Exploring the industry’s hottest HR automation tools

May 28, 2025

Sara Maginn Pacella

The days of manually adding up time cards and physically printed schedules are long gone. Thanks to HR automation tools, human resources software can automate everything from onboarding to employee engagement. Such tools, when used effectively, can free up time for human capital management (HCM) professionals to focus on strategy and foster a strong sense of community in the workplace.

This article highlights some of the leading HR automation tools on the market and real users’ reflections on their experiences with specific human resources software.

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What are some of the leading HR automation tools for templates?

HR professionals who need simple HR templates rely on systems like Monday.com to create customized templates for onboarding, employee directories, employee performance reviews and leave requests, as well as to track priorities and gain valuable insights using their dashboards. Monday.com allows for collaboration on drafts of various documents, so HCM teams can review different iterations of documentation with nothing lost in the editing process. Monday.com boasts that HR teams use their software to create recruitment pipelines (to leave the best possible impression on prospective candidates) and better track their workflows, including which candidates will be moving forward. A user review states, “Monday’s notification system is one of the best I’ve used. When someone completes a task, it automatically triggers the notification system, and it lets the next person in the process know they can start their work. I love it.”

” Considering budget, specific requirements and gaps in current HR automation software will help you determine the best HR automation tools for your needs ”

Which HR automation systems are most popular among large organizations?

Dayforce boasts that their product “delivers value to thousands of organizations and millions of workers globally and has consistently been ranked as a market leader based on a rich history of innovation and excellence.” It’s no wonder it’s used by many medium and large organizations with more complex workforce management needs. Notable features include time and attendance management, payroll functions, HR and overall workforce management. Clients love its real-time data-processing functions.

Dayforce HCM user Katherine is a payroll manager in an American retail environment with 1001-5000 employees and says she loves the ease of use and end-user training for payroll staff. She would like to see the HR automation software provide opportunities for staff to run paycheque scenarios within the system to demonstrate the net effect of changing taxes or picking up additional benefits. Milica, an HR generalist at a similar-sized Canadian company, says, “We were previously using [a human resources information system] that didn’t display all the information we needed, and our employees were never able to view it, so using Dayforce has made our employees’ experience with their information positive but also provided them with the autonomy they didn’t previously have in our old system. The data is visually easy to read, and it’s conveniently in one place.”

There is a reason why Workday is one of the most renowned HR automation platforms in the industry: it can automate the fundamental and essential aspects of an HR department. It also covers payroll, benefits administration and workforce planning functions.

Forbes’ review of Workday lists pros of the software, including:

Ability to run payroll in over 50 countries
Function of combining HR, payroll, expenses and finance management
Cloud-native Vendor Management System (VMS) that optimizes a workforce of many different circumstances

Limitations include that the system may be too much for the more basic functions required by smaller businesses, and it can be time-consuming to schedule a demo and sign up for the product to see if it is the right fit for your business.

What human resources software is most popular among small- and mid-sized businesses?

Smaller businesses seeking HR automation to assist with their recruitment can rely on providers such as Lever to help with applicant tracking, finding candidates, scheduling interviews and collaboration. One user reports liking Lever’s customizable interview guides but notes that the system can be finicky when adding hiring managers’ emails and sending invitations.

Other small businesses prefer to use JazzHR or Zenefits. Those who use JazzHR rave about the excellent customer support and having a dedicated account manager, which is seen as lacking in other human resource software providers. Michelle, a Canadian recruiter, said in her online review, “JazzHR was the first [applicant tracking system] I used. It’s simple yet so effective. Great layout, great at tracking communications. Overall, a pleasure to use.”

Zenefits offers various uses for small to mid-sized companies, including compliance-related features, HR management, benefits, time-off tracking and payroll. Users report an overall positive experience with Zenefits and appreciate having benefits, HR and payroll all in one place. However, there have been suggestions by users to make the software more intuitive and speed up the response time of customer service for those who have questions.

What is a solid one-size-fits-most solution for most human resource automation?

ADP Workforce Now supports companies of various sizes and is particularly useful for those who have more complex payroll and need an all-in-one HR solution. People who select this product for their organization often do so based on the breadth of services offered. A payroll professional in the banking industry says in their review of the HR automation software, “ADP hits the mark most of the time. Their system is intuitive and easy to navigate, and our account manager is awesome. The piece I find lacking is when I have a need for real-time support. Case submission is inadequate for when I need assistance at that moment.”

Conclusion

Considering budget, specific requirements and gaps in current HR automation software will help you determine the best HR automation tools for your needs. Like with everything else, research, check reviews like the ones provided in this article, and seek out references from companies facing similar challenges to gauge their experience with the HR software you are considering before committing to a provider.

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