The Best Succession Planning Software List
Here’s the list of the best succession planning tools that I’ll cover in this article:
- 2. Motivosity — Forward-thinking leader development tool that facilitates personalized succession plans and key player evaluations
- 3. PerformYard — Streamlined performance management system that fosters effective succession planning
- 4. Cornerstone OnDemand — HCM platform with deep workforce planning features like “what if” scenarios
- 5. Ingentis org.manager — Powerful charting and scenario modeling tool that can visualize data from any source
- 6. PeopleFluent — Flexible succession planning tool with built-in learning management system to facilitate upskilling
- 7. SAP SuccessFactors — Enterprise-level succession planning tool with built-in mentoring program capabilities
- 8. Empxtrack — Customizable HRMS system supporting the full employee lifecycle, including succession planning tools
If the last few years have taught us anything, it's that the future is never certain. You may feel like your organization is in a good position right now, and that may be true today. But, do you have a succession plan in place for when your current leaders retire? Do you have enough redundancy to back-fill your other key positions? What's your game plan if someone resigns unexpectedly, or is no longer able to work?
Succession planning software organizes the planning process and puts plans into action. Succession planning tools will assess all candidates in your talent bench objectively, and uncover their hidden potential. They'll also help you develop talent pools of future leaders, and offer tools to keep them engaged and developing in the meantime.
In this article, I'll review the best succession planning tools in the HR software space, and explain how they can help your business ensure future success.
Comparison Criteria
Wondering which features I look for when selecting the best succession planning tools? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:
- User Interface (UI): I appreciate visual elements that simplify the planning and evaluation process. This includes elements like visual employee scorecards and 9-box grids showing performance potential or skill maps. Visual dashboards and features like side-by-side comparisons, or dynamic organizational chart functions are also very useful.
- Usability: I prioritize systems that have straightforward processes, are easy-to-use, and incorporate data from other talent management systems or modules to reduce any data entry requirements.
- Integrations: I look for systems that integrate with other commonly used HR software solutions, such as human resource information systems (HRIS) or learning management systems (LMS).
- Value for $: While I always prefer software with transparent pricing models, those details aren’t always readily available. Instead, most of the software in this list is customizable depending on the modules you need. Therefore, the pricing isn’t published as a one-size-fits-all cost.
Succession Planning Tools: Key Features
As you dive deeper into our list of the best succession planning software, you’ll notice they fall into several software sub-categories. Succession planning features are often rolled into talent management platforms or workforce planning tools. Or they may exist as modules within a larger HRIS or HCM (human capital management) system. That said, there are some common features you can expect from any of the top succession planning tools:
- Talent pools and pipelines: Both are essential components of any succession plan. Talent pools are a shortlist of candidates you are assessing for a future role, and talent pipelines are a way to mark the most promising candidates for future advancement toward a specific role.
- Advanced performance management and assessment features: Succession planning should always incorporate an employee’s performance history. Since we’re talking about planning the future of your business, it’s reasonable to assume you’ll naturally want to invest more in your highest performers. The best systems have integrated functions to assess competencies and skill gaps.
- Development plans: It’s one thing to tell an employee you’d like them to advance. It’s another thing entirely to show them how to get there, and give them the tools to make it happen. Development plans, often the output of advanced performance reviews, are concrete plans that spell out the skills and experiences required to get employees to the next level of their career.
- Comparative tools: To help you determine which candidate is best suited for a future role, features like side-by-side comparisons, scorecards, and skill matrices are very important.
- Advanced modeling tools: Since succession planning is all about securing a company’s future, advanced modeling tools are a basic requirement for success.
- Dynamic organizational charting: Since most people are visual learners, dynamic organizational charts (org charts) are a key feature for any top-level succession planning tool. Charting features should include drag-and-drop changes, and past, present and future modeling options.
- What if scenarios: While often tied to org chart modeling, “what if” scenarios are crucial in that they highlight specific situations that need addressing. They can be completed for all key leadership positions, as well as for other internal functions where you may have a lack of skill redundancy. For example, if only one person in your company knows how to process payroll, what’s going to happen if something happens to them?
