday HCM Software screenshot

WorkDay Review

Workday excels at personalization by tailoring recommendations, tasks, and search results to individual users based on their roles.

Other aspects of the business processes functionality stand out, too, especially for multinational businesses. WorkDay helps teams achieve operational consistency while also allowing customization of workflows for specific location requirements.

The platform also offers performance assessment capabilities that provide visibility into the workforce's current capabilities. This enables swift identification of skills gaps and facilitates prompt action in sourcing and training internal talent development.

Despite its popularity with larger organizations, Workday's mobile app underperforms compared to the software itself. Users report issues with the time clock system, frequent crashing, and sign-in problems on both Android and iOS platforms.

Additionally, the implementation process for Workday's HCM can be time-consuming, averaging around 4.5 months, and involving multiple individuals and departments.

WorkDay Customers

Quicken Loans, AstraZeneca, Target, Dell, Bank of America.

WorkDay Pricing

Workday pricing is undisclosed on the website. You need to contact Sales for a quote.

Best For

Workday is awesome for large enterprises with multiple branches that are looking for an inclusive HCM solution that is scalable and with great reporting capabilities.

WorkDay in action
Reviewer's Rating
6/10

I used it for recruiting, internal mobility, onboarding, and reporting. It was an excellent tool for internal mobility because it gave visibility into information like compensation, leveling, and performance reviews. This helped ensure that candidates had eligibility to apply to roles internally. The onboarding workflow was also very straightforward and configuring the to-do tasks was easy. Reporting took a little bit of time to learn and I would recommend taking the Learn Workday course if you have no experience with it because you will learn Workday's logic.

The ATS portion of Workday is a struggle. It is difficult to schedule candidates and build structured interviews.

What do you like about this tool?

Pros:

- The information you can get access to is extremely helpful

- The UI/UX is very clean

- All-in-one type solution

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

Workday was selected because it offered a comprehensive people solution. Instead of having different portals for compensation, performance management, recruiting, and people analytics, Workday allowed everything to live in one system of record. This reduced costs and ramp time in some ways because it allowed everyone to be in one place.

I've used it for a combined 2-2.5 years in my career in all facets from selection to design and then every day use for reporting and recruiting.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Cons:

- The Recruiting module for recruiters and recruiting coordinators is not intuitive and user friendly

- The Recruiting module for candidates is lengthy and miserable. It does a terrible job of parsing resumes

- Job management versus position management makes data funky in some instances (for example, if you were hired into a position, it can look like you hired your whole team unless you put in specific calculated fields)

- If you don't have the right access controls, it is borderline impossible to do your job effectively.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

The Workday Recruiting Module (their ATS) is one of the most reviled in the Recruiting space. It doesn't compare well to other ATS like Greenhouse, Lever, or Ashby because the latter offers better functionality, controls, and ease of use.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

- Ease of use. Workday has the ability to be so much but you have to know exactly what to look for and how to configure it.

- Implementation time. Workday requires a focused implementation and testing period. Without it, you will run into a number of problems. If you need to roll out something quickly, Workday isn't the tool for you.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

It is difficult to tell because they release big updates every 6 months so requests for solutions might be forgotten by that point.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

HR Business Partners, HR Operations, Finance, Compensation, and C-Suite

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Recruiting, Analytics, Interviewers, Candidates

SAP SuccessFactors

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SAP SuccessFactors
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Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
3.9 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked SAP SuccessFactors

SAP SuccessFactors is one of the big names in HCM. They’re currently pushing the boundaries of the category itself, calling their product an HXM suite, for Human Experience Management.

PROS

CONS

Our reviewers took screenshot of SAP SuccessFactors Human Capital Management Software during the demo

SAP SuccessFactors Review

SAP is trying to transform traditional human capital management into a more employee-oriented endeavor. Through their HXM, they are trying to put the worker’s experience as the main focus of the way companies engage with their people. Their product helps HR managers deliver experiences that resonate with employees while shaping their strategy.

One thing to consider is that SAP, like many of the biggest companies doing HCM products, has been criticized for having a frustrating user experience. With their shift towards being an HXM, however, it looks like they're tackling that issue and moving in the right direction.

SAP SuccessFactors Customers

  • American Airlines
  • Ernst & Young
  • Hero Group
  • Terex
  • Watco Companies

SAP SuccessFactors Pricing

Pricing for SAP’s HXM suite is only available upon request.

Best For

Enterprises looking to improve UX

SAP SuccessFactors in action
Reviewer's Rating
9/10

We use SAP-Success Factors daily to create training content for all of our district employees. We have a number of mandatory training sessions to meet compliance goals and we use SAP- Success Factors for that. We are able to create SCORM video files and post these to Success Factors. We can add additional components to the training packages as well to test employees' assessment results. We are also in the early stages of working on using Success Factors for employee performance management.

