
HR automation tools help you manage your time better.
They are time-saving apps that reduce administrative work and centralize everything, making your processes more efficient and optimized.
With the right software, you can automate any manual workflow and keep your data updated.
What Is an HR Automation Tool and What Are Best Applications For HR
HR automation tools are online applications that digitalize your HR processes and automate repetitive tasks.
They are typically sold as applicant tracking systems, HRIS and HRMS platforms, payroll apps, and employee management tools.
Here are Some Top Features To Look For In HR Automation Software;
- Employee database.
- Workflow automation.
- Document management.
- Reporting.
Below, I have compiled a list of applications that automate various HR functions. Most of them are comprehensive tools, but some offer specific automation.
1. Deel
If you work with international teams, try Deel. It’s an HR platform that offers overseas onboarding and payroll services.
You can digitize your entire onboarding process with Deel and automate payroll disbursement.
Via the self-service portal, you can collect documents, manage time off, and process global payroll. Deel automatically handles the compensation and tax calculation, providing accurate and compliant payroll.
Deel also offers US payroll services. You’ll get free HRIS to build your database and accounting software integration to streamline your workflows.
Core Features
- Software and services.
- Legal contract generation.
- Onboarding and offboarding.
- US and global payroll.
- EOR services.
- Benefits administration.
- Compliance management.
- Learning and development.
- Reporting.
- Slack Plugin and integration.
Price
Deel’s core HR software is free, and the payroll services start at $29.
2. Rippling
Rippling is built for international teams. It has everything you need to hire, manage, and pay your employees.
You’ll receive a core HR module for workforce management and an HCM for HR automation. You can digitalize headcount planning, onboard overseas talent online, automate taxes, and manage benefits administration.
You can also outsource your payroll and compliance to Rippling. It offers EOR services globally.
To manage perks, you can issue physical and virtual corporate cards. The cards come with built-in limitations and policy compliance, giving you the control to manage your employees’ spending.
Core Features
- Software and services.
- Global hiring.
- Payroll and taxes.
- Compliance management.
- Benefits administration.
- Employee database.
- Scheduling and automation.
- Surveys.
- Corporate cards.
- Mobile app.
Price
Rippling prices start from $8.
3. Trainual
Trainual specializes in onboarding training. You can create SOPs and automate your onboarding process.
The app works on both desktops and smartphones and offers a Chrome extension for quick access. It also supports third-party integration.
You’ll receive templates for both the onboarding process and the company policies. You can auto-generate training content, and add a mandatory signature to ensure compliance.
With tracking features, you can monitor your new employee’s progress and make assessments.
Trainual also has an organization chart builder. You can add roles and responsibilities to let new employees learn about their immediate supervisors and teammates.
Core Features
- SOPs.
- Onboarding automation.
- Training courses.
- Screen recording.
- AI capabilities.
- Org chart.
- Templates.
- Integration.
- Mobile apps and Chrome extension.
Price
Trainual prices start at $299. You can try it for free.
4. ClearCompany
ClearCompany is a talent management platform. It delivers an applicant tracking system to automate candidate sourcing and employee engagement functions to improve retention.
You’ll receive an analytics module for workforce planning and AI-powered tools to automate outreach campaigns. ClearCompany AI will help you with drafting, candidate matching, communication, and background checking.
To connect with applicants, you can create a career page and deploy a chatbot. You can run text recruitment campaigns as well.
Digital onboarding and performance management are other core modules of ClearCompany. You can also create a workplace community to foster connections and collect feedback.
Core Features
- Workforce planning.
- Applicant tracking system.
- Text recruitment and video interview.
- Collaboration.
- Employee engagement.
- Performance management.
- AI automation.
- Onboarding.
- Analytics.
- Integration.
- Multi-device support.
Price
ClearCompany shares prices on request. You can book a demo to explore it.
5. Connecteam
Connecteam is ideal for frontline and remote teams. It provides operation, HR, and communication tools for staff management.
You can automate the onboarding training and set up shift schedules. Via smartphones, employees can complete their training, record attendance, and submit time off requests.
