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Unlocking HR Efficiency: A Quick Guide to Must-Have HR Tools

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Unlocking HR Efficiency: A Quick Guide to Must-Have HR Tools

The HR stack is more than just a powerful collection of tools that can automate tasks; these tools come together to form the foundations of an HR team’s work, enabling them to work with efficiency and focus on employee experience.

We checked in with our HR community to find out more about their HR stack, and specifically, on their go-to HR tool that transforms their processes into a well-oiled machine.

The responses we received showed us just why some tools are a clear favorite. Bamboo HR, of course, emerges as a winner, but there are others that have made an impression on our HR leaders too.

Read on!

Makeda DuBose
Career and Leadership Development Coach, HiRe Purpose Solutions

Workday

Workday is a favorite HR tool of mine because of its multifunctional capabilities. We can track applicants via the cloud platform as well as run reports, payroll, offer letters, save attachments, and fully onboarding new hires making for a seamless hiring process.

Chris Dukich
Owner, Display Now

BambooHR

As an HR expert and owner of Display Now, a SaaS company revolutionizing screen-based marketing, the indispensable tool in our HR tech stack is BambooHR. This platform centralizes our employee data, streamlines onboarding, and automates performance management, allowing us to focus on strategic initiatives rather than manual processes.

BambooHR’s intuitive design ensures quick adoption by our team, and its reporting features offer insights that guide data-driven decisions. For example, tracking turnover trends has helped us implement proactive retention strategies, critical for sustaining our innovative workforce.

In an industry where agility and scalability are key, BambooHR supports our HR goals by providing a solid foundation for team growth, enhancing employee experiences, and aligning talent management with organizational objectives. It’s a cornerstone of our ability to attract and retain top talent in a competitive market.

Iqbal Ahmad
Founder & CEO, Britannia Training Centre

Bitrx24

The one tool which we cannot live without is Bitrx24.

We have set up different rules in our HR manual to make sure everyone is abiding by them, this is where Bitrix24 came in with its unique features. For instance, it offers a Clock In, Clock Out feature which helps our HR team to detect easily who came on time or late.
It also helps our employees to request leaves or holidays directly from the application. I can say it is one of the best tools for HR-related matters and for internal communication.

David Milo
HR Expert and Owner, Independent Lending

Pymetrics

Pymetrics is the HR application that our Human Resources department would not let go of come 2025. Pymetrics is the perfect example of how technology can disrupt HR processes. Instead of using traditional psychometric recruitment tests, it employs neuroscience gaming to assess the emotional and cognitive dimensions of the applicants.

What is the differentiating factor in Pymetrics?

Rather, the keystone of Pymetrics is its predictive analysis, through which we can now determine a candidate’s fit using their personality rather than sifting through countless resumes. Rather than the usual boring approaches to improvement, we’ve integrated constructive and entertaining games that improve desired traits such as cooperation and flexibility into our recruitment strategy.

What is even more remarkable? The reason why we recruited more is the bias that conventional methods of recruitment have towards and irrationally over-valorizes qualifications. The side effect of this is that we discovered new talent that we never expected and have been able to create a more favorable atmosphere.

This is quite strange but interestingly enough can be a strong reason for Pymetrics’ effectiveness: the empathy factor.

Interestingly, we have confirmed a hypothesis that those who completed Pymetrics are more satisfied with the hiring process. Such candidates view the hiring process from a relatively different lens which in turn bolsters our reputation as a desirable employer in the marketplace.

Sean Smith
CEO & Head of HR, Alpas Wellness

BambooHR

Bamboo HR is one of the must have tools in our HR tech stack. It drives all of our HR processes, onboarding, performance tracking and everything in-between. However, it stands out from the crowd in that it helps to cluster data about employees into one place, automating repetitive admin work and providing real-time analytics.

BambooHR, for example, has developed an amazing applicant tracking system that allows our team to seamlessly find the top talent in a very personal way. In addition, its self-service tools are user-friendly and allow our team to drive transparency and engagement.

What I also love about it is how it maps to our mission in the organization: making more time for what truly matters, developing people. In a field as valuable, and delicate, as behavioral health, where the well-being of our employees is directly related to the outcomes of patients, something like this keeps us on track for cultivating a culture of care, growth and excellence.

John Brooks
Content Specialist, Coinvesting

JoinHomebase

We use JoinHomebase to streamline our HR operations, and it has been a game changer for our staff. The scheduling option allows us to easily develop and exchange shift plans, which reduces confusion and saves us time. Their time-tracking solution also ensures payroll accuracy, reducing errors and making paydays less stressful for everyone.

What I like best is the messaging feature; it keeps communication clear and helps the entire team stay engaged. Furthermore, the compliance help and performance tracking capabilities provide us confidence that we are adhering to labor rules and providing fair support to our workforce.