What do you like about this tool?

It makes training compliance much easier for us. It is good for large enterprise environments. It is highly customizable.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

My organization bought SAP-Success Factors to use as an LMS tool. We've been using it for about 4 years. Prior to using SAP-Success Factors, getting our large pool of employees to complete mandatory training was difficult. Now we can create our own training content and manage its delivery much more easily. It also allows us to track compliance on training more easily.

What do you dislike about this tool?

It can be difficult to get the support we need from our SAP representative quickly. It is so customizable that it can be difficult to predict the effect of small changes to the software. The integration with reporting can be slow.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Success Factors is very robust and highly customizable, and that differentiates them from competitors.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

You should consider the cost, and it can be prohibitive for smaller organizations. It is also so customizable that you will need someone on staff to become an expert to really use it to its fullest. It's also good to consider if you actually need a product this customizable or whether something more plug-and-play would work better for you.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

We are constantly meeting with our SAP rep to tweak our setup. They are willing to work with us on this, but it is sometimes a lengthy process.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

Success Factors is great for a large enterprise-level organization that needs highly customizable software.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Success Factors is more than probably any small organization would need in terms of breadth and customizability.

UKG

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UKG
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Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.2 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5

Why we picked UKG

UKG is the merger of Ultimate Software and Kronos. As such, it brings over 70 years of experience with People tech into the HCM space. Ultipro became UKG Pro, their feature-rich HRMS, packing features like performance and time & attendance management.

PROS

  • UKG is a robust product with extensive experience in HCM and Workforce Management technology.
  • UKG includes UKG Pro for HRMS and UKG Ready for workforce management, providing a comprehensive set of tools to address various HR needs.
  • Administrators can customize user visibility within the system through configurability.
  • The Ultimate Community provides valuable on-demand information and fosters networking among UKG Pro users.
  • It offers an iOS app and an Android app for employees.
  • Super robust product, packing years of experience with HCM and Workforce Management technology 
  • Since they offer UKG Pro for HRMS and UKG Ready for workforce management, you could arrive at a combination of products that suits many of your HR needs from the same set of tools.

CONS

  • Lacks a unique selling point or specific focus on niche businesses compared to newer tools, making it more suitable for larger companies.
  • Users report ongoing issues with logging in to the Android app.
  • Can be pricey for budget-minded companies.
  • Compared to newer tools, UKG Pro and UKG Ready tend to miss a unique selling point or a specific focus on a certain type of business. While they work great for bigger companies in all sorts of industries, very niche operations might have a hard time adapting to the tool. 
  • Similarly, ​​UKG offers many solutions under one umbrella, so it's not the best fit if you're looking for only a handful of specific use cases.
UKG Pro dashboard screenshot - one of the best Human Capital Management Software

UKG Review

UKG, born from the merger of Ultimate Software and Kronos, delivers a wealth of features designed to meet the needs of enterprise-size teams.

One of the standout qualities of UKG is its ability to handle multiple aspects of employee management. From hiring and onboarding to performance management and succession planning, this platform provides a holistic solution for HR needs.

Drawing on over 70 years of combined experience in people tech, UKG brings a robust and extensive set of capabilities to the table. The fusion of Ultimate Software's UltiPro and Kronos' workforce management expertise has resulted in UKG Pro. This powerful HCM tool offers performance management and time and attendance tracking features.

UKG also provides UKG Ready, derived from Kronos, which enables functions like time and attendance, scheduling, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance. This comprehensive approach eliminates the need for multiple tools and offers a unified experience.

While UKG has many strengths, we did notice a few drawbacks. The platform may not have a distinct selling point or a specific focus on niche businesses compared to newer, more specialized tools available in the market.

Furthermore, there have been reports of login issues with the Android app, which can be frustrating for users needing easy access to information.

Pricing is another aspect that requires careful consideration. UKG may be out of range for organizations with limited budgets. According to our research, licenses generally start at around $600.00 per year for every 5 users.

UKG Customers

Tesla, Marriott, Yamaha, Aramark, Puma, Sony Music, Samsung.

UKG Pricing

  • Pricing for UKG is not provided on their website.
  • Typically, pricing is based on a per-employee-per-month model, with options for annual or monthly billing.
  • To obtain an accurate quote, it is necessary to contact a sales representative. But based on our research, licenses generally start at around $600.00 per year for every 5 users.

Best For

UKG  is an excellent HCM solution for companies operating in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia/Pacific regions, ideally with a minimum employee count of at least 7. UKG Pro can cater to companies with 75-500 employees, while UKG Ready is for companies with a headcount of 500 and beyond.

UKG in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

We used UKG as our HRIS primary system of record to feed all other systems that relied on employee data. It was used for payroll, performance management, and compensation management. Again, a selling point of this tool for the transportation company was the multi-state tax calculations it was able to deliver.

