Major Categories of HR Software

Business Intelligence
A group of software tools that provides a range of analytical capabilities, from advanced reporting to sophisticated analysis using complex algorithms.

Compensation and Benefits Planning
Develops appropriate compensation and benefits, and tracks individual employees as well as groups of workers to spot trends in the organization.

Competency Management
Tracks skill levels of employees, then develops compensation and training to match workers’ and organizational needs.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
System package that retains records, automates processes, and links various functions or departments, allowing data to be shared across the organization.

Human Resources Management System
Core software used for centralized record keeping and transaction processing. Many HRMS now offer employee self-service capabilities (usually available through an intranet), as well as embedded workflow.

Knowledge Management
Provides an organization with tools to track human knowledge. Employees input information that can be tapped by others members of the organization.

Payroll
Manages the entire payroll process, including regulations, tax considerations and deductions.

Recruiting
Tracks résumés and job applicants on a database. Newer systems search the Internet for job prospects, and send its search results to you.

Retirement Administration
Tracks retirement or pension savings. More advanced systems can conduct transactions and provide real-time information by using an intranet or an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

Time and Attendance
Tracks the number of hours worked by using magnetic strip cards, telephony or PC-based systems instead of time clocks or handwritten timecards.

Training
Trains individuals by PCs, or by distance learning over the Internet or an intranet.

SOURCE: Based on information by Samuel Greengard. Workforce, October 1999, Vol. 78, No. 10, p. 91.