Utilising HR software is invaluable, especially as businesses grow and HR teams take on more responsibilities. SHRM found that 57% of HR departments are understaffed. This means leveraging HR technology like Zoho can help reduce your workload and relieve the amount of work you do. While Zoho is a popular option, it may not be everything you are looking for. It’s common for employers to explore the best Zoho alternatives. Particularly, if you are looking for a unified platform that offers robust features for HR and other teams, like finance. So, what are the top alternatives to Zoho?
Below, we’ll introduce various HR management software options that, with their range of features, may offer a better human resources solution for your needs. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.
Overview of Zoho
Zoho’s platform offers a wide range of tools, from marketing and sales to finance, IT and HR. For human resource management, Zoho People provides tools designed to improve your team’s efficiency and reduce the amount of time spent on manual tasks.
Zoho offers different plans and applications, allowing businesses to choose the tools that suit their requirements. This can make it particularly useful for organisations that want to digitalise different areas of their operations.
Some of its key HR features include:
Human resources and communication
Zoho People helps businesses manage employee data and documents, including employee records and other important HR information. It also provides employee self-service, workflow automation, document management, HR helpdesk functionality and reports and analytics.
Time and leave management
With Zoho People, businesses can manage employee attendance, time off and timesheets. Its Workforce plan includes time-off planning, timesheets, overtime compliance and attendance management, helping HR teams keep better track of employee working hours.
Performance management
The software also offers performance management features through its Talent plan. Businesses can manage OKRs and performance evaluations, alongside onboarding and offboarding, compensation planning, learning management and employee engagement surveys.
Applicant management and onboarding
Zoho’s wider HR suite includes recruitment functionality through Zoho Recruit. This allows businesses that want recruitment and HR functionality to use different products within the Zoho ecosystem.
Zoho People itself also provides onboarding and offboarding functionality, helping businesses manage the transition of employees into and out of the organisation.
Payroll
Payroll is an important consideration for Kenyan businesses comparing HR platforms. Zoho People is primarily an HR management platform, while payroll is provided through the separate Zoho Payroll product in supported markets.
This means Kenyan businesses should check whether the combination of Zoho products and integrations they are considering can meet their specific PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and Affordable Housing Levy requirements before committing to the platform.
Top 4 Best Zoho Alternatives
These four solutions are some of the Zoho alternatives Kenyan businesses can consider today. Whether you are looking for an all-in-one platform, stronger local payroll capabilities or a solution designed for African businesses, you can compare the options below.
| Zoho |
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| Platform | Key Features | Pricing |
| Factorial |
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| BambooHR |
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| SeamlessHR |
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| Workpay |
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1. Factorial
As a cloud-based all-in-one platform, Factorial offers a comprehensive and user-friendly HR solution that is particularly useful for businesses looking to bring multiple processes together. It automates core business processes so HR teams can save time, reduce repetitive work and manage their people from one place.
For Kenyan businesses, Factorial offers a local platform with HR, time, talent and finance tools. Its flexible plans also allow businesses to choose the capabilities they need rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all package.
Document Management
You’ll be able to safely and securely store your company’s documents, from contracts and policies to payslips and employee records.
Factorial’s document management tools allow businesses to send documents in bulk, manage employee files and request electronic signatures. Employees can also access key documents through their employee portal, reducing the amount of routine administration handled by HR.
Time management and payroll
Also integrated is time tracking for easy time recording. Employees can clock in and out through desktop or mobile, while businesses can use features such as geolocation and QR-based clock-ins.
Absence requests and shift scheduling can also be managed within Factorial. This means time tracking, leave and shift information can be centralised instead of being managed across different spreadsheets or applications.
Factorial also provides payroll management tools that help businesses centralise payroll information, manage payroll changes, distribute payslips and connect HR information with payroll processes.
Compliance
Factorial helps Kenyan businesses manage key HR compliance requirements by bringing payroll, employee records, contracts, leave and time management into one platform. Its Kenya offering supports statutory payroll deductions including PAYE, NSSF, SHA/SHIF and the Affordable Housing Levy, helping businesses reduce the risk of manual calculation errors.
Performance tracking
This alternative to Zoho People offers extensive features for performance and talent management. Businesses can conduct 360-degree performance reviews, track competencies and use performance information to identify development opportunities.
Factorial also provides training and engagement tools, making it easier to connect employee development with wider HR processes.
Recruiting and onboarding
Factorial’s recruitment module includes an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and AI-powered tools designed to simplify recruitment. Businesses can use AI CV parsing, centralise candidate information and manage recruitment processes from one platform.
Once a candidate is hired, onboarding can be managed through the employee portal. Documents can be shared and signed electronically, while tasks and employee information can be organised before the new employee’s first day.
Mobile App
Thanks to the mobile app, employees and managers can complete HR tasks from anywhere. Employees can clock in and out, request leave and access HR information, while managers can keep track of important employee processes without relying solely on a desktop.
This makes it easier to manage employees working across offices, sites or other locations.
Pricing and flexibility
Factorial’s Kenyan pricing starts at $2 per user per month. All plans include Factorial Core, with businesses able to add tools for areas such as time management, recruitment, performance, training, expenses and project management depending on their requirements.
