Employee experience is one of the core focus areas for organizations that want to attract and retain top talent. Engaged employees can significantly impact the productivity and efficiency of your company and lead to organizational success.
Despite that, statistics show thatonly 16% of companies used any engagement tracking software in 2023. With hundreds of different solutions available on the market, not using the opportunity to implement employee experience software can put businesses at a disadvantage.
What will you learn from this article?
What is employee experience software?
What features are included in employee engagement software?
Why is employee engagement so important?
How does employee experience software affect engagement?
What are the top 3 employee experience software choices?
Which engagement software should you choose for your business?
What is Employee Experience Software?
An employee experience software is a platform consisting of useful tools and resources designed to enhance the overall experience of people working within a company or organization. These platforms usually include all the features that you would need to help the employee in their tasks, improve communication, and foster a positive work environment. Employee experience solutions can be extremely valuable to you as a business owner, as they will work for the whole employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding. Some key features that can be found in employee engagement software include:
Employee survey tools
Reward programs
Performance management and analysis dashboards
Employee satisfaction level tracking
Automated onboarding
Internal communication modules
Online team-building activities
Mental health resources
There are dozens of employee experience platforms available on the market, each offering a slightly different set of tools and features with various integration options. Some of them can be customized to fit specific requirements an organization may have, while others offer one-size-fits-all solutions.
Why Is Employee Engagement Software Becoming More Important in Today's Work Environment?
Employee satisfaction and comfort are key factors in maintaining a positive and productive work environment. It is especially important now when millions of people feel detached from their work due to factors, such as remote work and increased stress levels in the current global situation. You can help reduce the feeling by proactively implementing solutions that encourage workplace engagement, such as utilizing employee engagement software.
People anticipate their employers to provide them with a friendly, supportive workplace that benefits their mental health, so it is now almost expected that companies prioritize the employee experience and offer a way for their teams to stay engaged while taking care of their mental wellbeing. While it may seem that employee engagement software is just a tool to simplify day-to-day operations, it actually plays a crucial role in fostering a good work environment and encouraging employees to feel more valued in the organization. This inspires employees to put in more effort and contribute more to the company's growth.
Engaged employees mean increased productivity, better communication, and a more pleasant workplace culture that affects everyone. Software that helps boost employee engagement is a crucial part of any company that wants its employees to thrive and reach their full potential.
How Platform Supporting Employee Engagement Can Help Improve Engagement
Employee engagement and experience software is designed not only to improve actual engagement but also to be as impactful as possible.
It has the potential to transform the way your business operates and lead to great results while not disrupting the employees' work-life balance. What benefits can engagement software bring to your organization?
It reduces employee turnover
Whatever your company's turnover rate, keeping it as low as possible is always better. Employee experience software can help employee retention by offering individuals at the company a platform for honest feedback and communication, as well as recognition and rewards for their work. Additionally, it allows the employer to see and analyze key metrics related to employee satisfaction to better understand what factors are contributing to turnover and how to prevent it. Measuring employee engagement is key to improving retention rates, and employee experience software gives you useful information about what could be done to boost the employee's job satisfaction.
It encourages collaboration and engagement
Almost every employee engagement platform has features meant for increasing collaboration and engagement in the organization. Virtual meetings, chat options, and even project management tools that such software offers can help employees feel more connected to their work and each other. Fostering a sense of community and teamwork, these platforms also provide a space for everyone to share their ideas, leave feedback, and engage in mutual support.
It increases productivity
Engaged employees feel more connected to their colleagues and are more productive and collaborative simply because they do not feel isolated or unmotivated. Your employees will be more inclined to contribute to the success of your business as a whole when they see that the company and their peers value and support them. The sense of belonging and purpose that the engagement tools provide can lead to increased job satisfaction and better mental health, and people with higher job contentment are generally more productive.
It provides access to a larger talent pool
~ How does improving employee engagement through specific software lead to a larger talent pool?
It's simple: when your employees are engaged and satisfied with their job, they are more likely to recommend your company to their colleagues and praise the positive work environment on social media. A positive reputation of a company that values its employees and prioritizes their well-being can attract top talent that is only interested in working for organizations that work on improving employee satisfaction.
It improves the company culture
Fostering a positive and proactive company culture is essential for any business that wants to thrive. The atmosphere at the company affects the job satisfaction of the employees and can be a major influence on the overall success of the organization. Many employee engagement strategies put emphasis on creating a supportive work environment, especially to boost the morale and, in turn, the productivity of the employees. Employee engagement software can help build a better company culture at your organization by providing a platform for open communication, feedback, and recognition of individuals among team members.
Building a better workplace for employees improves job satisfaction and productivity and helps foster a sense of belonging, increasing employee retention rates.
he happier the employees, the more successful the company.
Hire team to Your HRM Software Development
Top 3 Employee Experience Software: A Comparison
With such a large selection of different employee engagement and experience software on the market, choosing the top three was a challenging task. There were many factors that we had to consider, such as pricing plans, integration options, and features. We have also read customer reviews to see whether the software lived up to its promises in the eyes of its users.
Naturally, a company that only hires a few people will have different needs than a large corporation operating on a global scale. That is why we have decided to divide this section into three parts to discuss the best options for different types of businesses. Let's see, what three software options are best suited for your business.
Small Businesses: Up to 10 employees
The best employee engagement and experience software for smaller organizations is, of course, one that will be affordable for a smaller budget. Customizable features that could be adjusted for a smaller number of employees in a team are also a plus. What software to use to provide employees with the best experience without breaking the bank?