You can build a knowledge base for your staff and set up communication channels for newsfeeds. Through these channels, you can also handle recognitions and rewards.
The best feature of Connecteam is documentation. You can keep a timeline of each employee for training and promotions.
Core Features
- Directory.
- Onboarding and training.
- Scheduling, time clock, and PTO.
- Payroll Integration.
- Recognition and reward.
- Communication.
- Timeline.
- Templates.
- Mobile apps.
Price
Connecteam’s basic plan is free and premium packages start from $35.
6. Gusto
Gusto offers payroll software and services. You can hire, onboard, and pay domestic and international workers.
The basic package contains full-service payroll, self-service portals, and third-party integration. You’ll receive an ATS for hiring and a proper onboarding system with templates.
Salary and tax calculations are fully automated.
Gusto provides tools for hour-based workers as well. You can set up flexible payroll policies and assign digital wallets to employees.
Core Features
- Domestic and international payroll.
- Recruitment.
- Onboarding checklist.
- Benefits administration.
- Tax and compliance.
- Time tracking.
- Digital wallet.
- Performance reviews.
- Reporting and insights.
- Integrations.
Price
Gusto prices start from $40. You can create a free account.
7. Homebase
Homebase is perfect for small service-based businesses. Owners can automate core HR functions and manage employees and operations together.
You can use Homebase to hire and onboard new employees, schedule shifts, record attendance, and automate payroll calculations.
HR and compliance are built into the system. You can store documents, track certificates, set up PTO policies, and monitor labor laws.
Everything is automated to reduce errors. You can even clock out employees automatically and restrict early attendance.
Core Features
- Hiring and onboarding.
- Policy management.
- Shift scheduling.
- Time and attendance.
- Payroll add-on.
- Communication.
- Performance reviews.
- Business insights.
- Mobile app.
Price
You can get started on Homebase for free. Its paid subscriptions cost $25 to $100.
8. ZOHO
ZOHO provides an affordable HRMS platform. For a small monthly fee, you can get core HR, time & attendance, and employee experience tools.
The software supports both corporate and shift-based operations. You can create custom onboarding processes, plan shift schedules, and set up an attendance system for field and in-office staff. With the leave tracker, you can record time off, holidays, and PTO.
Performance evaluation and training can also be managed via ZOHO. You can build your staff database to centralize information and set up permission levels to control access.
Tons of other functions are built into the system. You’ll get templates for core paperwork and automation features to schedule emails and weekly reports.
Core Features
- Core HR functions.
- Smart automation.
- Database and document management.
- Shift scheduling.
- Employee development.
- Surveys.
- Collaborative space.
- Integration.
- Mobile app.
Price
ZOHO charges $2 to $10 per user. You can create a free account and take a 30-day trial.
9. Factorial
Factorial is a comprehensive HR platform. Via this software, you can manage core HR functions and employee expenses.
Top notable features of Factorial are recruitment, onboarding, payroll, and performance management. Additionally, you’ll get an org chart maker to define reporting authorities.
To improve your work efficiency, you’ll get plenty of automation options. You can automate repetitive tasks, create trigger-based sequences, and even build your own workflow.
You can also manage day-to-day administration from your smartphone. Your staff will receive mobile apps as well to record attendance and submit leave requests.
Core Features
- Org chart.
- Recruitment.
- Onboarding and offboarding.
- Shift and project management.
- Time and attendance.
- Workflow automation.
- Payroll and expenses.
- Employee performance and training.
- Finance module.
- Mobile app.
Price
Factorial prices start at $4.50. You can book a demo to explore it.
10. GreenHouse
GreenHouse is an applicant tracking software. With this tool, you can automate your sourcing and onboarding process.
You’ll get access to 1000+ job boards and receive embedded job boards to post vacancies on your website.
For the hiring process and campaign management, you’ll get a built-in CRM. You can set your initial communication on autopilot and schedule online interviews.
With team collaboration, you can run both internal and external recruitment. You’ll get the flexibility to handle bulk hiring.
Core Features
- Applicant tracking system.
- CRM.
- Internal and external hiring.
- Onboarding.
- Custom workflows.
- Bulk action.
