A comprehensive guide to evaluate a HRM software, before and during the software demonstration by the software vendor. For more information on the best software, visit www.softwaresuggest.com

1. HOWTO EVALUATE
HRM SOFTWARE
Best Practices For SME’s
India’s Largest Directory of Business Software

2. KNOWYOUR NEEDS & STAY ORGANIZED
Evaluating software is perhaps the most
critical component of the software
selection process. This is where you see the
systems in action and realize what it can
truly accomplish for you. This requires a
new level of organization and commitment
to the software selection process. To
capitalize on these showings, we suggest
you adopt the following best practices for
software evaluation.
1. Keep your process reasonable by
accessing five or fewer software
systems. Beyond five, you won’t be
able to go down deep enough into each
product. In short, you should have a
“short list” of five or fewer products.
Checklist to Evaluate a Software
Evaluate five or fewer
systems
Set a date for each
demo
Get the right people
involved
Know your key
requirements
Stay in control of the
process

3. 2. For every software vendor, set a
date and time to demo their
software. Don’t try to demo the
system the first time the software
salesperson calls. Plan the demos a
couple of days or even a week or
two out so you have room to get
ready.
3. Get the right individuals from your
organization included. It's vital to
have associates from diverse parts
of the organization included to
evaluate the software modules that
they will use.
4. Next, make sure you head into
these demos knowing your
prerequisites. Build a list of your
key requirements, and then ask
the sales people to demonstrate
those capabilities. Otherwise, you
might end up watching sales
people show off cool features
that have nothing to do with your
requirements.
5. Get organized and drive the
process. This will ensure that your
demo evaluation is significantly
more powerful.
KNOWYOUR NEEDS & STAY ORGANIZED

4. The best vendors are focused on
helping their prospects and customers
solve business challenges. Help these
people do their jobs by educating them
on your software needs and selection
process.
The more the software vendors know
about your needs, the better they can
convey how their software can offer
assistance.
For example, if you highlight which
functional capabilities are most
important to your organization, the
software vendors can invest more time
demonstrating those capabilities in
their software.
Meanwhile, educating the sales reps
on your selection process will help
them be more responsive. If they
know what you need and when you
need it, they are in a better position
to deliver on-time and in-full.
TellThe Sales Rep:
 How they will be evaluated
 Your most critical requirements
 Who they’re competing against
 Your timing and process
 What you want from the demo
EDUCATEVENDORS ONYOUR NEEDS & PROCESS

5.  “Which software is the user-friendly?” this
is the most common question we hear at
Software Suggest. That makes sense,
since your success with a new software
system is dependent on your ability to
quickly adapt and start using the system.
 The demonstration is your best chance to
answer that question for yourself.
However, there is a real science to
usability. You’ll want to consider the five
ease-of-use criteria we list at right.
 As you watch the demos, keep track of
how many screens are navigated to
accomplish a specific process. The fewer
clicks and screens, the better. Again, keep
an open mind about new ways of doing
things.
FOCUS ON USABILITY DURINGTHE DEMO
USABILITY CRITERIA
 Are important features accessible
from anywhere without too many
clicks?
 Do the field labels and other
application content speak the
language of your industry?
 Are colors and visuals easy on the
eyes and provide visual clues for
intuitive navigation?
 Is contextually appropriate help
available at important decision
points?
 Do all screens share a common
organization and styles to create
familiarity for users?

6. FOCUS ONTHESE HRM FEATURES
Time & Attendance
Management
Payroll
Management
Recruitment
Management
Performance
Management
Training
Management
Shifts
Management
IncomeTax
Management
Travel & Expense
Management
Reimbursement
Management

7. It’s important to use a scorecard to keep track of each demonstration. That way
you can remember what you liked and disliked, and then compare all the
systems side-by-side when your demos are complete. You can build a table
similar to what we illustrate below. Then select the software which scores the
highest. Many people use Microsoft Excel for this.
KEEPTRACK OFTHE RESULTSWITH A DEMO
SCORECARD
Features VendorA Vendor B Vendor C Vendor D Vendor E
Attendance Management 3 4 4 5 5
Payroll Management 3 5 4 5 4
Recruitment Management 3 2 3 3 5
Performance Management 1 3 2 2 2
Training Management 2 1 2 3 4

8. If you evaluate your upcoming software
demonstrations using the five best practices
we just shared, you’ll be ahead of 99% of
software buyers.
Too often, buyers let the software sales
person drive the demo process, they fail to
prepare for the demos and they don’t support
the salesperson with the information he/she
needs to do their job right.
Get organized before your demonstrations
and you’ll avoid costly software selection
mistakes.
SUMMARY
MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Roadmap To Buy A Software
ForYour Business [Infographic]
5 Must Have Features of HRM
Software
7 Things to Remember when
selecting a Software

9. SoftwareSuggest is dedicated to
helping software buyers find the right
software for their organization. Our
expertise, in-depth research and easy-
to-use website will make an efficient
platform for your business software
needs.
Getting a Free Consultation from us will
jump start your software search, saving
you weeks of research. A 15- minute
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10. This Guide is created by
SoftwareSuggest.com
India’s Largest Directory of Software
For
Small & Medium Businesses
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Software for your business???
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