Overviews Of The 10 Best Succession Planning Tools
Here’s a brief description of each succession planning software platform to showcase each tool’s best use case, and some noteworthy features. I’ve also included screenshots to give you a snapshot of the user interface.
Qooper
Mentor matching platform to match future leaders with executives and seniors
Qooper is an employee learning platform with the capacity to create personalized learning plans for employees and pair mentors and mentees for coaching and development. Organizations can use the software to create role-specific growth plans for individual contributors and to match potential leaders with mentors they can work with towards their goals.
Learning programs can include video content and assessments as well as podcasts and articles. All learning materials can be stored and organized within the software, making it easy to repurpose items for multiple learning programs and keep content up-to-date. Groups can be established in the software for cohorts of employees to partake in specific training or learning initiatives together, at the same time.
As for leadership development, the standout feature offered in the system is its mentorship matching tool. Employees can be paired with a senior staff member or someone external who has expertise in their job function. Mentors and mentees can conduct their coaching sessions directly in the software, using its meeting agendas, icebreakers, and mentorship activities to guide them. Goal setting and tracking is also available in the platform.
The software integrates with several other SaaS tools including ADP, BambooHR, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Oracle, Outlook, Slack, Workday, and Zoom. Pricing is available upon request.
Motivosity
Forward-thinking leader development tool that facilitates personalized succession plans and key player evaluations
Motivosity is a modern employee engagement, rewards, and recognition platform that helps businesses take employee satisfaction to the next level. The cloud-based software is designed to engage staff members from every conceivable angle, including the job satisfaction and career development perspective.
Motivosity is comprised of a unique suite of integrated modules designed to address individual aspects of job satisfaction within a unified platform. These core modules are Connect, Recognize, Listen, and Lead. Businesses that are focused on trying to identify and develop future leaders from within their company will find the Lead module quite useful. It's designed to get managers thinking about the key question behind all good succession planning initiatives: who is going to fill your shoes when you get your next promotion?
Their Lead module focuses on the managers and team leaders within the organization. Motivosity Lead works by helping admins and HR teams in transforming their managers into dependable leaders through various tools that they can use to coach their team and develop stronger relationships. One of these tools is integrated management training. Managers have a significant impact on their employees’ overall working experience, so it's always wise to invest in the development of good management training.
The 1-on-1 conversation between the manager and their employee is another tool for nurturing future company leaders. This not only helps managers connect with their staff members on a more personal level, but it can also help strengthen the relationship that exists between the leader and their followers. Users can use Motivosity Lead to set weekly 1-on-1 conversations with staff members to determine employee sentiment and satisfaction, as well as to figure out how to help employees who are lagging to become more productive.
Integrations are available with 20+ popular software systems, including ADP Workforce Now, BambooHR, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Okta, Paylocity, Paychex, Rippling, SAP SuccessFactors, Slack, UKG Pro, Workday, Zenefits, and others.
Pricing for Motivosity Lead starts at $5 per person/month, billed annually. You can also request a free demo through their website.
PerformYard
Streamlined performance management system that fosters effective succession planning
PerformYard is a performance management software that provides flexible features for HR teams to support an effective succession planning strategy. HR teams get the tools they need to identify high-performing team members for future opportunities, while employees get a streamlined experience so they can focus on development.
With PerformYard, you can customize the software to fit the strategy that’s right for your organization's succession planning needs. For example, their performance management tools, including 360-degree reviews, project-based reviews, rating scales, continuous feedback, and cascading goals can be customized to include long-term career development prompts to tap into future advancement potential and goals.
PerformYard's simplified employee experience helps facilitate useful feedback and quality conversations. They also provide dedicated customer success managers for every customer to manage their implementation from onboarding to employee training, to ongoing support.
PerformYard integrates with most major HRIS/Payroll systems including ADP, BambooHR, Gusto, Rippling, UKG, Paycom, Workday, and Paylocity.
PerformYard costs from $5-$10/user/month.
