20 Best HR Workflow Software of 2024
10 Best HR Workflow Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
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With many different HR workflow software options available, choosing the right one is tough. You want to streamline your HR processes but you need to determine which tool is the best fit. You’ve come to the right place. Drawing on my knowledge of HR processes and my experience using and testing different HR software systems, I've created this list to help you find the best HR workflow software for your needs.
You can use HR workflow software to automate repetitive tasks, improve data accuracy, and enhance employee management. They also solve pain points like manual data entry, compliance issues, and inefficient communication.
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Best HR Workflow Software: Pricing Comparison Chart
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top HR workflow software selections to help you find the best software for your budget and business needs.
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Deel | Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people | Website |
| Rippling | From $8/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Process Street | From $100/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Contractbook | From $349/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Pipefy | From $20/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Cflow | From $9/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| NaturalHR | Pricing upon request | Website |
| HappyFox Workflows | From $199/month | Website |
| Kenjo | From $6/user/month | Website |
| Redwood | Pricing upon request | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareHow to Choose HR Workflow Software
As you work through your unique software selection process, keep the following points in mind:
- Scalability: Ensure the software can grow with your organization. If you’re running a small startup, you may only need basic features initially. However, as your needs expand, the software should be able to handle increased employee data, more complex workflows, and additional integrations without requiring a complete system overhaul.
- User-Friendliness: The software should be intuitive and easy-to-use for team members with different technical abilities. A user-friendly interface reduces the learning curve and increases adoption rates. If the software is too complex, your staff might avoid using it, leading to inefficiencies in your HR processes.
- Integration Capabilities: Integrating with other systems is crucial. HR workflow software should seamlessly connect with payroll systems, time-tracking tools, and other essential business applications. This ensures data consistency and reduces the need for manual data entry, which can be error-prone and time-consuming.
- Customization Options: Every organization has unique HR processes and needs. The software should offer customization options to tailor workflows, forms, and reports to fit your specific requirements. For instance, you’ll want to customize your onboarding process to match your particular steps and requirements, ensuring a smooth and efficient onboarding experience for new hires.
- Compliance Management: The software should offer automation to help you comply with relevant regulations (for example, automatically tracking expiry dates for employee certifications and training). This is particularly important for industries with stringent compliance requirements, such as healthcare, finance, or safety-sensitive roles.
Best HR Workflow Software Reviews
Here are my detailed summaries of the best HR workflow automation software that made it into my top 10 shortlist, including notes on why I picked them. Each review also includes the pros and cons of each system, their key features, and ideal scenarios for use.
Deel is a comprehensive HR platform designed to streamline and manage human resources for global teams. It caters to businesses looking to hire, onboard, and manage employees across various countries without the hassle of setting up local entities or worrying about compliance issues.
Why I picked Deel: I chose Deel for its workflow features tailored to international operations. It offers seamless onboarding processes that comply with local laws and provides flexible payment options in multiple currencies. The platform’s ability to handle complex HR tasks such as payroll, benefits, and compliance across over 150 countries makes it indispensable for companies looking to expand their global talent efficiently.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated onboarding, localized compliance tools, detailed analytics and reporting, customizable access levels, a comprehensive employee directory, and specialized modules for global recruiting, benefits administration, and payroll.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Gusto, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Dropbox, Zapier, and Trello.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Support from local compliance experts
- Automated invoicing
- Simplifies international payroll and compliance for businesses
Cons:
- Limited platform customization options
- No mobile app available
Rippling is a comprehensive HR, finance, and IT management platform designed to streamline various administrative tasks for businesses. It integrates several functions into one system, including HR, payroll, benefits, and device management.
Why I picked Rippling: I picked Rippling because it offers a seamless integration of HR, IT, and finance workflows into a single, cohesive platform. Unlike traditional HR software that focuses solely on human resources tasks, Rippling goes beyond by incorporating IT management features, such as automated device provisioning and de-provisioning, and finance workflows, like expense management and payroll processing. Furthermore, its powerful workflow automation capabilities allow businesses to create custom workflows across these different departments.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include global payroll management, benefits administration, time and attendance tracking, custom reporting, an applicant tracking system, employee self-service portal, performance management, customizable workflows, and automated compliance management.
