If you’ve been running HR manually spreadsheets, WhatsApp messages for leave, paper files for employee records you know how messy it can get. Payroll day? A nightmare. Attendance disputes? Endless. That’s where HR software comes in.
But here’s the tricky part: picking the wrong tool can actually make your life harder. I’ve seen companies in Dhaka spend good money on software only to ditch it after six months because it didn’t fit their needs. So, let’s talk about how to choose the right HR software the practical way.
Why This Choice Is More Important Than You Think
Think of HR software as your digital HR manager. If it’s competent, your operations flow smoothly. If it’s clumsy, you’ll waste time fixing its mistakes.
A colleague of mine runs a small garment factory in Dhaka. They switched to PeopleDesk last year, and in just a few months they saw a 93% improvement in HR efficiency. Why? Because the system handled payroll, attendance, and leave in one place without endless phone calls to HR.
How to Choose the Right HR Software
Choosing isn’t about picking the fanciest dashboard or the cheapest price. It’s about matching your business’s actual needs to the software’s capabilities.
1. Be Honest About Your Pain Points
Ask yourself: What’s eating up your HR time?
- Payroll calculations?
- Approving and tracking leave?
- Attendance disputes?
When you know the main headaches, you’ll know what to look for.
For example, PeopleDesk automates payroll (saving up to 90% admin time), tracks attendance with 100% accuracy, and even gives employees a self-service portal to check their own data. No more “Can you send me my payslip?” emails.
2. Go for Centralization
Your HR software should be the one place you go for everything employee profiles, leave requests, salary slips, performance reviews.
Why juggle three different tools when one can do it all? PeopleDesk centralizes all these processes, so you’re not wasting time copying data from one system to another.
3. Make Sure It’s Actually Easy to Use
I’ve seen software that looks great in the demo but needs a week of training to do the basics. That’s a red flag.
The best HR software feels like using a well-designed mobile app clean screens, clear options, and no hidden menus. PeopleDesk was built with that in mind. I’ve watched non-technical HR staff pick it up within a day.
4. Check Local Compliance
Every Company has its own payroll tax rules, labor laws, and leave policies. Your software should know them too.
If your HR tool is built for another country, you’ll end up doing “manual fixes” every month which defeats the point of automation. PeopleDesk is already aligned with local regulations, so you can process payroll without worrying about missed tax calculations.
5. Demand Real-Time Reports
Imagine it’s Monday morning, and you want to know which team had the highest overtime last month or how many sick leaves were taken. If you have to wait for a report to be “compiled,” your software is outdated.
Real-time reporting, like what PeopleDesk offers, lets you pull up that data instantly. It’s not just convenient it helps you make better, faster decisions.
6. Give Employees Some Control
Employee self-service might sound like a luxury, but it’s actually a time saver.
When staff can update their own details, request leave, or download payslips without going through HR, your department gets to focus on more strategic work. PeopleDesk’s self-service has reduced HR requests by up to 80% in some companies.
7. Think Long-Term: Integration and Growth
Maybe you’re a team of 20 now, but what about when you hit 200? Will your HR software still work for you?
Scalable platforms like PeopleDesk can handle growth. Plus, it integrates with other iBOS tools like:
- Managerium (ERP & POS)
- TrackForce (employee monitoring)
That way, your business systems talk to each other instead of living in silos.
8. Don’t Compromise on Security
Your HR database contains sensitive information such as salaries, ID numbers, and addresses. If this data is exposed, it’s more than just embarrassing – it could lead to serious legal consequences.
Any HR software you choose must have strong encryption, role-based access, and regular security updates. PeopleDesk guarantees this level of protection.
How PeopleDesk Stacks Up Against the Average HR Tool
| Feature | PeopleDesk | Generic HR Tool |
| Local payroll compliance | ✅ | ❌ or partial |
| Accurate attendance tracking | ✅ | Often manual |
| Self-service for employees | ✅ | Sometimes extra |
| Fast setup (4–6 weeks) | ✅ | Often months |
| Real-time reporting | ✅ | Basic or delayed |
A Real Example from the Field
One retail chain I worked with used to dedicate two whole days each month just to process payroll. After moving to PeopleDesk:
- Payroll took under 4 hours.
- HR request tickets dropped by 75%.
- Managers had instant performance insights.
The HR team finally had time to focus on hiring and staff engagement instead of crunching numbers.
Avoid These Mistakes
- Picking purely based on price. Cheap tools can cost more in lost time and errors.
- Ignoring scalability. Software that works for 30 people might fail at 100.
- Skipping training. Even simple tools benefit from a short onboarding session.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right HR Software
The right HR software is one that fits your workflow, follows local laws, and grows with you. It should make life easier for both your HR team and your employees.
From what I’ve seen, PeopleDesk ticks all those boxes. It’s quick to implement, secure, and designed for every businesses. And with proven results like improving HR efficiency by up to 93% it’s worth serious consideration.
If you’re tired of drowning in paperwork and manual payroll headaches, maybe it’s time to let the software handle the routine work, so you can focus on growing your business.