Cornerstone OnDemand
HCM platform with deep workforce planning features like “what if” scenarios
Cornerstone is a data-driven workforce planning software that helps businesses align employees with their organizational goals. Their platform aggregates workforce data into visual formats that make it easy for key stakeholders to digest. As well, their system links details such as staff headcount, budget, performance and organizational structure together so you can make decisions quickly if your business environment changes unexpectedly.
The Cornerstone system supports succession planning through their scenario modeling feature. Using their “what if” models, you can create scenarios and run through potential changes to your organizational structure depending on a variety of factors. You can also compare past organization structures with the future, to see how your structure has evolved over time.
Cornerstone is technically an HCM (human capital management) platform. In addition to their deep workforce planning features, their platform has modules to support recruiting and onboarding, learning and development, performance management, engagement, and core HR data management.
Integrations with Cornerstone are not noted on their website, though they do have an API to support them.
Pricing details are available upon request. A free demo can be arranged via their website too.
Ingentis org.manager
Powerful charting and scenario modeling tool that can visualize data from any source
Visualize your HR data in a whole new way with Ingentis org.manager Suite. Their software can automatically display organizational structures and HR data in a customizable way, based on any kind of data source. With no coding required, all their data visualizations are created via custom configurations, giving people management teams the opportunity to request visual dashboards that are organization-specific.
With visual modeling at its core–including workforce modeling and what if scenarios–it’s easy to see the value in using Ingentis org.manager Suite as a tool for succession planning. Using their system, you can create fully automated organizational charts to share with all employees, plus more detailed versions including an effectiveness analysis option for management teams only. The tool is also able to handle big data visualization, so you can feed it your HR analytics data in whatever format it exists in, and it will simulate models for you to help with scenario planning and making informed business decisions.
Special integrations exist for SAP SuccessFactors HCM and Oracle HCM systems, as well as Microsoft products including Microsoft Teams, and 15 other HR software solutions. Their software support webinar schedule is posted on their website and sessions are free to attend so you can learn more about how their system could work for you before committing.
Pricing details are not available on their website, but other sources suggest it has a one-time fee of $1,750 USD per license. A free demo and free trial can also be requested via their website.
PeopleFluent
Flexible succession planning tool with built-in learning management system to facilitate upskilling
Built for businesses of all sizes, PeopleFluent helps companies hire, develop, engage and upskill their employees through a combination of key tools. In addition to succession planning tools, their system also has features for recruitment, performance, compensation, learning, talent mobility, and organizational charting.
Their succession dashboard is designed to help HR teams identify their top talent, and make data-driven decisions to guide their development towards fulfilling the next generation of leadership roles. You can develop talent pools for specific key positions, and map out career pathing options to ensure your next-in-line staff will be ready when a vacancy arises. The system includes tools to facilitate mentoring and create career development plans as well. Plus, their incorporated Learning Experience Platform makes it simple for HR managers to develop key staff and help them acquire the new skills they’ll need to advance.
PeopleFluent integrates with 20+ common HR software solutions including Affirmity, Breezy HR, CognosOnline, CourseWare, e-learnmedia, Gomo Learning, Hit Point, Open Sesame, Stratagile, VectorVMS, Watershed and others.
Pricing details are available upon request. A free demo is also available, and a free 30-day trial is available for their Learning Experience Platform module only.
SAP SuccessFactors
Enterprise-level succession planning tool with built-in mentoring program capabilities
SAP SuccessFactors supports succession planning at the enterprise level with their Succession & Development software. Their system helps to ensure you place the right people in the right roles with a built-in tool to uncover hidden talent through a company-wide search of employee talent profiles. Tools to streamline competency and skill assessments, as well as a nine-box matrix rating grid, also help human resources teams identify the top and bottom performers in any team.
The system goes beyond just matching employees with roles and offers more features in the area of strategic succession management. This includes functions like assessing the risk and impact of a key talent loss, identifying employees who are flight risks, and tools for assessing your bench strength. Their “what if” scenario function also helps users plot the domino effect of proposed succession plans by generating different outcomes in a visually digestible way. Another rich feature I haven’t seen with other platforms is how SAP’s system creates mentoring programs and automatically matches mentors with mentees.