Integrations include Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoom, QuickBooks, Xero, Dropbox, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Jira, Trello, Asana, Okta, Duo Security, GitHub, GitLab, BambooHR, Greenhouse, Lever, ADP, PayPal, Stripe, Expensify, and Gusto.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automated employee onboarding
- Global payroll support
- Customizable workflow automation across different departments
Cons:
- Initial learning curve and time investment for setting up automations
- Limited language support on the platform
Process Street offers comprehensive HR workflow software to help human resources professionals digitize their operations. It is best for document-driven workflows because it’s easy for users to embed procedural documents or checklists without any coding knowledge.
Why I picked Process Street: I chose Process Street for the list because of its unique approach to document-driven workflows. The platform breaks workflow management down into three chunks: handling documentation (creating, exporting, and embedding procedure documents and templates), running trigger-based workflows (for random events initiated by a trigger, such as employee onboarding), and programming scheduled tasks that run on an automated schedule (such as monthly productivity reports).
Standout features & integrations:
Features include workflow management, task scheduling & tracking, a drag-and-drop task manager, attendance tracking, data visualization, an employee database, a vacation & absence calendar, process reporting, status notifications, employee incentive management, and process modeling.
Integrations are available by connecting Process Street to third-party app connectors such as Zapier, Make, or Microsoft Power Automate, or through Process Street’s webhooks and API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Unlimited workflow checklists and templates
- Easy task assignment
- No coding required
Cons:
- Basic reporting only
- No drag-and-drop reordering feature for checklists
Contractbook is a versatile HR workflow software that streamlines and automates contract management processes. It is best for integrated contract management due to its ability to automate manual tasks related to onboarding, such as generating employment agreements or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and pushing data to the right sources.
Why I picked Contractbook: I chose Contractbook for its robust contract management capabilities, which stand out in the HR workflow software landscape. The tool's ability to integrate contract data with HRIS or payroll tools and automatically create new employee profiles makes it the best for integrated contract management in HR.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated contract creation, task automation based on contract data, and secure data access. It also offers automation to track key employee milestones, such as the end of probationary periods, employee work anniversaries, and performance review due dates.
Integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, BambooHR, Workday, Xero, and QuickBooks.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Task automation
- Secure data access
- Automated contract creation
Cons:
- No mobile app
- Requires integration setup
Pipefy is a comprehensive HR workflow automation platform that streamlines HR processes and improves employee experiences. It simplifies workflows and reduces repetitive tasks, allowing HR teams to focus on people rather than processes.
Why I picked Pipefy: I chose Pipefy for its ability to simplify complex HR processes through automation. Its user-friendly interface and extensive library of customizable templates set it apart, making it easy to implement and scale. I believe Pipefy is best for simplifying HR processes because it offers a range of features that automate routine tasks, integrate data, and improve communication, ultimately enhancing overall efficiency.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automation tools for recruiting and onboarding, an HR helpdesk with ticketing abilities, centralized management of employee requests, and AI-driven insights for data-driven decision-making.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Trello, Asana, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, Zendesk, HubSpot, and QuickBooks.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- AI-driven insights and automations
- Customizable templates for a range of HR
- Extensive reporting and analytics tools
Cons:
- Pricing can be high for small teams
- Learning curve associated with customizing complex workflows
Cflow is a comprehensive workflow automation tool for streamlining HR and admin processes. It excels at customizable HR automation, allowing businesses to tailor workflows to their needs.
Why I picked Cflow: I chose Cflow for its exceptional ability to customize HR workflows, which sets it apart from other HR automation tools. The platform's flexibility in designing and modifying workflows ensures it can adapt to any organization's unique requirements, making it the best for customizable HR automation.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include visual workflow creation, form design, multiple process stages, rule-based email notifications, and customizable emails.
Integrations are available by connecting Cflow to a paid Zapier account. Cflow also offers webhooks and an API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Role-based access control for enhanced security
- Customizable workflows to suit various HR processes
Cons:
- Limited to 20 processes on the basic plan
- Minimum of 10 users required
NaturalHR is an online workflow management system for HR that offers automated workflows and notifications to simplify and streamline HR tasks. It is best for time-saving workflow automation because it automates repetitive administrative tasks, such as authorizing time off, approving timesheets, and onboarding new employees, thereby saving valuable time.
Why I picked NaturalHR: I chose NaturalHR for the list because it stands out in its ability to automate the most repetitive HR tasks, which can significantly reduce the administrative burden on HR teams. It is best for time-saving workflow automation because it offers a comprehensive set of pre-defined workflows and the ability to create custom workflows, ensuring that even the most common HR tasks are handled efficiently.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automatic notifications, custom workflow creation, and real-time visibility into workflow status. It also includes modules for absence management, document management, payroll, performance management, and recruitment.
