Payroll — like many HR processes — doesn’t exist in a vacuum. HR is a complex ecosystem of data and functions that should ideally work in harmony. But when payroll, training, benefits and more are strewn across different, daisy-chained systems, HR tech risks creating more work than its worth.
Automating basic payroll tasks pushed us forward, true, but it didn’t drastically reduce errors and the need for HR to manually intervene when something fails. After all, payroll is only as reliable as the data it considers.
Any “solution” that still requires excessive manual data entry won’t transform operations in a meaningful way. In fact, Ernst & Young estimates just one manual data entry task performed by an HR professional costs an average of $4.78.
This guide explores what’s missing: A truly single software that flows employee data seamlessly through processes — without any reentry.
We’ll examine common tasks HR already automates, including:
- onboarding
- time-off requests
- tax forms
- expense reimbursement
- benefits administration
- and, of course, payroll
Afterward, we’ll explore the two-fold approach to payroll automation, which includes payroll-specific tasks and real-time data integration. Essentially, the ideal payroll software will simplify basic routines while self-starting based on data it pulls from across a single HR software.
You’ll learn how the next step of payroll automation’s evolution allows HR to monitor payroll, rather than meticulously manage it. We’ll also see how the ideal tech allows HR to verify payroll’s accuracy before submission.