What Is A HRIS?

Picture this: You’re an HR manager in Singapore, juggling spreadsheets, emails, and a never-ending list of WhatsApp messages from employees asking about their leave balance. Somewhere between explaining CPF contributions to a new hire and reminding someone for the third time to submit their medical claims, you wonder, “Isn’t there an easier way to handle all this?” Spoiler alert: There is.

What Even Is an HRIS?

An organisation’s employee information is gathered, managed, stored, and processed using software called an HR Information System, or HRIS. Using an HRIS essentially helps HR teams function more productively and make more informed decisions.

An HRIS is basically your HR department’s best friend. It’s software that takes all the admin-heavy, repetitive, mind-numbing tasks off your plate and gives you a shiny, organised system to handle employee data, payroll, recruitment, performance reviews—you name it. Think of it like the autopilot in a plane: while it takes care of routine tasks, your HR team can focus on navigating the bigger picture and driving the company’s growth forward.

And no, it’s not just some bougie tech toy for big corporations. Whether you’re running a hipster café in Tiong Bahru or scaling a fintech startup in Jakarta, an HRIS can be a game-changer.

Features That’ll Make You Say “Wah, So Shiok!”

The majority of the time, an HR information system has all the fundamental functions required for complete HR administration. This solution assists businesses with managing and automating fundamental HR procedures like:

1. Employee Data Management
   Imagine having all your employee details neatly stored in one place. No more sifting through folders or chasing people for IC copies. It’s like having a super-organised assistant who keeps everything in order and never forgets a detail.
2. Payroll and Benefits Administration
   You’ll never again have to explain why someone’s salary got credited late or why CPF contributions didn’t tally. The HRIS handles calculations, deductions, and even works with your favourite payroll system. Peace of mind? Confirm plus chop.
3. Time and Attendance Tracking
   For the employee who’s perpetually “working from home” but somehow always MIA, an HRIS has tools to track attendance and leave. It’s like having eyes at the back of your head, but less creepy.
4. Analytics and Reporting
   Want to know why your turnover rate feels higher than Orchard Road’s foot traffic on a Sunday? An HRIS gives you data and insights to make better decisions.
5. Employee Self-Service
   Self-service portals let employees handle their own leave requests, payslips, and updates. It’s like giving them a magic wand to solve their own HR queries.
   

HRIS vs HRMS vs HCM: Who Needs What?

When it comes to HR software, it’s important to understand the differences between HRIS, HRMS, and HCM to choose the right one for your business. Here’s a breakdown of each and who should use them:

• HRIS (Human Resource Information System)
  What it is: An HRIS focuses on the essential functions of HR such as employee data management, payroll processing, time and attendance tracking, and basic analytics. It’s designed to automate and streamline core HR tasks without the complexity of additional features.
  Who needs it: Ideal for startups and small businesses that need to handle the basics efficiently. If you’re just getting started with organising HR tasks and don’t need anything too advanced, an HRIS is the perfect fit. It helps you stay organized while keeping things simple.
• HRMS (Human Resource Management System)
  What it is: An HRMS builds on the foundation of an HRIS by adding more advanced features like recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee engagement tools. It’s designed to support growing businesses that are managing larger teams and more complex HR processes.
  Who needs it: Best for growing SMEs that need a more comprehensive HR solution. If your business is scaling and you need to manage recruitment drives, employee development, and performance evaluations, an HRMS is the solution to help you handle these tasks more efficiently.
• HCM (Human Capital Management)
  What it is: HCM is the most advanced and comprehensive HR solution, combining all the features of an HRMS with additional tools for workforce planning, learning and development, succession planning, and compensation management. It’s tailored for large organisations with complex HR needs.
  Who needs it: Perfect for enterprises and large organisations that need to manage a global or diverse workforce. If your business requires strategic HR planning, leadership development, or compensation management, an HCM is the tool you need to keep up with these more advanced needs.

‍Why Your Office Needs This Digital Superhero

1. Time-Saving Magic
   No more manually calculating leave balances or fixing Excel formulas gone rogue. HRIS handles it all so you can focus on actual HR stuff, like creating a kickass office culture.
2. Data That’s Safer Than Your Mom’s Recipe Box
   With encryption and security features, your employee data is safe from prying eyes and nosy parkers.
3. Scale Like Crazy
   Whether you’re going from 10 to 100 employees or expanding across Southeast Asia, an HRIS scales with you. It’s the BFF that grows with your squad.
4. Cloud-Based Convenience
   HRIS software was formerly on-premise, operating on the business’s own network infrastructure. These days, it’s nearly always cloud-based, making updates considerably simpler, among other benefits.
5. Industry Trends and Insights
   Did you know the HR software market is projected to grow to $33.57 billion by 2028 at over 10% compound annual growth rate? Companies spend 15 weeks selecting an HRIS, on average. And when selecting an HRIS, 98% of companies consider a cloud-based option.

Our Journey with HRIS (and why we built Maju)

When we started Maju, we were just three young, caffeine-fueled dreamers in a co-working space, struggling with HR for our small team. Payroll spreadsheets kept crashing, leave approvals were done over DMs, and we had zero visibility into our team’s performance. Sound familiar?

We decided to create the HRIS we wished we’d had—something simple, fun, and tailored for SMEs in Southeast Asia. And guess what? Now we’re here to help businesses like yours skip the HR headaches and get straight to the good stuff: growing and thriving. Maju is currently an HRIS, working towards becoming a full-fledged HRMS because we know you need tools that keep up with your growth.

Final Thoughts (and a shameless plug 🫣)

If you’ve ever felt like your HR department is a chaotic mess straight out of a sitcom, it’s time to level up. An HRIS isn’t just nice to have—it’s a necessity for staying competitive in today’s fast-moving world. And hey, if you’re curious about how Maju can help, we’re just a click away.

No more HR drama. It’s time to make HR work for you, not the other way around.