Many companies across a whole spectrum of sectors offer free or lower than standard cost trials of their goods and services to entice customers in. For the customer this can be a great low cost, low risk way of finding out if something is going to meet a need that they have without fully committing. It is very much try before you buy and this concept applies to HR software free trials too as we explain.
What to do before signing up for a free HR software trial
Before you even consider signing up for a HR software free trial, it is a wise move to carry out an exercise to determine what the needs of your business are. You should then be able to match those needs up with the features and functionality of HR software in the marketplace and identify a shortlist of systems which may be suitable for your business to trial. If you don’t invest this time in the first place, then you are likely to waste time trialling various HR systems which aren’t suitable and perhaps aren’t even in your price range.
When deciding on whether or not to sign up to a HR system, or indeed which HR system to purchase, a free trial period should give you a chance to find out the answers to all the questions you might have. You can look for reviews of systems from existing users to give you some idea of what the system is like. HR software providers sometimes also have clients who are willing to act as references, so you can talk to them directly to get their experience of using the system. It is worth asking the question as they could possibly match you up with a similar business to help you to visualise how the software would work for your company.
Putting the HR software on trial
The first thing a trial will do is highlight for you how easy working with the system will be, as you’ll need to upload your staff data in order to start using it. This may seem like a very simple first step, but first impressions really do matter. A negative first impression of uploading data can make or break a trial before it’s even really started. Once that’s done then the fun starts and you can navigate your way around the system and see how intuitive it is.
You should also be able to test the full features of the system. Some HR software free trials will only allow you to access certain parts of a system and therefore you don’t get a full experience, which may hamper your ability to make an informed decision. As you explore the HR system you’ve chosen to trial, it’s worth asking yourself these questions:
- Does the system actually deliver on the key features I need from it?
- Is the system going to save the business time and money in the long run?
- What extra features does the system provide and am I going to use them?
- Can the business actually afford the system?
- Is the system going to be developed over time or is it off the shelf and what you see is what you get forever?
- How does the reality of using the system compare to the perception you initially gained when researching it?
- Once you’ve got your employees using it, you can also ask them for feedback on how they have found the system such as, can they use it easily on a range of devices and how do they find the system navigation?
- Does it make their life easier and would they ultimately use it in the future?
The answer to all of these questions should give you the details you need to make an informed decision along with the pricing structure, contract length and any other requirements you have.
It’s judgement day
At the end of your HR software free trial, if the system you have tested isn’t for you then you can walk away with no obligation and look elsewhere – nothing ventured, nothing gained. Don’t invest in implementing a HR system just because you can’t be bothered to spend time trialling other systems. It might seem like you are saving yourself time by sticking with what you have trialled and not testing the market further, but if it doesn’t meet the needs of your business and your employees aren’t going to use it, then it will not only be a waste of time but also a waste of money.
That will particularly be relevant if the HR software provider ties you into a lengthy contract. If you’ve found a system that works for you then the trial will have been worth it. You’ll be able to purchase it with the confidence and reassurance that it ticks all your boxes and then you and your staff can get on with doing what you do best.
Sign up to our free trial today!
At HRX, our HR software free trial lasts for 30 days and gives you plenty of time to find out all about the system and the benefits it can offer your business. Your team can test out the full system so that they can all experience how it would work for them. If you decide for some reason not to continue then we delete all the data that has been input so there’s no concerns about GDPR either. Our pricing structure is clear from the outset and there are no lengthy contracts, so you don’t need to worry about finances. We are certain that you will love HRX, but if you need a little more convincing then listen to some of our clients and what they have to say by watching watching this video.
