As a founder in the HR Tech space, I’ve thought a lot about the topic of what makes some HR software great and what makes other products….not so great.
HR tools are essential to effective people management—but not all tools are created equal. The best ones don’t just "check the boxes" for functionality; they truly enhance both HR workflows and the employee experience, and from my perspective, actually make workplaces better.
Here’s what great HR tools do right:
👉 Focus on the overall user experience: They are designed with both HR teams and employees in mind. When a tool is easy and intuitive for everyone to use and employees have positive experiences with it, adoption rates soar, the value of the tool improves, and trust from employees grows.
👉 Fit your organization like a glove: The best tools adapt to your processes, not the other way around. They’re customizable and require minimal training—saving you time and headaches.
👉 Streamline compliance and administration: Great tools handle complexity on their end while making compliance and admin tasks feel effortless for users. We've made an effort to do this at AllVoices using AI - so our customers aren't bogged down in mindless administrative tasks and can actually focus on strategic matters.
So what do some tools wrong? Talking to customers and HR leaders, I hear the same recurring frustrations from them about other products they’ve used:
🚩 Overly complicated. If it takes multiple days of training or a user’s manual to get started, it’s already creating friction, making it less likely to be adopted fully in the first place. One customer told me that a tool they had just started using took two eight-hour days of training for their entire team just to start using the tool! So much wasted time.
🚩 Difficult to navigate. A clunky interface or lack of clear functionality wastes time, causes frustration, and increases errors. We've all been there - some tools are enjoyable to spend time in. And others are so hard to use or require so much manual effort, it can be infuriating.
🚩 Lack of scalability. Some tools work well for small teams but can’t handle the demands of a growing organization, leading to challenges down the road. The best tools can grow with your team and adapt to your needs over time.
A great HR tool should be a partner, not a roadblock, for your team. It should empower your organization to work smarter, not harder.
I’d love to hear from you: What’s been your experience with HR software? What’s working—or not working—for your team?