Using JoinHomebase lets us spend less time on admin work and more time on what matters—keeping our employees happy and focused. It’s been a key part of reaching our HR goals.

Kraig Kleeman
Founder and CEO, The New Workforce

Inhouse Engagement Platform

Running an HR department without an engagement platform is like playing hide-and-seek in the dark—only you’re it, and nobody bothered to hide. With real-time feedback, we flipped the switch on clarity, and suddenly, growth didn’t just knock—it barged in.”

As the Founder and CEO of The New Workforce, I’ve noticed that one of the tools that has become essential for our HR technology group is our employee engagement platform. Honestly, it was a game changer. Imagine this: Before we implemented it, tracking everyone’s feedback and keeping communication open was like trying to fool around in the dark. Now we can see in real time how the team is feeling, resolve issues faster, and ensure everyone’s voice is heard. This not only keeps the team happy and engaged, but it also motivates our productivity and drives the growth we’re known for.

The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing their insights.

Do you wish to contribute to the next HR Spotlight article? Or is there an insight or idea you’d like to share with readers across the globe?

Write to us at connect@HRSpotlight.com, and our team will help you share your insights.

Recent Posts

HR Stack Essentials: Top HR Tools for Streamlining Processes

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HR Stack Essentials: Top HR Tools for Streamlining Processes

With HR professionals juggling several core responsibilities at the workplace, and with remote work requiring them to be even more on their toes, it only makes sense to equip an HR team with HR tools that helps them free up time to take care of the most important task of them all – your people!

We asked our community of HR leaders and experts about their choice of HR tools and why they choose to rely on them. The responses we received not only gave us a thorough lineup that others could very well use but also showed us just how essential the right HR tool could be for a team’s success.

Although Bamboo HR seems to be a crowd favorite, there are quite a few others on the list to offer you choices.

Read on!

Malati Thomas
Vice President – Global HR Operations, AML RightSource

Workday

Workday allows us to centralize and manage many HR processes efficiently and effectively across all of our geographic regions (17+ countries and 4500+ employees and counting!). As our company continues to grow, Workday also supports us by being scalable, user-friendly, and allows for integration with other business systems, making it much easier for us to use data to help drive decision making.

Since implementing Workday within our company about 2 years ago, we’ve been able to streamline onboarding, performance management, and offboarding processes, all while ensuring we remain compliant with various employment regulations. While there is still much more we can achieve with Workday (supported by an active Workday Roadmap and backlog to help get us there), implementing this system has already helped us move away from administrative tasks and instead shift our focus towards more strategic HR initiatives that drive greater business outcomes.

Liliana Bernal
CEO & Owner, Balanced Diversity

Bullhorn ATS

My team and I are huge fans of Bullhorn, our Applicant Tracking System tailored specifically for the Staffing and Recruiting industry. This powerful tool truly gets our unique workflows, making it an invaluable asset in our recruitment journey.

Bullhorn transforms the hiring process into a seamless experience. It effortlessly posts job openings, tracks applications, and manages communication with candidates. Plus, it streamlines onboarding, ensuring that every step is organized and efficient.

Not only does Bullhorn centralize our hiring workflows, but it also helps reduce administrative headaches and fosters collaboration across our teams. With this system in place, we can focus on what really matters—finding the perfect candidates for our clients!

If you are looking for an ATS, research and look for a tool specifically for your industry. Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:

  • Ensure that it offers simple workflows to minimize training time for your team.
  • Look for flexibility to adapt to your own hiring process.
  • Integration capabilities are crucial—ensure it can merge with other systems you use, such as HRIS or payroll systems.
  • Seek features like resume parsing, interview scheduling, and follow-up management.
  • Consider analytics and reporting functionalities; these will help you evaluate metrics, refine strategies, and ensure a user-friendly process to attract top talent.

By looking for these features, you will find a tool that supports your efficiency and aligns with your long-term recruitment goals.

Jose Angelo Gallegos
Marketing Consultant, Jose Angelo Studios

BambooHR

One indispensable HR tool I recommend is BambooHR. It’s the Swiss Army knife of HR platforms, offering everything from applicant tracking to employee engagement surveys.

What makes it a game-changer is its ease of use and data centralization.

For example, BambooHR tracks progress, streamlines paperwork, and makes sure new hires are prepared for success during the onboarding process. HR departments can use the time saved to work on important projects like enhancing the employee experience.

For instance, I helped a mid-sized software company cut down onboarding time by 40% so that HR personnel could concentrate on efforts to foster a culture.

Additionally, it facilitates improved decision-making. HR can monitor diversity measures or retention trends with analytics tools.

For instance, a retail customer of mine enhanced their staffing strategy by 30% by using BambooHR to find seasonal employment gaps. They also redesigned management training to improve retention after noticing a pattern in exit interviews.