Integrations include Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zapier, BambooHR, Workday, ADP, QuickBooks and Xero.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive modules
- Real-time visibility
- Automates workforce analytics
Cons:
- Pricing details are not transparent
- Limited native integrations
HappyFox Workflows is designed to automate and manage HR processes comprehensively. It offers HR process automation for hiring, onboarding, approvals, HR request management, and offboarding, offering a wide range of functionality.
Why I picked HappyFox Workflows: I chose HappyFox Workflows for its robust capabilities in automating HR request management because of its ability to automatically respond to standard HR requests using triggers. This reduces the number of requests your HR team needs to respond to manually, improving the overall productivity of your HR team.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated task assignments, multi-stage approvals, and real-time monitoring and alerts. HappyFox Workflows also offers a detailed employee onboarding process workflow you can customize to your needs to reduce manual work further.
Integrations include BambooHR, Asana, Zendesk, Jira, Okta, Google Sheets, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Azure Active Directory, and Pipedrive.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time monitoring
- Multi-stage approvals
- Comprehensive automation
Cons:
- Higher cost for small teams
- Learning curve for new users
Kenjo is an HR workflow software offering a wide range of features, including employee management, attendance tracking, and payroll optimization automation. Kenjo excels in customizable and automated HR workflows by allowing users to tailor processes to their needs.
Why I picked Kenjo: I chose Kenjo for its robust customization options and automation capabilities, which stand out in the HR workflow software market. Kenjo's ability to tailor workflows to specific organizational needs makes it the best for customizable HR workflows.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated notifications, document approval processes (including e-signatures), and streamlined onboarding processes. Kenjo also offers modules for other core HR features such as recruitment, performance management, payroll, attendance, and time-off.
Integrations include Slack and JOIN. You can also set up custom integrations using their API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Streamlined onboarding
- Automated notifications
- Customizable workflows
Cons:
- Lacking native integrations
- Workflow feature is not included in their Starter plan
Redwood offers a comprehensive HR workflow automation solution designed to streamline HR processes with low-code automation. It offers low-code HR process automation, a drag-and-drop workflow designer, and an extensive library of templates and scripting languages.
Why I picked Redwood: I chose Redwood for its robust, low-code capabilities, making it easy to automate complex HR processes without extensive coding knowledge. The platform stands out for its ability to integrate various systems and applications, making it ideal for HR departments looking to automate and streamline their workflows efficiently. It also has the ability to automate exception-handling using context-aware logic, making it stand out from other HR workflow tools in this list.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a low-code drag-and-drop workflow designer, reusable process steps, a template library with over 25 scripting languages, and context-aware logic for automating exception handling. It also offers process monitoring and visualization tools to track real-time status and progress.
Integrations include SAP, Salesforce, Oracle, Workday, Microsoft Dynamics, ServiceNow, Jira, Slack, Google Workspace, and AWS.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time process monitoring and visualization
- Extensive template library
- Efficient incident creation for triggered alerts
Cons:
- Learning curve for users new to automation
- Pricing details are not fully transparent
Other HR Workflow Software
Below is a list of additional HR workflow software that didn’t make it into my top 10 list, but are still worth checking out:
- Formstack
For integrating HR forms and documents
- GoCo
For automating the employee onboarding process
- BambooHR
For custom HR workflows and approvals
- Oyster HR
For hiring, onboarding, and payroll workflows in one
- Kissflow
For no-code workflow creation
- Gusto
For payroll and benefits integration
- Paylocity
For document management
- Jotform Approvals
For customizable approval workflows
- Mitratech TAP Workflow Automation
For compliance-focused automation
- Your Leap
For creating user-friendly HR processes
Related HR Software Reviews
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these other related tools that we've tested and evaluated:
- HR Software
- Payroll Software
- Recruiting Software
- Employer of Record Services
- Applicant Tracking Systems
- Workforce Management Software
Selection Criteria for HR Workflow Software
Selecting HR workflow software involves evaluating its functionalities and how well it serves common use cases and pain points HR professionals face, such as repetitive tasks and large volumes of data entry. To create this list of the best HR workflow software, I tried and researched the tools in this list using the following criteria:
Core HR Workflow Functionalities (25% of total score): To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to offer workflows for these common HR processes first:
- Employee onboarding
- Time and attendance tracking
- Payroll management
- Performance reviews
- Benefits administration
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score): To help me find the best software out of numerous available options, I also kept a keen eye out for unique features, including the following:
