How to research the market and find your perfect HR tech
by SJ Hood
For some of us, selecting a new HRIS (otherwise known as a Human Resources Information System, but not by people who enjoy brevity), can come with a few barriers. Like not having had to do it for a decade because selection can be a huge undertaking and, for some organisations, isn’t a priority. And by the time your leadership team agrees to it, things have changed! Having a gap like that between systems can make it hard to keep up with trends and new tech developments. In fact, even those who haven’t been looking into new HR tech for the length of their current 3-5 year contract can get left behind.
That’s why taking the time to research the market is always something we recommend. The industry moves fast and the rise of AI means it’s just going to keep moving faster. There are amazing things you can do with data now that would have been little more than a pipe dream even five years ago.
So, you’ve been out of the tech scene for a few years, but you know you need something new to get your HR department running the way you want. Where should you start when it comes to researching the market?
Understand your problem
The first step in finding a solution is really understanding your problem. In fact, problem definition is the absolute key to making sure you end up with the right HR system. In our No-nonsense Selection Workbook, we call this step ‘Identifying the Scope.’ Doing this right is a critical step to researching. Our workbook even has a helpful template for mapping out everything you need your new piece of tech to solve.
Learn more: Get it right the first time with our Ultimate Workbook for HCM Selection
Do a quick a Google
As with most things in our day-to-day lives, the go-to place for figuring out what the current HR tech marketplace looks like is Google (other search engines are available!). It’s the easiest way to get a high-level overview of what is possible before starting your deeper dives into specific software. An easy way to start might be ‘best of’ searches. For example:
- Best hr system for law firms 1000 employees
- Best hris for UK tech start up
- Best hcm for small enterprise 2024
These lists can give you a broad view of the market and introduce you to platforms you may be less familiar with.
Check the news
How often do you check out industry news sites? Websites like hrtechnologies.com and HR Magazine can be a valuable resource during the early stages of your software search. Not only do they frequently have sponsored posts from vendors across the industry, but they’ll also have the latest funding news and product launches available.
While that information won’t be relevant to everyone, it can be especially helpful if you want a system that is growing. Vendors who have been in the news (for one of those positive reasons mentioned) are likely to have a robust development schedule. Do some more specific research about these organisations.
Ask your team
A great way to get input is by asking your team. And not just the rest of the HR folks! Sometimes employees will have recommendations for systems they loved at previous employers. Or warnings for systems they hated! Paying attention here is important because your response can either help or hinder adoption later on.
Always try to take employee tech concerns on board when possible. If they’re excited about a new system, an opinionated employee can be a great source of help. However, if they already have negative feelings before you’ve even started, they can become a major detractor in adoption. Find a balance between respecting their opinion and the needs of the business.
Learn more about detractors in this article: Getting HRIS project ready – key stakeholders
Ask your peers
Are you part of any HR networking groups? There are a tonne of them online and in WhatsApp and they can be a useful tool for gathering peer input. Asking on these forums, you’ll undoubtedly get loads of responses about the best and worst systems to consider. Take the responses from both those you respect the most and those who are in close to your same position and start exploring them in more depth. Keep in mind the specific goals from understanding your problem.
Looking for a good forum of HR leaders like you? Join the Talking People Tech Facebook group
Ask the specialists
Sometimes, it really is easier to just get the experts involved. Consultancies like Silver Cloud who specialise in HR tech have a wealth of knowledge that you can draw on. This can be an ideal option for those who haven’t been in the market for a long time. It can also help those who don’t have the internal resource available to do justice to the search.
No matter how long you’ve been out of the HR tech landscape, you’ll probably need to research the market to get back up to speed. You should now have a good idea of how to get started: search engine ‘best of’ lists, asking around, catching up on the news and, of course, reaching out to the experts.
