What Is An HRIS (Human Resource Information System)? - TechTarget

HRIS functions

As an HR tool, an HRIS usually features modules to handle the following tasks:

• Core HR.
• Primary data management.
• Organizational management, such as positions and departments.
• Employee and manager self-services.
• Absence and leave management.
• Benefits administration.
• Workflows.
• Performance management.
• Recruiting and applicant tracking.
• Compensation management.
• Training tracking that may complement a learning management system (LMS) and organizational development.
• Reporting and basic analytics.
• Payroll.
• Onboarding.

HRIS provides a comprehensive set of functionalities to serve most HR needs. Without an HRIS, data might be stored in unsecured or paper-based documents or spreadsheets. Manual data entry can cause errors, and manual cross-checking of documents and spreadsheets can be time-consuming and often confusing, especially with a lack of standardization on how data is captured and stored.

This article is part of

How to choose an HR software system in 2025: A complete guide

• Which also includes:
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Even when a specific system is purchased to cover a process -- such as benefits administration -- it might require manually entering employee data changes to keep the system up to date. If multiple systems are used, data reentry could be required for each system, or users might need to export data from one system, change it and then import it into another system.

In some instances, payroll might be part of an HRIS. However, many vendors either don't include payroll as part of their HRIS offering or -- as with companies such as Oracle, Workday and SAP SuccessFactors -- they sell payroll as a separate system that integrates with their HRIS.