- No or low-code workflow creation tools
- Integration with third-party applications
- Customizable workflows
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Mobile accessibility
- AI-driven insights
Usability (10% of total score): To evaluate the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive user interface
- Drag-and-drop functionality
- Role-based access control
- Customizable dashboards
- Minimal learning curve
Onboarding (10% of total score): To get a sense of each software provider's customer onboarding process, I considered the following factors:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Pre-built templates
- Chatbots for instant help
- Webinars for in-depth training
Customer Support (10% of total score): To evaluate the level of customer support each vendor offered, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Multiple support channels (e.g., phone, email, or live chat)
- Dedicated account managers
- Comprehensive knowledge base
- Fast response times
Value for Price (10% of total score): To gauge the value of each software, I considered the following factors:
- Transparent pricing models
- Flexible subscription plans
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Discounts for long-term commitments
- Free trial availability
Customer Reviews (10% of total score): Evaluating customer reviews is the final element of my selection process, which helps me understand how well a product performs in the hands of real users. Here are the factors I considered:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Feedback on ease of use
- Comments on customer support quality
- Insights on feature effectiveness
- User recommendations and endorsements
Using this assessment framework helped me identify the software that goes beyond basic requirements to offer additional value through unique features, intuitive usability, smooth onboarding, effective support, and overall value for price.
Trends for HR Workflow Software in 2024
HR workflow software continues to evolve to incorporate advancements in technology and match changing business needs. Here are several trends impacting the development of workflow management software currently:
- AI-Powered Recruitment: Workflow tools have begun to incorporate AI into recruitment-focused workflows to help screen resumes and match candidates to job descriptions. This reduces time spent on manual tasks and helps find the best fit for roles.
- Integration with Other Business Tools: HR software is increasingly integrating with other business tools, such as project management and communication platforms. This creates a more cohesive work environment and ensures data consistency across systems.
- Advanced Analytics and Reporting: HR workflow tools are now offering more advanced analytics that provide deeper insights into workforce trends. This helps teams make better data-driven decisions and identify areas for improvement.
As you can see, these trends are focused on incorporating new technologies into HR workflow software to help teams get the most out of their software and reduce manual work.
What is HR Workflow Software?
HR workflow software is a tool that automates and manages human resources processes and tasks within an organization. It is used by HR professionals to streamline activities such as employee onboarding, performance reviews, leave requests, document approvals, and compliance tracking.
The software typically includes components like task automation, document management, and reporting tools. These features help HR teams reduce manual work, ensure consistency across HR processes, and maintain accurate records.
Features of HR Workflow Software
When choosing HR workflow software, it's important to understand the key features that will make the biggest impact on improving your HR processes. Here are the most important features to look for:
- Employee Self-Service: Employee-facing workflows allow employees to access and update their personal information, reducing the administrative burden on HR staff.
- Time and Attendance Tracking: This feature monitors employee hours and attendance, ensuring accurate payroll processing and compliance with labor laws.
- Performance Management: Facilitates the setting, tracking, and evaluating of employee performance goals, helping to improve productivity and employee development. It can also be used to automate reminders for annual performance reviews, as well as due dates for the required paperwork.
- Recruitment and Onboarding Automation: These features speed up the hiring process from job posting to onboarding, making it easier to collect candidate data and integrate them into your HR software once hired.
- Benefits Administration: Workflows for employee benefits programs ensure that employees are enrolled in the appropriate plans before any deadlines, and inform employees when any changes are made to group plans.
- Compliance Management: Workflows that help organizations adhere to labor laws and regulations may include automatic reminders for upcoming training certification expiration dates, or triggers that alert managers when staff are about to exceed overtime thresholds.
- Payroll Integration: Workflows that integrate payroll systems with other data sources help to reduce errors and save time, meaning your HR professionals will only need to update data in one place, rather than in several.
- Reporting and Analytics: This refers to workflows that automatically run reports on key HR metrics to uncover insights, and trends, and help teams make data-driven decisions.
- Document Management: Often workflows incorporate documents that are stored digitally, to make it easier to access documents. Other related features include audit trails and read-receipt automation, so you can tell which employees have reviewed a document, and which haven’t.
