What is an HRIS?

An HRIS or human resources information system is a software solution that manages, processes, and maintains employee information and often HR-related procedures, policies, and information. 

It is generally a place of confidentiality and privacy between the employee and the organisation,  for example, an employee can see their pay and benefits and other confidential data. 

This has been used and relied on by many organisations, and is a way to reduce the administrative burden and I am allowed employees to do some elements of self-service (for example authorising their holiday).

Sometimes the system will be a standalone application like Ceridian and that other times it will be a module in a larger enterprise package (e.g. SAP, Workday)

Since the increase of flexible and remote working setups, maintaining excellent employee engagement has become a challenge. And because of the private nature of HRIS most commentators do not think it is a great tool for internal communication.

On the contrary, a well-designed Intranet can provide an open tool where all employees can visit to learn about the organisation, their colleagues, and the direction of the business. It forms a vital component in employee engagement.

The question remains—can a modern intranet solution completely replace your HRIS system and will it be more effective and efficient?

Here’s the thing, an HRIS system is only used for HR-related needs and nothing else. Because of this, most employees end up using multiple platforms or software anyway just to complete different tasks. 

The solution? You can use an intranet to give your employees a centralised location to access all company-related information and resources.  This encourages a more open and interactive environment. But you can also use it to signpost to the HRIS system to use and engage.

Let’s get into the most common myths about intranets.

1. It’s only an internal communication tool

Modern intranets are much more than the newsfeed. They allow users to integrate or use other programs such as Google Workspace apps, Office 395, or Expensify. While an HR system is a standalone product and is specifically designed to keep HR-related information. Integrating your HRIS system creates a simplified and efficient digital workplace. Employee experience and satisfaction increase

3. Using technology for onboarding is not effective

For many years, companies relied on face-to-face onboarding and believed it was the most effective method. The global pandemic forced most offices to virtually onboard new employees. New employees will have to rely on technology for effective onboarding. 

This is where your company intranet becomes helpful because new hires will not have a hard time finding documents and information. An intranet allows them to feel the company’s culture. 

In Steegle.One, new hires can easily search and access training resources.