This modular approach means businesses can build a plan around the tools they actually need rather than paying for unnecessary functionality.
Factorial also provides a free trial and tailored quotes for businesses that want a package suited to their size and requirements.
2. BambooHR
Another alternative to Zoho is BambooHR. BambooHR is an HR software solution that helps companies manage employee information, hiring, onboarding, reporting, time off and other core HR processes.
Its international offering includes Core and Pro plans, with features covering HR data and reporting, hiring and onboarding, time-off management and integrations. The Pro plan adds performance management and employee experience capabilities.
One important consideration for Kenyan businesses is payroll. BambooHR’s native payroll product is designed for US-based employees, including US federal, state and local tax filing. Businesses running payroll in Kenya would therefore need to consider other payroll providers or integrations.
Key Features:
- Performance management: BambooHR supports performance reviews and employee development through its performance management tools, available through its more advanced HR offering.
- Onboarding: BambooHR provides hiring and onboarding tools designed to improve the candidate and new-hire experience.
- Time management: International customers can add time tracking functionality, including mobile and desktop clock-ins, timesheets, project tracking and approval workflows.
Cost:
BambooHR prices its international plans based on the organisation’s size and selected products. Businesses with more than 25 employees are charged on a per-employee, per-month basis, while smaller organisations pay a monthly flat rate. Kenyan businesses can contact BambooHR for a personalised quote.
3. SeamlessHR [Now SeamlessTech]
SeamlessHR is another strong Zoho alternative for Kenyan businesses looking for an end-to-end HR and payroll platform. The company provides a Kenya-specific offering and works with Kenyan organisations across different industries.
Its platform covers the employee lifecycle from recruitment and onboarding through payroll, performance management, time and attendance, employee benefits and exit management.
SeamlessHR’s key features include:
- HRMS: SeamlessHR provides employee records, document storage, organisational structures, leave management, approval workflows, employee self-service and advanced HR reports.
- Payroll: The platform provides payroll calculations, compliance and payment capabilities. In Kenya, SeamlessHR also offers payroll financing alongside its payroll solution.
- Performance Management: Businesses can choose their preferred performance framework, track employee progress and manage two-way feedback.
- Recruitment: SeamlessHR includes an Applicant Tracking System and recruitment automation tools designed to manage different stages of hiring.
- Time and Attendance: The platform supports working hours, overtime, schedules and geolocation for remote and on-site employees.
Cost:
SeamlessHR does not publish fixed per-user prices. Businesses receive a personalised quote based on their requirements.
4. Workpay
Workpay is a particularly relevant Zoho alternative for Kenyan businesses because its HR and payroll platform is built around African payroll and employment requirements. The company is headquartered in Nairobi and supports businesses managing employees across Africa.
Unlike a general HR platform that may require businesses to connect several systems to handle local payroll, Workpay combines HR management, payroll, statutory compliance and salary disbursement within its offering.
Key features of Workpay:
- Payroll: Workpay automates payroll calculations and provides real-time statutory and tax reports, including PAYE, social security contributions and pension deductions. Businesses can also use Workpay for salary and statutory disbursements.
- HR Management: Businesses can manage the employee lifecycle from onboarding and leave management to performance and offboarding through the platform.
- Time and Attendance: Workpay provides time and attendance functionality for monitoring working hours and schedules, with real-time attendance reporting.
- Employee Self-Service: Employees can access payroll and HR information through Workpay’s self-service tools and mobile apps.
- Multi-country support: Workpay supports payroll operations across African markets, making it particularly relevant for Kenyan businesses with employees in more than one country.
Pricing:
- Its EOR service currently starts from $299 per employee per month, although this is a separate service for businesses hiring employees without establishing their own local entity.
Choosing the Best Zoho Alternative
Deciding what software is best for your company isn’t easy. You have to weigh costs and features while taking your organisation’s specific needs into consideration. For Kenyan businesses, you should also consider local payroll requirements, statutory compliance, scalability and the level of support available. What Zoho alternative can do it all? Are there any non-negotiable features your business needs? You should consider your team’s feedback as well.
If you are looking for something that brings a broad range of business processes together, Factorial is a strong option. With Factorial, you can customise workflows, use AI-powered recruitment tools, track employee hours, manage performance and centralise HR and business processes through one unified platform.
Factorial also gives Kenyan businesses the flexibility to choose the tools they need, with plans starting at $2 per user per month. This makes it possible to start with core HR functionality and add capabilities as your organisation’s requirements grow.
If you’re in the market for the best Zoho alternative, now’s your chance to give Factorial a try. See Factorial in action by booking a demo with one of our experts.
The information presented on this page is based on publicly available sources, but not limited to websites, Capterra public reviews, G2 public reviews, and Trustpilot public reviews. The comparisons between Factorial and other providers, are intended solely for the illustration of the respective software features, pricing and functionalities. All information regarding features, prices, and integrations may be subject to change without prior notice. Factorial assumes no liability for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. We recommend contacting the respective providers directly to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information. All legal regulations regarding Kenya law are fully observed by us; if you have any concerns, please reach out to us. The comparisons presented do not constitute a final evaluation or recommendation for any provider, but serve solely as an informational source.