BambooHR is difficult to surpass if efficiency and actionable insights are your goals.

Steve Faulkner
Founder & Chief Recruiter, Spencer James Group

Inhouse ATS

At Spencer James Group, we use a variety of tech tools across our organization, both to manage our internal teams and processes and to support our work helping our clients to find and hire the right people.

While we use a variety of technology, there is one tool I can point to as indispensable: our ATS. We use a proprietary system but it shares many features with similar programs that are widely available, including multi-channel job posting tools, resume parsing and screening, a centralized and searchable candidate database, interview scheduling, communication and engagement tools, analytics/reporting functions, and so on.

Bringing all of these things together in one platform is the main thing that makes our ATS so indispensable. All of our interactions with candidates are in the same place, from our initial sourcing and outreach efforts through skill assessments, reference checks, interviews, and other communications.

This has dramatically streamlined our search process, both thanks to simply having all of these things in the same place and because it enables us to automate some aspects of the process and workflow to further improve our efficiency. It also makes it much easier to maintain a robust talent pipeline and candidate database that we can draw on for new roles we’re filling.

Even for companies that aren’t in the recruiting sector, if you hire with any kind of frequency, I’d strongly recommend integrating an ATS into your HR department, because it can absolutely transform your hiring process for the better.

Dionne Jayne Ricafort
Marketing Manager, CSO Yemen

Bamboo HR

BambooHR is a tool that keeps our HR work simple and organized by managing data, onboarding, and time off in one place, saving time and simplifying tasks.
BambooHR keeps onboarding simple by organizing tasks like collecting documents and scheduling orientation. This not only helps HR stay efficient but also creates a better experience for employees, making them feel welcome and supported from day one.
Tools like these allow us to focus on fostering a positive team culture while still staying on top of administrative tasks.

Jennifer Mihajlov
EVP North America, Qualee

Qualee Employee Experience Platform

One indispensable tool in our HR tech stack at Qualee is our own employee experience platform.

Qualee integrates onboarding, training, and engagement into a seamless solution, providing HR teams with powerful automation and data-driven insights.

The engagement features, such as personalized onboarding journeys, real-time feedback surveys, and push notifications, help keep employees connected and motivated from day one.

This consistent interaction boosts employee satisfaction and fosters a sense of belonging, reducing early-stage turnover and increasing retention rates. By minimizing attrition and improving engagement, Qualee directly contributes to increased productivity and profitability, making it a vital component of our HR strategy.

Belema Ronabere
Business Formation Expert and Marketing Specialist, Persuasion Nation

BambooHR

In our bundle of HR tools, it is clear that BambooHR stands out as the most important piece of the architecture. It allows access to employee information, employment procedures and evaluation systems from a single platform. Importantly, nothing gets neglected as it adopts customisable workflows and reminders, facilitating the effectiveness of HR processes.

BambooHR’s reporting tools also provide valuable insights into metrics such as employee turnover and engagement rate and thus help in making decisions that would fit within the goals of the organization. As such, it is not just an HR application but a tool that enhances productivity by making sure more time gets dedicated to things that add value strategically rather than only in operations.

With a rapidly growing company, BambooHR has been instrumental in ensuring compliance performance, employee satisfaction and an HR foundation that can be customized in the future. It’s how we make sure our team is appreciated whilst concentrating on growing the business.

The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing their insights.

Do you wish to contribute to the next HR Spotlight article? Or is there an insight or idea you’d like to share with readers across the globe?

Write to us at connect@HRSpotlight.com, and our team will help you share your insights.

Recent Posts

5 Effective Ways to Motivate Your HR Team

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Tim Toterhi, CHRO, Plotline Leadership
Yongming Song, CEO, Live Poll for Slides
Amer Hasovic, Content Writer, Love & Lavender
Luciano Colos, Founder & CEO, PitchGrade
Lindsey Hight - Terkel for HR Spotlight

5 Effective Ways to Motivate Your HR Team

Here are 5 ways to motivate your HR team:

  • Spotlight the Impact of Your Team’s Work
  • Increase Interaction With Employees to Put a Human Face to Your Work
  • Create Opportunities for HR Team Members to Get Together Outside of Work
  • Give Your Team a Sense of Purpose by Recognizing Their Impact on the Company Culture
  • Encourage Teamwork as Well as Having Fun Together as a Team

Spotlight the Impact of Your Team’s Work

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when your department’s to-do list reads like a copy of War and Peace. That is why it’s important to pause and appreciate the breadth and depth of the impact their work has on the company.

Tim Toterhi, CHRO, Plotline Leadership

As an HR pro, what you do saves money, reduces risks, and propels the organization to increase both top-line value and bottom-line results. Want to motivate your HR team?  Hand them a mirror.”