What do you like about this tool?

UKG is a comprehensive solution when looking for an HRIS. It also has favorable integration capabilities with other systems. I also appreciate that UKG is a scalable system that allows your business to expand as needed.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

I used UKG with a past employer in the transportation industry. We implemented it and used it for several years. We selected UKG due to the fact that the transportation company I worked for had a few separate subsidiaries in different states under the primary corporate umbrella. UKG was able to handle the complexity that came with managing a distributed workforce under multiple EINs. The taxation functionality was particularly helpful for their mobile and transient 1099 workforce.

What do you dislike about this tool?

UKG would benefit from expanding its reporting and data analytics capabilities. Other competitors have more robust tools and functionality In this area. The cost for this platform has also been an obstacle for smaller organizations.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

No HRIS is perfect and has the solution for all employer pain points and needs. That said, UKG is very versatile and flexible to customize and modify to the needs of different types and sizes of businesses.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

People should consider scalability, integration, cost, and ease of use. These will be critical, especially for companies planning on growing and expanding their workforce. Also important not to “over buy” modules that the business may not be ready to utilize yet. Scale its functionality as the business grows and matures.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

UKG has moved to a cloud-based platform and developed a mobile app

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

UKG would be a great HRIS platform for companies of all sizes but especially for those looking for flexibility and to scale.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Companies not looking to grow and scale would not maximize the use of a tool like UKG.

Sage People

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Sage People
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.3 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5

Why we picked Sage People

Sage People offers a scalableHCM cloud solution, covering the entire HR process and delivering real-time actionable HR analytics. With customizable dashboards, users can create recruitment plans and delve into metrics such as attrition and time-to-hire.

PROS

  • Good range of workflows for globally-distributed teams
  • Lots of local expertise from payroll and compliance consultants
  • Good range of workflows for globally-distributed teams
  • Lots of local expertise from payroll and compliance consultants

CONS

  • Integrations offerings are somewhat limited
  • Some users report the mobile app lacks core functionalities
  • Not many integrations
  • Some users have found the mobile app to lack core functionalities
Our reviewers took screenshot of Sage People HCM System during the demo

Sage People Review

Sage People is a customizable HR suite with HCM capabilities. It’s a great option for companies in the small to medium enterprise range (150 - 5k employees) that have a global presence. It’s a very broad product that also integrates with the rest of Sage's ERP suite, which includes tools for finance, accounting, business management, and more.

Sage People Customers

CRU, Lovehoney, Showbrook Bank, Enigma Industrial Services

Sage People Pricing

While the pricing for Sage People isn't disclosed, you can take an interactive tour and see the tool for yourself. Afterwards, you can get in touch with their team to get a customized quote.

Best For

SMBs with a distributed team, especially those that use Salesforce. Also medium enterprises with a global workforce.

Sage People in action
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Pro Tips on HCM Software

Pitfalls of Buying Human Capital Management Software

When in the market for an HCM, the main thing you want to watch out for is picking a system that actually delivers on the practices that define human capital management. Unfortunately, HCM is little more than a buzzword for some people, to the point that they’ll throw the term here and there even if they don’t really have a product that addresses those requirements.

So how do you make sure that you’ll get what you need? If we take a tip from ADP’s 10 tips for evaluating HCM systems, the best bet is to identify your future HCM requirements first. This entails defining what you want to accomplish in terms of employee management and HR functions, and understanding how this may be underserved right now by current tech stack. 

In other words, narrowing down what you expect from the tool and understanding whether it’s an HCM suite you need or just a regular HR management tool. The two tend to be confused with each other, and there are times where you could get the exact functionality you need from core HR software and spend less; even if you need to get additional tools, such as an applicant tracking system or a payroll management tool.

How are Most HCM Solutions Priced?

The thing with almost every HCM solution is that they’re built for the enterprise sector. Some of them are certainly made to accommodate SMBs, or any sort of organization size, but even in those cases, pricing is rarely discussed up front. 

The reason for this, like with a lot of SaaS tools, is that costs can vary widely depending on the actual size of your business (however big) and the needs you’re looking to cover. For instance, some vendors will have a Core HR product that is priced per employee per month, and separately-priced modules for more particular necessities like benefits management and employee experience.

Key HCM Software Features

In order to build a list of requirements and use it effectively to evaluate vendors, it will help to know which are the key HCM software features and how these can support your goals. 

