Best HR software voor SMEs

Choosing the right HR software can sometimes be very difficult. There are various software solutions that are relevant for each specific use case. Working with user-friendly software makes the HR manager’s work easier and more efficient, and processes run more quickly. Modern HRM software helps to streamline processes, reduce errors and provide a better overview within the organisation.

In this article, we provide a clear overview of software solutions to help you make the right choice, with a focus on the Dutch market and practical applications for SMEs. The article shows that HoorayHR is the best HR software for SMEs.

What are the requirements for good HR software?

A good HR system supports daily HR administration and helps reduce administrative tasks. This includes managing personnel files, contract management and leave registration. Good HRM software always has an intuitive interface, so that employees and managers can get started right away.

In addition, it is important that the HR tool has a clear interface, ideally including employee self-service. This functionality enables employees to edit their own data in their files, upload documents and request leave. Because employees perform these tasks themselves, they relieve the burden on the HR department.

HR software vergelijken: de Top-6

Best all-round choice for SMEs: HoorayHR
Why: User-friendly all-in-one HR platform that precisely matches the needs and scale of SMEs.

Best choice for recruitment: Teamtailor
Why: Strong in employer branding and candidate experience, with a modern and intuitive recruitment flow.

Best choice for Enterprise: Workday
Why: Very powerful and scalable HR and finance solution for complex, international organisations.

Best choice for performance management: Learned
Why: Focus on continuous feedback, development and performance instead of traditional assessment cycles.

Best choice for project planning: vPlan
Why: Ideal for capacity and resource planning within project-driven organisations.

Best choice for HR software with CRM: Simplicate
Why: Combines HR with CRM, projects and invoicing in one clear platform.

HoorayHR: the best HR software for small and medium-sized enterprises

HoorayHR offers an all-in-one solution for SMEs. With a comprehensive solution, HoorayHR helps fast-growing organisations to structure their HR administration; all tasks are managed in a single software package.

Automate time-consuming administration and ensure clarity, simplicity and control within your organisation. What’s more, HoorayHR can be cancelled on a monthly basis, making it an accessible choice for SMEs. Thanks to the clear interface and extensive employee self-service, HR teams save time and employees always have insight into their own data.

HRM software offers an integrated total solution for fast-growing SMEs that want to set up effective processes and organise their HR policy efficiently in order to scale up as an organisation.

Costs	Features	Data Security & Compliance	Other strengths
From £6.75 per user, per month (minimum 10 seats) Free 14-day trial period Add-ons: time registration (€1.50), expense claims and travel expenses (€0.50) and multi-entities (€1.00)	Digital personnel file Onboarding / offboarding workflows Leave and absence registration Document management, including digital signing Time registration (including time tracking) Expense and travel expense management HR analytics Performance management incl. 360 graden feedback Mobiele HR app; employee self service Integrations with payroll, Slack, Teams, and accounting software (Exact Online, Basecone, and more)	ISO 27001 certified GDPR/AVG compliant Access management & rights settings	Specifically aimed at SME companies User-friendly and quick implementation Support & onboarding via chat, mail Possibility of API access & SSO

All-round solutions: an all-in-one solution for your organisation

More and more SMEs are opting for all-in-one HR solutions that bring together all key HR processes. A single centralised system provides a clear overview of personnel management, document storage and leave registration. A user-friendly interface is essential here: both HR professionals and managers need to be able to find their way around the system quickly.

Thanks to manager self-service, managers can independently perform tasks such as approving leave, viewing personnel data and monitoring team development. This reduces dependence on HR and speeds up decision-making within the organisation.

Examples of the best HR tools that offer an all-in-one solution are:

• HR systems with personnel files, contract management and workflows in a single environment
• Solutions combining leave and absence registration with reporting
• Platforms that bring together HR administration, employee self-service and manager self-service
• Tools that integrate onboarding, document management and communication

These best HR tools, which offer an all-in-one solution, are particularly suitable for SMEs looking for clarity, simplicity and scalability without having to use multiple separate systems.