Tim Toterhi, CHRO, Plotline Leadership

Let’s face it. HR isn’t just HR anymore. It’s also marketing and communications and digital strategy with elements of IT, Legal, Finance, and Big Data-management sprinkled in. As an HR pro, what you do saves money, reduces risks, and propels the organization to increase both top-line value and bottom-line results. Want to motivate your HR team?  Hand them a mirror.

Tim Toterhi, CHRO, Plotline Leadership

Increase Interaction With Employees to Put a Human Face to Your Work

HR teams deal with people. While their work involves analyzing multiple processes and reporting HR data, the human resource department experiences an unfair reputation as the majority of employees do not trust their HR. Putting a human face on the data they report daily through improved internal employee communication gives the HR team the motivation to keep going. Rather than spending time analyzing complex data, HR can spend more time interacting with employees and putting a human face into the work that they do.

Yongming Song, CEO, Live Poll for Slides

I motivate my HR team to keep delivering its best by involving them in strategic plans. I ensure that the HR team plays an integral part in strategic workforce planning and recognizing their efforts when there is a good performance.

Yongming Song, CEO, Live Poll for Slides

I motivate my HR team to keep delivering its best by involving them in strategic plans. I ensure that the HR team plays an integral part in strategic workforce planning and recognizing their efforts when there is a good performance. I also encourage them to communicate with the workforce and have healthy professional relationships.

Yongming Song, CEO, Live Poll for Slides

Create Opportunities for HR Team Members to Get Together Outside of Work

How does an HR team find the motivation to keep going? One of our biggest challenges is staying motivated as a team. We work hard and long hours, but we also want to make sure we’re not taking advantage of our employees’ goodwill, and that means finding ways to stay focused on building our relationships with them.

Amer Hasovic, Content Writer, Love & Lavender

We work hard and long hours, but we also want to make sure we’re not taking advantage of our employees’ goodwill, and that means finding ways to stay focused on building our relationships with them.

Amer Hasovic, Content Writer, Love & Lavender

One way we do this is by creating opportunities for our team members to get together outside of work. For example, every year, we host a holiday party in which employees bring food from their home countries and share stories about what makes them feel most at home. It’s a great way for us all to get out of the office and into a space where we can relax – and bond over shared experiences. Another way we stay motivated is through training sessions on topics like communication skills and conflict resolution. These are important topics because they help everyone feel like they have an equal voice in the company – which can be especially challenging when you’re working remotely.

Amer Hasovic, Content Writer, Love & Lavender

Give Your Team a Sense of Purpose by Recognizing Their Impact on the Company Culture

There is no better feeling than when you’ve been involved in a project that you’re proud of and when you lead a team that’s been able to deliver and make a difference.
It’s the reason that a lot of people end up in HR, and it’s what keeps them going.
HR professionals want to have that impact, and they want to be able to feel that they’re making a difference. That’s an important thing to keep in mind when you’re building your HR team and when you’re building your company culture.

Luciano Colos, Founder & CEO, PitchGrade

HR professionals want to have that impact, and they want to be able to feel that they’re making a difference. That’s an important thing to keep in mind when you’re building your HR team and when you’re building your company culture.

Luciano Colos, Founder & CEO, PitchGrade

You need to give people that sense of purpose and sense of impact. It’s going to drive their performance, and it’s going to drive their feelings of fulfillment and satisfaction. If you can’t do that, then you may not be able to get the best out of your workforce. To get the best out of your workforce, you need to give them a sense of purpose, a sense of impact, and a sense of meaning. I think that HR is the most important group within a company because they influence the company culture.

Luciano Colos, Founder & CEO, PitchGrade

Encourage Teamwork as Well as Having Fun Together as a Team

Our HR Team finds the motivation to keep going by having a good team that works well together and has fun at work. We take our work seriously, but we also find the time to have fun every once in a while.

Lindsey Hight - Terkel for HR Spotlight

Our HR Team finds the motivation to keep going by having a good team that works well together and has fun at work. We take our work seriously, but we also find the time to have fun every once in a while.

Lindsey Hight, HR Professional, Sporting Smiles

This could be as simple as decorating our office and dressing up for Halloween or getting employees together to do a tour of our company while learning the history around it.

Lindsey Hight, HR Professional, Sporting Smiles

A Motivated HR Team Equals Overall Performance and Productivity

When your HR team is motivated and working at optimal levels, this energy helps them bring to the floor various resources and solutions that drive the overall performance and productivity of the company. The positive and go-getter attitude of the HR team is where it all begins, and it is this energy that trickles down to the rest of the workforce too. All this makes a motivated HR team one of the most essential components in an organization that aims for growth and success. 

As lone rangers driving entire organizations, how does your HR team find the motivation to keep its own clan going? What is one thing that motivates (or how do you motivate) your HR team to keep delivering its best?

Write to us at connect@HRSpotlight.com, and our team will help you share your insights.