- Mobile Access: Using a system that is mobile-friendly allows HR tasks to be performed on mobile devices, providing flexibility and convenience for both HR staff and employees.
Choosing the right HR workflow software with these features can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your HR operations.
Benefits of HR Workflow Software
HR workflow software is a powerful tool designed to streamline and automate various HR processes, making them more efficient and less prone to errors. By implementing HR workflow software, organizations can significantly improve their HR operations, resulting in numerous benefits for the business and its employees. Here are several benefits you can expect to gain by implementing HR workflow software:
- Reduce Errors and Cut Costs: HR workflows minimize the risk of human errors that are common in manual processes. This reduction in errors leads to cost savings by avoiding the financial implications of mistakes and improving the overall accuracy of processes.
- Save Time and Improve Productivity: HR workflow software automates repetitive and time-consuming tasks, freeing HR professionals to focus on more strategic activities. This increase in efficiency boosts overall productivity within the HR department and the organization.
- Enhance Process Efficiency: Workflow software ensures that tasks are completed faster and more consistently. This enhancement in process efficiency leads to quicker decision-making and smoother operations, benefiting the entire organization.
- Increase Profitability: The combined effect of reduced errors, cost savings, improved productivity, and enhanced process efficiency contributes to the overall profitability of the organization. Efficient HR operations support better business outcomes and a stronger bottom line.
- Boost Employee Morale: By automating tedious tasks that take up a big chunk of your HR team’s time, your team will be able to spend more time on activities that directly impact employee satisfaction and engagement. This focus on high-value tasks helps in boosting employee morale and retention, while also improving your HR team’s level of job satisfaction.
HR workflow software is an essential investment for organizations looking to optimize their HR processes and improve overall efficiency. By automating routine tasks, HR departments can focus on strategic initiatives that drive business success.
Costs & Pricing of HR Workflow Software
When considering HR workflow software, it's essential to understand the various pricing models and what each plan offers, from free or basic packages to comprehensive plans with advanced features. Below is a detailed table summarizing the different plan types, their average prices, and common features included in each plan to help you choose the best plan for your business needs.
Plan Comparison Table for HR Workflow Software
| Plan Type | Average Price Ranges | Common Features |
| Free | $0 | Basic HR functions, limited user access, reporting, and employee self-service portals |
| Basic | $30-$50/month or $5-$10/employee/month | Payroll processing, employee data management, basic compliance tools, and limited integrations |
| Mid-Level | $50-$100/month or $5-$15/employee/month | Advanced reporting, performance management, recruitment tools, and more integrations |
| Premium | $100-$250/month or $8-$20/employee/month | Comprehensive HR management, AI-driven analytics, extensive integrations, and dedicated support |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing | Full customization, advanced security features, dedicated account management, and extensive support |
When selecting an HR workflow software plan, consider your business size, budget, and specific HR needs. Free and basic plans are suitable for smaller businesses, while mid-level to enterprise plans offer advanced features for growing and large organizations. Always evaluate the features and support options to ensure the plan aligns with your business goals.
HR Workflow Software FAQs
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about HR workflow software and how it functions:
How do I choose the best HR workflow software for my company?
When choosing HR workflow software, consider your organization’s size, specific HR needs, integration capabilities with existing systems, user-friendliness, and customer support. Evaluating the software’s scalability is also important to ensure it can grow with your company.
Can HR workflow software integrate with other systems?
Yes, most HR workflow software can integrate with other systems such as payroll, time tracking, and performance management tools. Integration capabilities are crucial for ensuring error-free data flow and reducing the need for manual data entry.
Is HR workflow software secure?
Security is a top priority for HR workflow software providers. Most solutions offer robust security features such as data encryption, user authentication, and regular security updates to protect sensitive employee information.
Can HR workflow software be customized?
Many HR workflow software solutions offer customization options to fit your organization’s unique needs. This can include custom workflows, forms, and reports. Customization ensures that the software aligns with your specific HR processes and requirements. Many also offer templates for common HR processes to help you make progress with the software quickly.
What kind of support is available for HR workflow software?
Support options for HR workflow software typically include online resources such as knowledge bases, tutorials, and forums. Many providers also offer customer support through email, phone, or live chat. It’s important to choose a provider that provides reliable and accessible support to address any issues that may arise.
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