SAP can be set up to integrate with other software, either through their API or via pre-packaged integrations. They also have a full-feature mobile app for iOS and Android users too.
Pricing information is only available upon request after receiving a free demo.
Empxtrack
Customizable HRMS system supporting the full employee lifecycle, including succession planning tools
Empxtrack is an HRMS (human resources management system) that has modules for recruitment, performance appraisals, 360-degree feedback, exit management, payroll (India-specific), and strategic HR functions. Their succession planning software—included in their strategic HR package—ensures business continuity by helping organizations identify key leadership roles and giving them the tools to build talent pipelines of potential successors to fill those roles in the long term.
You can get a sense of their detailed process in the screenshot above. Their system helps management teams identify their high potential employees (which they call HIPOs), and evaluate them thoroughly. Performance evaluations for succession planning are completed through a combination of surveys to get feedback from senior staff, and ratings on a 9-point or 12-point performance potential matrix, as shown above. You can also assign a mentor to help coach each future leader into their long-term position.
Empxtrack integrates with many HR tools through their API, but specific software providers are not listed on their website. One nice feature is that they offer online customer support 24x7.
Pricing details for the strategic HR solutions package are available upon request. However, other modules within their system, such as their Employee Portal and HRIS, Performance Appraisals, 360-Degree Feedback, Payroll (India-specific), Leave Management, Attendance, and Exit Management can be used for free with some limitations on users and reports.
ChartHop
Dynamic visual charting tool with customizable employee engagement features
Visualizing your entire staff roster is easy with ChartHop’s dynamic charting tools. Their visual tools are perfect for organizations with rapid changes that want to capture a live org chart in real-time. The system is also well-designed to support headcount plans, scaling plans, succession plans, restructuring plans, and compensation plans. Other useful features include custom reports and tailored analytics, plus tools to assess tenure, key performance indicators (KPIs), goals and objectives, engagement and eNPS (employer net promoter score), and promotion rates.
The system is unique in that it helps users understand their corporate past while also planning for the future. You can time travel through different organizational charts to see how your company has evolved through the years. ChartHop also allows you to parse out your employee data however you want, which can be useful for new initiatives like DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)—a hot topic in the HR world right now.
ChartHop integrates with 30+ common HR software platforms such as BambooHR, Sapling, Google Suite, Slack, JobVite, Gusto, Zenefits, and many others. In their higher-tier support levels, you can also integrate ChartHop with your ATS (applicant tracking system) or set up other custom integrations too.
Pricing for ChartHop starts at $3.50 USD/employee/month. No matter which pricing level you choose, you can also add their Compensation Planning module for an additional $2 USD/employee/month.
UKG Pro Succession
HCM platform with strong predictive analytics and employee retention tools
Formerly called UltiPro Succession Management, UKG Pro Succession helps organizations create flexible, comprehensive and executable succession plans to prepare for a successful future. Using their software you can create personal development plans to highlight the skills and competencies your future leaders need to address to achieve their career development goals.
The system includes useful features like unbiased predictive analytics to help identify high performers, and tools to identify employees who may be a flight-risk. Both of these features are useful for managing employee retention and highlighting key areas that need to be addressed first. An Employee Retention Scores Report is also included within their overall HCM (human capital management) platform too.
Specific software integrations are not listed on their website. However, they do have an open API called Connector Hub, which can be used to customize connections to other software platforms.
Pricing details are available upon request and a free demo is also available. You must provide your contact info in order to watch their product tour video.