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, human capital management software is implemented in three categories; workforce acquisition, workforce management, and workforce optimization. We’ll look at the key features from each category: 

  • Workforce Acquisition: This part of HCM is concerned with managing applicant tracking, recruitment, onboarding, and pretty much every early stage of the employee lifecycle. For modern tools, it should also include employee self-service so you know the recruitment and onboarding process can be expedited. 
  • Workforce Management: Although sometimes a category of its own, for the purposes of HCM, this is the tier where we could consider all the core HR tools. These include the daily administrative work of the HR department, such as payroll, benefits administration, leave and absence management, time tracking, and an HR service center. For features in this category, you should look mainly towards automation and efficiency. 
  • Workforce Optimization: This is where the ‘workforce as competitive advantage’ part of HCM really finds its momentum. Optimizing the workforce to align with business goals includes performance management, workforce planning, training & learning management, employee engagement, and reporting & analytics. This category is all about generating actionable insights that let you use data in your decision making and make sure that HR is doing its part in steering the workforce in the proper direction.

Questions to Keep in Mind when Demoing HCM Software

As you start demoing various HCM software solutions, it’s important to prepare and attend these meetings with some questions already in mind. These inquiries should aim at answering whether the solution in question will indeed address the main use cases and core needs that you’re looking for. 

Of course, the most concerning of these questions shouldn’t be saved for the demo at all, but rather handled prior, through an email thread for instance, so you won’t waste time on a demo if X or Y solution turns out to be incompatible with your core needs. 

Further, the demo should also help check certain boxes that your internal stakeholders care about, such as integrations, security, data management, self-service portals, features, etc. 

You should write down a list of those questions, share it with your team, and maybe have stakeholders add to it as well. While that list will be unique, here are some common questions when demoing an HCM that should help get you started: 

  • What integrations are key to us? Does it integrate with ATS/payroll system/any other systems you might have that impact workforce management?
  • Does this solution have SSO capabilities?
  • Are there multiple authorization levels for different types of users?
  • Is there a maximum number of employees it will support across the workforce?
  • What types of reporting capabilities does it have?
  • Does it include features to help HR communicate with employees (i.e. mass emails, filtering messages by criteria)?
  • What kind of tasks can we automate or streamline with this tool? How many man hours can we expect to save doing so? 
  • How much technical training will be required?
  • What kinds of technical support are provided?
  • What recruiting capabilities are built-in?
  • Which HR processes will be automated?
  • How will information be exchanged with carriers (for employee benefits)?
  • Does it accommodate benefits carriers’ rules?
  • How can we import employee data into this system? (API, Excel spreadsheets, employee records, other databases, and paper documents)
  • What built-in security measures does it contain?
  • Does your solution feature pandemic-related tools like a vaccine management system?

FAQs on buying HCM software

Moving on, here are some of the most frequently asked questions from HR professionals when it comes to human capital management software: 

What is the best HCM system?

While some of the top vendors in HCM software are Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, ADP Workforce, and UKG, “the best” is really a matter of your business size and requirements. There are many HCM vendors, out of which there are likely 1-2 that will align perfectly with what you’re looking for. 

What is the difference between HCM, HRMS, and HRIS?

The main difference between HRIS, HRMS, and HCM is that the former two refer to a specific type of software, systems of information, as their names imply (human resource information system and human resource management systems). HCM, on the other hand, stands for human capital management. This is a set of business practices around the acquisition, management, and optimization of a business’s workforce. 

What is HCM software?

HCM software is a software tool that takes most features that you would expect out of a labor management platform, but builds it purposefully for the business practices that encompass human capital management. This software puts together widely-varying features such as workforce planning, performance reviews, and employee onboarding in a single management platform where they can all help to generate insights that drive broader business decision making.

Why do definitions of HCM, HRMS, and HRIS vary so much? 

This is a good question precisely because the definition of each term varies widely from vendor to vendor, and among HR professionals as well. That being said, the differences between each software category are all about features and use cases. Most thought leadership indicates that HRIS is the most circumscribed type of solution, focusing on core HR needs. HRMS takes it up a notch in features, while still sticking to HR use cases, and HCM is about rounding up all those features with strategic planning for the business in mind, with the workforce as the main component to analyze and optimize. 

Last Advice on Buying HCM software

To wrap this up, we’ll assume that you’ve read everything above and have a couple of vendors in mind to reach out to and book a demo. To send you off to this part of the buying process, there’s one last piece of advice that can help a great deal when evaluating HCM software providers. 

These demos should revolve around your HCM requirements, and you should try to avoid having one-size-fits-all demonstrations whenever possible. To do this, share your list of requirements and questions beforehand, asking them to show that specific functionality. Since reporting is such a big part of human capital management, you could even give them data for them to run into the system.

This way, you and your team will get to truly see how much of a fit the tool is for you, as well as gauging for factors like intuitiveness and overall user experience. Couple this guide with resources like ADP’s 10 tips for HCM vendor evaluation or our very own HR & recruitment software buying organizer, and you’ll be on your way to find the perfect platform for your HCM needs.

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  • Our site is free to use as some vendors will pay us for web traffic.
  • SSR lists all companies we feel are top vendors - not just those who pay us - in our comprehensive directories full of the advice needed to make the right purchase decision for your HR team.

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