- Self-scheduling for interviews.
- Analytics and reporting.
- Integration.
Price
GreenHouse shares prices on request. You can schedule a demo.
11. Workable
Workable is primarily a recruiting software. You can use it to source candidates and manage your employee database.
Core capabilities of Workable are job campaigns, hiring automation, and onboarding. You can integrate online assessment tests and video interviews into your workflows and set them on autopilot.
Workable also has some core HR functions. You can set up a database, manage time off, and integrate your payroll provider. Workable plans to introduce employee attendance and performance soon.
One of Workable’s notable features is its AI tool. You can auto-generate job descriptions, questions, emails, and forms. In addition, you can let Workable run passive sourcing for you.
Core Features
- Recruiting.
- ATS.
- AI sourcing.
- Employee database.
- Assessment, text, and video interviews.
- Onboarding.
- Time off management.
- Payroll integration.
- Reporting.
- Chrome extension and mobile app.
Price
Workable prices start from $189. You can take a free trial.
12. Paycor
Paycor is a human capital management platform. It covers talent acquisition, core HR, payroll, and benefits administration.
The software is ideal for mid to large-size organizations. You can centralize all your information and set core HR workflows on autopilot. Paycor also provides mobile wallets and global coverage for remote teams.
Tax, calculation, compliance, and reporting are all included in the package. A separate module will be given for workforce management.
Overall, it’s a good all-in-one solution for the HR department.
Core Features
- Talent acquisition.
- Employee database.
- Tax and compliance.
- Core HR.
- Workflow automation.
- Payroll management.
- Career planning.
- Benefits administration.
- Integration.
Price
Paycor shares prices on request.
13. PeopleForce
PeopleForce is a general HR platform. It stores your employee data and streamlines core HR workflows.
You can create organization charts, build a knowledge base, make onboarding and offboarding workflows, and set up internal communication.
With its applicant tracking system and time tracking modules, you can easily handle recruitment and attendance.
Both basic and advanced HR automation are available. You’ll also receive a calendar to oversee company events.
Core Features
- HRIS.
- Applicant tracking system.
- Onboarding and offboarding.
- Knowledge base.
- Time and attendance.
- Performance reviews.
- Pulse surveys.
- Case management.
- Communication.
- Reporting.
- Mobile apps.
Price
PeopleForce charges $2 to $3 per user. You can book a demo.
14. BambooHR
Bamboo offers a complete HR package. You can automate your hiring cycle, employee payroll, performance management, and reporting.
The platform sells some add-ons as well to extend the software’s functionality. For example, if your work is project-based, you can track billable hours and automate timesheets for payroll.
Benefits administration is also included for US employees. You can handle the enrollment process online and keep track of your employee status.
For your staff, you can build a centralized community. You can let them connect with each other and monitor engagement to measure the overall satisfaction level.
Bamboo integrates with third-party platforms. It also delivers a mobile app.
Core Features
- Hiring and onboarding.
- ATS.
- Payroll and benefits administration.
- Time tracker.
- Performance management.
- Employee experience.
- Reporting.
- Integration and API.
- Mobile app.
Price
Bamboo shares prices on request. You can take a free trial.
15. Lattice
Lattice targets learning and development. It’s an analytics tool that lets you monitor your employees’ performance and make succession plans.
You can buy separate modules to get specific features, or purchase a bundle pack to get all access. Its core modules cover compensation reviews, competency metrics, employee engagement, and performance management.
For training and development, you can build career tracks and arrange coaching opportunities. Data is summarized automatically, and you can consolidate results for clarity.
Core Features
- Performance reviews.
- Compensation management.
- Career paths and training.
- Promotion planning.
- Coaching and communication.
- Auto pulse surveys.
- Templates.
- Analytics.
- OKR & goals add-on.
- Integration.
Price
Lattice’s each module costs $4 to $6.
Conclusion
HR tools offer a variety of features. Some provide all-in-one general solutions, and some are exclusive apps.
For instance, BambooHR is a general platform and can be used by any US-based company. Homebase, on the other hand, is built for a specific industry.
I recommend looking for applications that meet your company’s specific requirements. Good luck!