Time registration & planning

Time registration and planning are indispensable for organisations that work with schedules, projects or changing teams. Centrally recording hours worked results in accurate time registration, which is essential for insight, control and reporting. A good HR system fits in seamlessly with this and helps to significantly reduce administrative burdens.

When hours are recorded digitally, companies can also process them correctly for payroll administration, invoicing or project reports. This prevents errors and saves time for both HR and management.

Examples of tools for time registration and planning:

Simplicate – Strong in project planning and time registration

Vplan – Specialised in planning software

HoorayHR – easily record hours worked. An accessible solution for SMEs that want to keep track of hours quickly and clearly within their HR system.

ATS system: control over recruitment and selection

An ATS system is indispensable for SMEs that want to maintain control over recruitment and selection. With an ATS, applications and vacancies are managed centrally, keeping the recruitment process clear and structured. This is particularly valuable for organisations that regularly hire new employees and no longer want to use separate mailboxes or Excel files.

A good ATS system makes it easier to track candidates, collaborate with colleagues and make the right choices more quickly during the selection process.

Examples of ATS systems are:

Homerun – Known for its strong focus on employer branding and a modern candidate experience.

Recruitee – A flexible ATS with extensive collaboration capabilities for recruitment teams.

Teamtailor – Often regarded as one of the best ATS systems, mainly due to the simplicity and user-friendliness of the software. Teamtailor combines an intuitive interface with powerful functionalities for managing vacancies and candidates.

For SMEs that want to grow professionally in their recruitment process, an ATS system offers structure, clarity and time savings.

Performance management: the right HR software for staff development

Modern HR software goes beyond mere administration. With an HR tool focused on performance management, organisations can work specifically on employee growth, motivation and engagement. Instead of annual appraisal interviews, the focus is on continuous development and feedback.

This often happens through specialised modules for staff development, such as interview cycles, setting objectives, progress measurements and feedback moments. This approach makes personal development a structural part of daily work and creates more ownership among employees.

Learned: focus on personal development

Learned is HR software that focuses specifically on personal development. This tool supports organisations in conducting effective development discussions and continuously improving performance. Learned helps managers and employees set goals, provide feedback and gain insight into development.

By placing performance management at the centre, Learned encourages a culture of learning and growth. For SMEs that want to look beyond HR administration and truly invest in their people, Learned is a valuable addition to existing HR software.

HR software combined with payroll

For many organisations, HR software combined with payroll is a logical step. Links to payroll software mean that personnel data is processed automatically, reducing manual work, preventing errors and saving time.

At the same time, it is important to have realistic expectations of HR modules within payroll systems. In practice, these modules are often limited in scope. For example, no distinction is often made between statutory and non-statutory leave, workflows and reports are simple in design, and advanced HR functionalities such as comprehensive self-service, document management or performance management are lacking.

As a result, not all requirements can be met with such an HR module, especially in growing SME organisations with more complex HR processes. In such cases, a separate HR solution linked to payroll offers more flexibility and depth. This allows you to benefit from accurate payroll processing and a fully-fledged HR system that grows with the organisation.

HoorayHR offers the perfect solution. With direct links to Nmbrs, Loket.nl and SalarFusion, you can easily integrate your HR tool with your payroll software. Changes are linked directly to the payroll, while payslips are easy to find in HoorayHR.

The best tools for HR managers

For HR managers, choosing the right tooling forms the basis of their daily work. With the right HR tool, you can structure your processes, create an HR policy and create more space for strategic HR and people-oriented tasks.

In addition to a good HR system, there are additional tools that support HR managers on a daily basis:

• Slack – perfect for internal communication and quick coordination between teams
• LinkedIn – linked to an ATS system, ideal for finding candidates and increasing the reach of job vacancies
• Typeform – suitable for gathering feedback from employees, for example via an employee satisfaction survey (ESS)

By combining these tools in a smart way, HR managers can create an efficient and future-proof working method that grows with the organisation.