5 HR and Payroll Processes Made Easier with Single Software

Posted on 10 October 2022
(Updated 1 February 2024)
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HR and payroll processes are the pillars of any organisation, so it’s key to ensure they are as efficient as possible. Many of the pain points in HR processes are felt when HR professionals require data from disparate systems to function. A single solution for HR and Payroll could be the answer.

HR professionals will be aware of the benefits of HR technology to automate the day-to-day administrative work which falls to HR departments. The automation of HR processes is crucial in enabling HR teams to focus on strategic work to make organisations more efficient and reduce bottom line costs.

However, with so many types of technology on the market to help streamline various HR processes, organisations often end up with multiple HR and payroll systems to manage the many different aspects of HR: recruitment and onboarding, employee relationships, performance and reward, time and expenses and so on. These disparate systems cause speed bumps for HR professionals who attempt to streamline their processes, even if these systems are integrated.

Single HR and Payroll software could be the answer for fed-up HR professionals, so let’s look at the top 5 HR and payroll processes which can be simplified using an end-to-end single solution. 

Streamline recruitment and onboarding with single software

Recruitment is a particularly tricky HR process for teams battling with multiple HR systems, applicant tracking systems and recruitment processes. Organising candidate data is key to running an efficient hiring process, let alone multiple hiring processes at once, and separate HR systems can turn this into an almost impossible task.

A common problem for HR managers tasked with hiring using multiple HR systems is the lag and human error risks when transferring data between one system and another. Let’s look at an example:

You’re running a hiring process using a separate applicant tracking system, HR software and payroll software. Perhaps one candidate applied for your position via an agency, another from your internal careers page and another from social media, your applicant tracking system may be able to pool all of this information for you, but in some cases, you may have to manually input this information into the ATS. 

Let’s say it’s a relatively straightforward process with no candidate back-outs. Once the hiring manager has found their perfect candidate, you then have to transfer all of their data onto your internal HR software and payroll system, including all of the notes from each stage of the interview process to ensure their new line manager is informed in the onboarding process.

Your ATS, HR software and payroll is integrated? Great, except for the fact that the formatting is all wrong. No integration? Not so great. Human Resources will then have to transfer the data manually, using time that could have been saved with an automated workflow in an all-in-one software. Using a single HR and payroll solution eliminates the administrative burden of recruitment and onboarding as every piece of information that is inputted into the system is synchronised and updated in real time across the functionalities. 

With single software, you can also be sure of your organisation’s GDPR compliance during the hiring process. Using a single HR software ensures that there is no grey area in data privacy compliance as HR professionals will not have to transfer a candidate’s data from one piece of software to another. This is particularly important once you have found your new hire, as their payment details can be easily and securely transferred over to the payroll functionality of an all-in-one HR and payroll software once they have signed their contract. 

Make performance reviews simpler using HR and payroll software

Many types of HR technology on the market enable HR managers to track the performance of a workforce, but a single HR and payroll system makes the whole HR process of performance and reward simpler. 

The key difference between integrated HR and Payroll systems and a single solution for performance reviews is that there is no data transfer and no delay between systems in single software.

HR managers and line managers using single software can track employee progress towards performance-related pay milestones and bonuses using the HR system. On the XCD platform, Human Resources can even monitor an employee’s bespoke performance rating, based on their productivity and line manager comments. All performance reviews are then updated in real time, meaning no double handling of data and no bottlenecks for HR when actioning performance-related pay increases in payroll. 

You may also be interested in: The Key Benefits of a Truly Single HR and Payroll Solution

Use HR software to inform your employee appraisals 

Similar to performance and reward, single HR and payroll solutions can be utilised for employee appraisals to record annual check ins with employees and remuneration raises which may be negotiated. 

Using XCD single software, HR managers can assess an employee’s previous pay increases alongside the total budget impact presented to provide HR with all of the data they need for salary review decision-making. 

For HR processes that intersect both HR and payroll, like employee appraisals and salary reviews, a single solution is key. Even when organisations integrate their disparate HR and payroll systems, there are limitations as one system may not support the intricacies of the other. Using separate HR and payroll systems which are integrated for appraisals and salary reviews increases the risk of data inaccuracy. 

With single software, Human Resources can combine salary reviews with annual bonus awards easily, automatically calculating the statutory deductions for PAYE and pensions. XCD HR and payroll solution is HMRC compliant and safeguards your organisation with automated workflows that instantly calculate remuneration changes in line with reviews. 

You may also be interested in: What is the Difference Between Integrated HR and Payroll and a Single Solution?

Demystify holiday tracking using time tracking software

Every HR department will understand the headache that comes with tracking holiday leave, especially in a large workforce. Add to this the complications of using separate systems for time tracking and payroll and suddenly, a seemingly simple process becomes complicated.

With a single HR and payroll software, tracking the holiday allowances and usage in your workforce stays as simple and intuitive as it should be. All leave taken is deducted from an employee’s allowance through an automated workflow and holiday pay is reflected in their payslip via the payroll functionalities of the platform. 

The XCD solution benefits from intuitive employee self-service across all elements of the platform which enables holiday approvals in real-time. Encouraging employee self-service through HR software and compatible mobile apps unburdens hours of administrative work from HR teams, which is particularly useful for simple tasks like holiday requests and approvals that build up quickly.

The XCD annual leave functionality also comes with a built-in Bradford Score, making it simple for HR to be alerted when an employee is taking significant amounts of time off and may need additional support. 

You may also be interested in: What is the Bradford Factor and How Can HR Software Help?

Terminations of employment made clean and simple with software

If you’ve been a HR for any considerable length of time, chances are you’re aware of the paperwork involved when an employee leaves your organisation. Offboarding and terminating an employee’s contract requires multiple HR processes that intersect HR and payroll departments. 

Using a single software rather than an integration between separate solutions simplifies the HR process when an employee leaves your organisation. Rather than having to transfer data from a HR system over to payroll to ensure an employee’s final payslip includes their holiday accrued and any other final payments, a single solution can instantly generate final payslips using the data from the HR system.  

Automated workflows in single HR and payroll software also ensure that when an employee leaves your organisation or is terminated, their records are easily erased across all functionalities and you remain GDPR compliant. In contrast, with integrated solutions, HR have to spend valuable time double checking their records.  

You may also be interested in: Firing an Employee – when and how to do it

A single HR and Payroll solution is the key to simple, automated HR processes

As more businesses adopt HR and payroll technology to automate day-to-day administrative tasks, the benefits of an all-in-one solution for HR and payroll tasks become even clearer. 

Learn more by clicking the button below to see our CTO case for HR and Payroll on Salesforce: