| Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS, | | | | keeping modules to calculate automatic deposit and |
| EHRMS), Human Resource Information Systems | | | | manual cheque writing capabilities. |
| (HRIS), HR Technology or also called HR modules, | | | | Sophisticated HCM systems can set up accounts |
| shape an intersection in between human resource | | | | payable transactions from employee deduction or |
| management (HRM) and information technology. It | | | | produce garnishment cheques. The payroll module |
| merges HRM as a discipline and in particular its basic | | | | sends accounting information to the general ledger for |
| HR activities and processes with the information | | | | posting subsequent to a pay cycle. |
| technology field, whereas the planning and | | | | The time and labour management module applies new |
| programming of data processing systems evolved into | | | | technology and methods (time collection devices) to |
| standardised routines and packages of enterprise | | | | cost effectively gather and evaluate employee time |
| resource planning (ERP) software. On the whole, these | | | | work information. The most advanced modules |
| ERP systems have their origin on software that | | | | provide broad flexibility in data collection methods, as |
| integrates information from different applications into | | | | well as labour distribution capabilities and data analysis |
| one universal database. The linkage of its financial and | | | | features. This module is a key ingredient to establish |
| human resource modules through one database is the | | | | organisational cost accounting capabilities. |
| most important distinction to the individually and | | | | The benefit administration model permits HR |
| proprietary developed predecessors, which makes this | | | | professionals to easily administer and track employee |
| software application both rigid and flexible. | | | | participation in benefits programs ranging from |
| All in all, the HR function is still to a large degree | | | | healthcare provider, insurance policy, and pension plan |
| administrative and common to all organisations. To | | | | to profit sharing or stock option plans. |
| varying degrees, most organisations have formalised | | | | The HR management module is a component |
| selection, evaluation, and payroll processes. Efficient | | | | covering all other HR aspects from application to |
| and effective management of the "Human Capital" | | | | retirement. The system records basic demographic |
| Pool (HCP) has become an increasingly imperative and | | | | and address data, selection, training and development, |
| complex activity to all HR professionals. The HR | | | | capabilities and skills management, compensation |
| function consists of tracking innumerable data points on | | | | planning records and other related activities. Leading |
| each employee, from personal histories, data, skills, | | | | edge systems provide the ability to "read" applications |
| capabilities, experiences to payroll records. To reduce | | | | and enter relevant data to applicable database fields, |
| the manual workload of these administrative activities, | | | | notify employers and provide position management |
| organisations began to electronically automate many | | | | and position control. |
| of these processes by introducing innovative HRMS/ | | | | Typically, HRMS/HCM technology replaces the four |
| HCM technology. Due to complexity in programming, | | | | core HR activities by streamlining them electronically; 1) |
| capabilities and limited technical resources, HR | | | | payroll, 2) time and labour management, 3) benefit |
| executives rely on internal or external IT professionals | | | | administration and 4) HR management. While using the |
| to develop and maintain their Human Resource | | | | internet or corporate intranet as a communication and |
| Management Systems (HRMS). | | | | workflow vehicle, the HRMS/HCM technology can |
| Before the "client-server" architecture evolved in the | | | | convert these into web-based HRMS components of |
| late 1980s, every single HR automation process came | | | | the ERP system and permit to reduce transaction |
| largely in form of mainframe computers that could | | | | costs, leading to greater HR and organisational |
| handle large amounts of data transactions. In | | | | efficiency. Through employee or manager self-service |
| consequence of the high capital investment necessary | | | | (ESS or MSS), HR activities shift away from paper |
| to purchase or program proprietary software, these | | | | based processes to using self-service functionalities |
| internally developed HRMS were limited to medium to | | | | that benefit employees, managers and HR |
| large organisations being able to afford internal IT | | | | professionals alike. |
| capabilities. The advent of client-server HRMS | | | | Costly and time consuming HR administrative tasks, |
| authorised HR executives for the first time to take | | | | such as travel reimbursement, personnel data change, |
| responsibility and ownership of their systems. These | | | | benefits enrolment, enrolment in training classes |
| client-server HRMS are characteristically developed | | | | (employee side) and to instruct a personnel action, |
| around four principal areas of HR functionalities: 1) | | | | authorise access to information for employees |
| "payroll", 2) time and labour management 3) benefits | | | | (manager's side) are being individually handled and |
| administration and 4) HR management. | | | | permit to reduce HR transaction time, leading to HR |
| The payroll model automates the pay process by | | | | and organisational effectiveness. Consequently, HR |
| gathering data on employee time and attendance, | | | | professionals can spend fewer resources in managing |
| calculatingvarious deductions and taxes, and generating | | | | administrative HR activities and can apply freed time |
| periodic paycheques and employee tax reports. Data | | | | and resources to concentrate on strategic HR issues, |
| is generally fed from the human resources and time | | | | which lead to business innovation. |