What Is an HRIS? (And Why It Matters for Growing Businesses)

If you're running a small to mid-sized business, you’ve probably heard the term HRIS, maybe during a software demo, maybe while troubleshooting payroll issues.

Here’s what it actually means:

HRIS = Human Resources Information System.

It’s a tech platform that stores and manages employee data. Think of it as the central hub for your HR operations, from hiring and offboarding to payroll and benefits.

What Can an HRIS Do?

An HRIS (Human Resources Information System) helps streamline and centralize your people operations by handling:

• Employee records management 

• Time off and leave tracking

• Payroll processing and tax filings

• Time and attendance tracking

• Health insurance and benefits administration

• 401(k)

• Onboarding and applicant tracking (ATS)

• Compliance support and documentation

• PTO and sick leave policy enforcement

• Manage regulatory requirement and mandatory training tracking

• Custom HR analytics, reporting and audit readiness

Can One System Do All of This, or Do I Need Multiple?

Yes, some systems can handle it all, and that’s typically what a PEO offers. For many businesses, that all-in-one model may be the best fit. Learn more about how PEOs work here.

But depending on your business needs, it might make more sense to use separate systems for payroll, benefits, recruiting, and more. This can give you more flexibility, especially if you've already invested in tools your team knows and likes.

The catch?

If you're using multiple platforms, they either need to sync seamlessly or you need clear, reliable processes to keep everything aligned.

Either way, you’ll need streamlined checks and balances in place, or you risk costly mistakes, compliance issues, and a lot of manual cleanup.

Why Integration and Processes Matter

When your systems don’t communicate - or your processes aren’t solid - important updates can slip through the cracks, and the consequences can be serious:

• Benefits deductions may not pull correctly from payroll

• 401(k) contributions can fall out of sync or be missed

• Terminations might not update across systems, leaving employees active on benefits or retirement plans when they shouldn’t be

• Address or tax info might get updated in one place but not another, leading to filing errors or compliance risks

It’s more than just a headache. These disconnects can lead to tax mistakes, compliance violations, and frustrated employees.

Where Shiftly Comes In

At Shiftly, we specialize in helping small and mid-sized businesses get their HR systems running smoothly. We’re based in Dallas, TX, but we support companies nationwide. Whether you’re just getting started or stuck with a clunky setup, we’ve got you.

We can help you:

• Fix messy systems: Patchwork tech? Manual workarounds? We’ll streamline what you’ve got.

• Implement, set up and configure new tools: We don’t just suggest software. We make sure it works for your team.

• Match you with the right platform: Full-suite or modular, we’ll guide you to the best-fit solution.

• Manage system transitions: Changing systems? We handle the handoff so you stay focused on your business.

Because when your systems work, your people can too.

Reach out to us at team@theshiftly.com. We’re here to make it easier.