Lattice is a great tool for those looking for user-friendly software that won't break the bank. While all the add-ons can raise the cost, the basic package is perfect for small businesses that do not need the extra features. The option to buy extra features as your business grows is great for those who want to scale their employee engagement efforts over time instead of investing a lot of money upfront.
If you prefer a free solution that you can use and decide if you want to upgrade later, you can use SC Training (previously known as EdApp) which has a great microlearning format, online course builder, and gamification tools to make the employee's experience at your organization less overwhelming and more fun.
Built-in analytic tools and dashboards allow you to dive deeper into the data and see the positive impact of your training programs and professional growth efforts.
SC Training offers different plans, depending on team size and features needed. If you hire less than 10 people, you can use this employee engagement tool for free!
It is not easy to find low-cost software to help improve employee engagement, but 15Five is an affordable option for smaller organizations. This performance management platform will help you engage employees, set goals, gather feedback, and track progress in a simple and inexpensive way.
15Five will help you analyze the satisfaction level of your employees and, by helping you notice any potential issues early on, prevent turnover and improve retention rates at your company. Its dashboards are clear and easy to navigate, and the user-friendly interface makes it easy for both employees and the HR department to use.
Depending on what features you are looking for, 15Five offers different pricing plans, starting at $4 per user per month.
Medium-sized Companies: Circa 100 employees
Medium-sized companies that are big enough to hire a dedicated HR team need more than just a basic app to manage the employee experience. For organizations with a larger workforce and bigger needs, something more advanced will likely be necessary, preferably with scaling options and efficient analytics capabilities. Medium-sized companies may be able to afford more robust solutions, but it is still important to carefully consider the price in relation to the features offered.
One of our recommendations is Motivosity, which works great in terms of employee recognition, feedback, and performance management. It improves employee engagement by simplifying communication between team members, celebrates their achievements, and fosters a positive workplace culture where every employee feels appreciated.
Among its many features, Motivosity offers customized surveys, employee reward programs, and peer-to-peer recognition through built-in social feed to increase employee engagement.
However, Motivosity may not be suitable for everyone: its pricing plan requires at least $3000 of annual spending.
PerformYard is simple enough to use for everyone, and yet powerful enough for a medium-sized company to manage different aspects of employee experience. While its main strength lies in a great review and feedback system, PerformYard also offers goal setting and tracking along with professional dashboards to simplify performance management. It allows the HR department to easily schedule and send important communications, as well as set up one-on-ones and meetings.
Many parts of this comprehensive platform are customizable, allowing adjustments to fit specific needs and company values. The least expensive plans start at just $1 per user per month, making it quite an affordable option.
Another software that gets a lot of praise is Culture Amp, which - as the name suggests - focuses on improving workplace culture and employee wellbeing in general. This platform offers a great people analytics tool, which allows companies to make better decisions based on data-driven insights about their employees. AI-powered features help identify patterns to prevent potential issues and improve overall employee satisfaction before the situation gets out of hand.
With customizable surveys and review tools, Culture Amp lets HR professionals easily gather and analyze employee feedback and track trends over time to see how employee career development initiatives are impacting the organization.
Enterprises: 1000+ Employees
Bigger businesses need to consider a solution that can accommodate a greater number of workers and all their data. It is not just about the size of the company but also about the scalability and integration capabilities of the software - bigger businesses tend to use more complex systems and may require extra steps to ensure seamless operation of the employee experience software.
According to Forbes, one of the best options for large companies is Qualtrics.
It offers a wide range of tools, one of which is predictive employee analysis. With the help of this software you can encourage employees to provide feedback, which in turn will help the HR department identify retention risks, plan workforce optimization, and interpret patterns in employee engagement data to help the employer find areas for improvement.
Qualtrics software also has an onboarding module, a built-in survey system, exit interview functions, and more. Information about pricing plans is available upon request.
Another software worth considering for larger companies is ConnectTeam, which is a full suite of employee management tools that includes features such as task management, a company knowledge base, an online course module, and digital document storage for files like tax forms and license papers.
The Advanced monthly plan costs only $49 per first 30 users and an additional $1.5 for each additional user, making it quite a cost-effective option for companies with a large international workforce and remote workers. For those needing to cut costs, the Basic plan is offered for $29.
Mitratech Startrak is also a great choice, as it is specifically designed for big enterprises. Its wide range of features includes goal setting and planning, feedback gathering, performance metrics tracking, and various tools for building training and development programs. It can even help you plan the succession of key personnel within your organization, ensuring that your company is prepared for structure changes or unexpected departures.
The costs of using Startrak largely depend on the size of your workforce, so it is best to consult with a representative for a tailored quote.
Conclusion: Choose the Best Software to Engage Employees
Employee experience software is a crucial tool for all organizations that want to enhance employee engagement and productivity. Thanks to the tools and resources available in such software, you can now track virtually every step of the employee's journey, analyze their progress, and make data-driven decisions to improve employee satisfaction, in turn raising the company's overall success.
Engaged employees perform better, as they feel appreciated and valued by their organization. When they clearly see the set milestones, can share their opinion on company initiatives, and receive timely feedback, they are more likely to fully commit to their work at your organization. Company culture also plays a significant role in employee engagement, and the right software can help build a more supportive and proactive work community, fostering collaboration and communication among your employees.
Assess your needs and company goals, and choose employee experience software that aligns with them as much as possible. This way, you open a door to a better work environment that affects the entire organization, and makes it easier to plan and reach the desired outcomes and success metrics.