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The 10 Best Succession Planning Tools Summary
| Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Qooper Mentor matching platform to match future leaders with executives and seniors | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 2 | Motivosity Forward-thinking leader development tool that facilitates personalized succession plans and key player evaluations | Free demo available | From $2 to $5/user/month depending on product chosen | Visit Website |
| 3 | PerformYard Streamlined performance management system that fosters effective succession planning | Free demo available | From $5-$10/user/month | Visit Website |
| 4 | Cornerstone OnDemand HCM platform with deep workforce planning features like “what if” scenarios | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 5 | Ingentis org.manager Powerful charting and scenario modeling tool that can visualize data from any source | Request a free demo + free trial available | From $1,750 USD/license | Visit Website |
| 6 | PeopleFluent Flexible succession planning tool with built-in learning management system to facilitate upskilling | 30-day free trial + free demo | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 7 | SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise-level succession planning tool with built-in mentoring program capabilities | Free trial available | From $2.18/user and has software packages starting from $1000+/package | Visit Website |
| 8 | Empxtrack Customizable HRMS system supporting the full employee lifecycle, including succession planning tools | Not available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 9 |  ChartHop Dynamic visual charting tool with customizable employee engagement features | Free demo + freemium version available | From $8/user/month | Visit Website |
| 10 |  UKG Pro Succession HCM platform with strong predictive analytics and employee retention tools | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
Other Succession Planning Software Options
Here’s a few more succession planning tools that didn’t make the top list:
- Plum
Holistic suite of talent assessment tools, based on predictive psychometric data
- Bullseye Engagement
Comprehensive employee development platform with proven 10-step succession plan development process
- TalentGuard
Comprehensive talent management system that supports detailed talent pool comparisons
- Eightfold AI
Sophisticated talent intelligence platform with powerful AI-driven features
- Arcoro
Visually rich employee assessment and development platform, well-suited for compliance-heavy industries
- Trakstar
Employee development platform with the ability to assess an entire workforce for their leadership potential, using a 9-box grid for performance and potential.
- Pingboard
Transparency and culture building tool that supports dynamic org charts capturing current and future reorg ideas - including a free succession planning downloadable template.
- Lattice
Comprehensive system for employee engagement, performance management and employee development, which supports high-potential employees to achieve their development goals.
- eloomi
Combined performance management + learning and development system that facilitates coaching conversations to help employees achieve long-term career goals like succession advancement.
- Mettl
A unique blend of succession planning tools including behavioral assessments, psychometric assessments, digital readiness assessments, domain tests, 360-degree feedback tools, and a virtual assessment center to tie all these data sources together.
What Is Succession Planning?
Succession planning is the process of planning for future leadership and management changes. It's the act of creating a talent pipeline for key positions within your company and determining who has the right skills for those roles. But it's more than simply adding the names of the next-in-line to a spreadsheet. Succession planning should be a thoughtful process.
When executed well, succession plans create development opportunities for existing employees to advance. With long-term plans aligned to their personal goals, employees will be more engaged in their roles and less likely to leave. With time for proper training and development, they'll be able to step into a more senior role at short notice. It’s an essential component of improving employee retention and reducing employee turnover amongst your senior staff.
Why Is Succession Planning Important?
Succession planning is a crucial component of ensuring business continuity and longevity. It ensures you have a plan in place for when leaders or other key employees resign, retire, or are no longer able to work. It's also an important component of talent management within your company. By providing opportunities for advancement, your employees will have higher engagement in their roles and embrace their long-term future with your company.
While succession planning is certainly an essential function, the statistics may surprise you. Research from 2019 found that only 35% of organizations had a formal succession planning process in place.
Since then, of those companies that did have a leadership and development program in place, 70% have rescheduled or delayed them due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and only 15% have increased them. That's a frightening trend considering the amount of baby boomers set to retire by 2030.
Need more motivation? Don't forget the financial impacts of having an under-developed succession plan. Harvard Business Review reports that the direct cost of replacing a failed executive can reach up to 10x their salary.
Related Read: HR Software: What It Costs And How To Decide What’s Best For Your Company
What Do You Think About This List?
Now that you’ve gained a deeper understanding of the importance of succession planning and the tools you need to do it, what will your next steps be?
Did this article satisfy your curiosity? Or do you need additional information to help you with your workforce planning, strategy, and benefits?
Still trying to wrap your head around these top-level HR processes? Take a look at our article on organizational development for some additional advice.
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Related Reads:
- Org Chart Tools for Plotting Company Structures
- Employee Evaluation Software For Performance Reviews & Recognition
- Learning Management Systems (LMS) for Small Businesses
- What Is Succession Planning? How To Develop Your Next Leaders
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