Not all small businesses have a dedicated human resources (HR) team, mostly due to limited funds and staffing. But with a talent management tool, you can single handedly manage all your HR processes, leading to a smooth recruitment and on-the-job development experiences for your employees.
Talent management software is used for human resource processes, from finding candidates to guiding them through their career development and bidding them a memorable farewell. Plus, with the right talent management tool, you can enhance this entire process and provide a seamless experience that is efficient for employees and talent managers.
To help make that right choice, this article highlights, in alphabetic order, the five top-rated talent management software based on user reviews. For each product, we include overall user ratings along with the highest-rated parameter, review excerpts from industry professionals, and product pricing. Read more.
1. ADP Workforce Now
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from small business professionals who have used ADP Workforce Now for talent management:
"Overall it has been fantastic as everything we need pertaining to payroll and HR is on one portal that is easy to use and update. When help has been needed, the reps over the phone do a wonderful job. The 401k option we offer our employees has been very well received and is extremely easy to set up."
"Overall, I have saved a lot of time when I need to obtain my documents from current or previous employment through this software. It has been reliable and I find it very useful in my experience. The portal for accessing information is easy to navigate, and customer service has been good when I had any concerns."
"In my experience of using this software for over six plus years, I have always liked how easy-to-use this software is, and appreciate how I can find what I need on the very self access friendly portal. When I have reached out for assistance it had a fast turn around for responses. What I like most is the easy navigation and convenience in retrieving any documents I need sent to my email in great timing."
Read all ADP Workforce Now reviews here.
2. BambooHR
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from small business professionals who have used BambooHR for talent management:
"Wonderful experience. Customer service is always responsive and positive, the system is very intuitive for admins, managers, and users. It ticks off all the major HR needs including reporting, time tracking, performance, payroll, employee access, as well as a fantastic dashboard that portrays employee data like turnover, which executives love. It has great customizable features but keeps things simple when they really should be."
"It's great to have all employee information in one spot. I also adore being able to run reports, organize performance reviews, and distribute notifications to the entire group. The hiring and onboarding processes are excellent, and so is the customer service. Without a doubt, BambooHR is the best HR software to use going forward."
"BambooHR is incredibly user friendly. We were able to set it up, implement benefit administration and train new HR employees to use the platform with little help needed. They provide excellent customer support if ever needed, they welcome suggestions when a feature is requested. Customizable website design makes it truly feel like a system that’s part of our own company rather than an outside product."
Real all BambooHR reviews here.
3. Cezanne HR
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from small business professionals who have used Cezanne HR for talent management:
"The setup process was simple and efficient and went smoothly. The system is user friendly so we didn't need any dedicated training, and the support team was always ready to give us any advice when needed."
"I really enjoy using this, it is a pleasure to use. Set up is very straightforward and doesn't take too long, provided you give them all the information required. I would say I find things out as I go as sometimes you find the system does something you didn't know, which is great. I'm looking forward to implementing more of the modules."
"Cezanne is incredibly easy to use, and very intuitive in terms of where to find things. Some of the process flows take a bit of understanding but once one is understood the rest are easy to set up. The gradual role out with additional modules makes it a very easy transition to using Cezanne, and the staff from implementation to ongoing support have been nothing but helpful."
Read all Cezanne HR reviews here.
4. Dayforce HCM
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from small business professionals who have used Dayforce HCM for talent management:
"I liked the method of managing performance, managing benefits, the method of employment services, and how to reach employees. There are many methods that I really liked and I want to share them with everyone, and I really liked the ease of posting jobs, applying for them, and displaying applicants, It is a very easy-to-use application and I recommend you to try it."
"We have saved serveral trees with the use of Dayforce. The onboarding process is easier to engage in from the employee, managers, and support personnel."
"I appreciate how Dayforce HCM has consolidated employee information into one platform, making it easy for me to access and manage crucial data. The on-demand access has significantly improved my efficiency in making informed decisions."
Read all Dayforce HCM reviews here.
Ready to hire a staffing agency for your business needs? Browse our list of companies in the following areas:
5. Netchex
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from small business professionals who have used Netchex for talent management:
"Our overall experience with Netchex has been great. We really appreciate the elimination of paperwork with the hiring and onboarding process as this saves us time as payroll administrators and gives our employees the ability to fill out the necessary forms online whenever it works best for them. The product seems very sophisticated and the service team has always been very helpful whenever issues do arise."
"The home page/dashboard is the best feature of this software because it clearly displays all pertinent employee information that might need to be accessed quickly such as work scheduling, time punch card, time off balances, etc. I also like that there is a mobile app option."
"Product is very easy to use and makes the administrative tasks of my job simpler!I also like that employees are able to take more ownership of their information and access it for themselves."
Read all Netchex reviews here.
What features do talent management software offer?
The core features of a talent management tool are:
Onboarding: | Familiarize new clients, stakeholders, or employees with the company, a new location, or a service. |
Performance management: | Organize and manage the accomplishments and development of employees or the performance of applications or systems. |
Recruitment management: | Find, attract, and assess potential candidates for open job positions within a company. |
All products listed in this report include the features mentioned above.
Besides these core features, talent management software also tends to commonly offer:
Compensation management
Goal setting/tracking
Individual development plans
Reporting/analytics
Succession planning
Training Management
How to choose the right talent management software for your business
Here are some key considerations that will help you find the best talent management solution for your business.
Assess the job posting feature: A robust talent management system allows job posting on multiple platforms, such as job boards, websites, and social media. Some tools even automate this process, from posting jobs to evaluating leads and scheduling interviews. Focusing on these aspects assists you in attracting the right talent for your open positions.
Evaluate the tool for goal setting: The selected talent management tool should let you set employee performance goals and provide continuous feedback on completed training. Look for features that support performance tracking, goal alignment, and performance review workflows.
Consider tools for assessing employee readiness: Checking employee readiness is essential to identify and develop future leaders in the organization. An ideal talent management software facilitates tools for succession planning, including key positions, talent pool, and development plans for high-potential employees.
Common questions to ask software vendors before purchase
Consider asking these common questions to vendors when assessing the top talent management software to select the right one for your team:
Does the tool integrate with other HR tools used by the business?
TMS primarily focuses on searching, recruiting, and training candidates for their job roles. However, businesses may sometimes feel the need to integrate TMS with HR tools used for learning management, and payroll. Before buying, you need to learn about the integration abilities of the tool (APIs or plugins).
Does the tool provide training to demonstrate the functionality and user interface?
Most talent management solutions allow learning about the features, functionality, and user interface of the software before buying. This includes training, blogs, how-to videos, webinars, and other learning tools. What you need to focus on is the type of learning opportunities and the topics covered. Additionally, you can also check the availability of on-demand training for your team based on their skill sets.
Does the tool support both internal and external training programs?
Internal training is for the employees, while external training is for the stakeholders from outside the organization, such as vendors, investors, and others involved in the business operations. If your business provides internal and external training programs, you must check these capabilities of a talent management system before buying.