Choosing your payroll software
It's not always easy to choose your payroll software, or to put your trust in a publisher, if you're not used to using this kind of service. That's why it's vital to do your homework, get informed and, above all, compare the different offers to select the one that's right for you.
Define your needs and evaluate offers
To choose a management software package, you first need to be clear about your company's needs, and know what you really need. There's no need to invest a lot of money in high-performance software if you don't need all its features. You also need to define who will need to use the software, so you know whether you're opting for single-user, multi-user or SaaS software. Once you've defined your needs, establish the budget available for purchasing the software and put the various management solution suppliers in competition with each other.
Check the features on offer
Your payroll management software should produce pay slips, give you the option of drawing up slips to declare social security contributions, and make it easy to file electronic declarations. It's up to you to define the functions you'll need. Some software packages integrate payroll entries directly into your company's accounting system. You can also draw up various documents such as Pôle Emploi certificates, employment contracts and payroll books.
Software that adapts to you
Don't choose software that's too rigid for you to get used to. It should be configurable to suit your way of working and make your job easier. Payroll management is already complex enough, so don't make it even more so with features that are too complicated to use. Check that you can customize the software and that the ergonomics are appropriate. The interface should be easy to read and pleasant to look at. You're likely to spend a lot of time on this software, so opt for a readable medium. Some media can be tested for a month before commitment. Take your time to get to grips with the software and check that it's right for your business.
Regular updates
This check is imperative! In the field of payroll management, changes in legislation, rates and social charges are constantly evolving. You really need to find out what updates will be offered to update your software data. These are often not free of charge for workstation software, so don't overlook this cost, which can be an additional burden on your budget and one that you won't be able to reduce, at the risk of having obsolete software very quickly.
Securing your data
Make sure that your management software supplier offers a genuine system for securing your information, so that you don't have to worry about losing data or hacking into your payroll management system. Contrary to popular belief, SaaS software offers a strong security system and takes an active interest in protecting all the information you entrust to the remote platform.
Article translated from French