What is HRIS?
A
HRIS,
or Human resource information system, is a software solution for small to
mid-sized businesses to help automate and manage their HR, payroll, management
and accounting activities. A HRIS generally should provide the capability to more
effectively plan, control and manage HR costs; achieve improved efficiency and
quality in HR decision making; and improve employee and managerial productivity
and effectiveness.
HRIS Advantages
The
advantages of having a sophisticated HRIS are many. An HRIS monitored by
qualified specialists who know technology and HR functional and tactical
processes can manage compliance with federal and state laws, streamline
processes for recruitment and selection, and produce analyses, data and reports
for internal and external use. Other advantages of an HRIS include the ease of
use for qualification computer technology specialists, accuracy of information
and the ability to perform HR audits using any combination of parameters. The
employee and manager self-service features are excellent ways to free up the
time of your human resources staff members for project work and other duties.
Employees and managers can locate answers and information quickly without the
need to consult an HR representative every time.
HRIS Disadvantages
An HRIS also can be a
problematic for small businesses in which some employees must wear many hats.
If the company isn’t big enough to have a dedicated human resources technology
specialist, consider outsourcing. Some of the disadvantages of an HRIS involve
human error during information input, costly technology to update the system
and malfunctions or insufficient applications to support your human resources
needs. There is a demand for computer and technology specialists with general
information technology knowledge, and finding a qualified specialist with human
resources functional area knowledge can be difficult. With such a demand, your
cost to hire an HRIS specialist may be far above the average salary for a
computer technology specialist. The cost per-hire for another employee in a
specialized field may be a stretch for some small businesses.
