July 31, 2024
By Chris Harvey
HR leaders report that a staggering 42% of HR Tech projects fail. This high rate of failure begs the question: are we choosing the wrong products, or are we overlooking key success criteria?
It’s essential to understand that every HRIS solution boasts
thousands of satisfied customers. The solution that has failed you and you are desperate to replace is the same solution other users love. It’s unlikely the solution is inherently flawed, but rather it may not align with your organization’s specific needs.
Remember, the vendors you select don’t need to be “The best”
in every aspect of product, service, reporting, etc. They need to be the right fit for your unique requirements. Avoid the common trap of seeking the "perfect" vendor and instead focus on finding the right fit.
Our research indicates that there are 8 Dimensions of Vendor
Fit. Consider how important each area is to your organization and use that as a guide to creating a shortlist of vendors for a deep analysis and due diligence.
Based on customer reviews on HR Technology Advice, here are
the 2024 top-performing vendors in each area:
1. Customer Complexity
The complexity of your business impacts which solutions will
suit your needs. Simple requirements mean you don’t need to overpay for solutions designed for highly complex organizations.
Top Performers:
· Simple Requirements: GoCo, isolved, Paychex, Paycom, Paylocity
· Average Complexity: BambooHR, GoCo, isolved, Paycor, Paylocity, PDS Vista, Rippling, Workday, Workzoom
· Moderately Complex: isolved, PDS Vista, Rippling, Workday, Workzoom
· Very Complex: None
HR Product Comparison
From ADP to Workday and everywhere in between...
Before you consider a vendor, we make it easy for you to consider only the vendors that offer critical product features.
This 'At a Glance' comparison features 18 top HR tech solutions for small and mid-market organizations. This analysis delves into 20 different aspects of feature/functionality. Each HR vendor’s functionality is categorized as Meets, Proficient, or Robust in various areas.
Download Your FREE Comparison.
2. Product Functionality
Ensure the vendor’s features and functionality meet your business’s unique needs.
Top Performers:
· Under 500 employee organizations: GoCo, isolved, Paycor, Rippling
· Over 500 employee organizations: PDS Vista, Workday, Workzoom
3. Implementation Success
Consider how quickly you want to go live, the internal resources involved, and the vendor’s process for a successful implementation. Nothing can ruin the success of your vendor relationship like a poorly executed HRIS implementation; it can be nearly impossible to recover from in many cases.
Top Performers:
· Under 500 employee organizations: GoCo, isolved
· Over 500 employee organizations: None
4. Ease of Use
An intuitive solution is easier to use and will see wider adoption across your organization. If employees aren’t comfortable using it, the HRIS won’t deliver value to your organization.
Top Performers:
· Under 500 employee organizations: BambooHR, GoCo, isolved, Paycor, Rippling
· Over 500 employee organizations: PDS Vista, Workday, Workzoom
5. Reporting
The vendor should provide extensive standard reports, custom report writers, and dashboards to uncover actionable workforce insights without relying on vendors for custom reports. In most cases, the greatest value you derive from your HRIS is being able to capture insights that lead to decision-making that benefits the business.
Top Performers:
· Under 500 employee organizations: GoCo, isolved, Rippling
· Over 500 employee organizations: None
6. Support Model
Understand the vendor’s support model and ensure it meets your critical needs. Lack of support is a key reason customers switch solutions.
Top Performers:
· Under 500 employee organizations: GoCo, isolved
· Over 500 employee organizations: PDS Vista, Workday, Workzoom
7. Integration
Vendors should use Open APIs and simplify the integration process with third-party solutions. Reliable integrations are crucial to avoid frustration.
Top Performers:
· Under 500 employee organizations: GoCo, isolved, Paycor, Rippling
· Over 500 employee organizations: PDS Vista, Workzoom
8. Vendor Culture
Engaged and happy vendor employees tend to go the extra mile, creating great products and providing outstanding service.
Top Performers:
· Under 500 employee organizations: BambooHR, GoCo, isolved, Rippling
· Over 500 employee organizations: PDS Vista, Workday, Workzoom
Your organization may have additional criteria that impact the success of selecting the right fit HRIS. However, by focusing on these dimensions, you can better navigate the HR Tech landscape and help avoid being one of the 42% of HR Tech projects that fail. You can learn more about the top HRIS vendors on HR Technology Advice and download the HR VendorFit Matrix.