HRIS, HRMS - Is There a Difference?

As an HRIS Solution, a.k.a. HR software, HRMS solution, HR Payroll Software, web vendor, I am anyone in this industry are constantly searching for new keywords to improve our rank and thus, bring more users to our websites. Currently, we track over one hundred and fifty unique HRIS solutions keywords. The problem is many of these keywords define the exact same thing. So I ask the question: -Are we confusing the HR profession by refusing to offer a language of terms that is more consistent?- With this article, my intention is to provide definitions to many of the terms those in the HR profession are likely to hear regarding HR software.

Perhaps the reason for so many terms for HRIS software is online advertising itself. The vendors who market online are constantly searching for new terms with which to rank well and attract vendors. There have been some vendors who have a brand strong enough to create their own terms and then everyone else jumps on the bandwagon. The terms 'Talent Management' and 'Talent Acquisition' are the two best examples I have seen. This improvement of terms by marketing gurus happens in other industries as well. My father owned a Chevy blazer known today as a sport utility vehicle. Now every auto manufacturer has jumped on the band wagon and uses the same term. The new term is cross over. What will the new term be for HR management software?

Content Management System

It seems like the more simple terms which may have been created by IT people or programmers slowly become replaced by more sophisticated terms created in the marketing world. An example is HR database versus human resource information system (HRIS) or applicant tracking software versus talent acquisition software.

- HR Software - It used to be enough to say you were looking for HR software. Well, not anymore. Now saying you are looking for HR software is sort of like saying you are hungry but not providing any idea of what you are hungry for. Think of the term HR software as all encompassing. It includes all of the terms used below.

- Personnel Software, Employee Software, HR Database, HR system - These were the common terms used to define what we know today as HRIS, HRMS or HRM software. These were terms likely created by programmers or technical people; in other words, non marketing people. These terms of yesterday seem to perceive smaller less sophisticated systems than the terms more commonly used today in HR software marketing.

- Human Resource Information System, a.k.a. HRIS Solutions - This is the type of term you receive from marketing as opposed to terms used above created by an IT staff. Yep, it's all pretty much the same thing. However, an argument could be made that an HRIS application is more comprehensive in its capabilities than an HR database but this may, or may not, be true as there are no standards for the terms in our industry. In marketing, however, perception is reality.

- Human Resource Management System, a.k.a. HRMS Solutions - Again, as far as I can tell, this term means the same as HRIS, or any of the other terms used above or most offered below. Overall, I believe HRMS is perceived as being a more comprehensive HR application than HRIS systems.

- HRIS Solutions and HRMS Solutions: Is there a difference?

Webpedia.com defines HRIS as a system used by human resources departments to track employees and information about them. A HRIS is often a database system or a series of inter-related databases.

Webpedia.com defines an HRMS as a software application that combines many human resources functions, including benefits administration, payroll, recruiting and training, and performance analysis and review into one package.

So according to these definitions, HRMS software is more comprehensive than HRIS software. I would love to accept this but, in reality, I can name a dozen HRIS applications that contain all of the features listed in the HRMS application. So now we are back to my original contention that the two terms, and many of the others, mean the exact same thing.

I worked with one HRIS vendor who changed the name of their system to an HRMS. It's important to note that they only changed the name, not the functionality. They simply believed the perception was that HRMS systems were more comprehensive than HRIS applications.

- Talent Management Software - A relatively new term to the market, this has replaced the term performance management software.

- Talent Acquisition - Like talent management software, this is a relatively new term to the market which is replacing the terms recruiting software or applicant tracking software.

- Licensed Purchase, Hosted License, ASP, SaaS, Online Subscription HRIS or HRMS - After fifteen years of selling HR software programs, these terms were confusing to me when I began working on CompareHRIS.com. I will do my best to define each. For these definitions, I will rely on that which was offered by George Brady with Vista HRMS.

- Subscription Service HRIS solutions (also referred to SaaS or PEPM) - Are sometimes referred to as multi-tenanted, as many companies share the system that has been configured for general use. The software and the data reside on servers in a secure facility, managed by the Vendor, where you access it from a Web browser. These solutions do not require IT support on your part. They usually require a set-up fee and you typically subscribe to this service monthly based on your employee population for a minimum term.

- Licensed/Purchase HRIS Solutions (You buy it and own it) - Licensed/Purchased solutions are sometimes referred to as In-House or On-Premise solutions. You pay a one-time license fee and your IT department installs and maintains the solution on your hardware using your network. License software is configured to your particular needs. There are implementation fees to set up the software. Ongoing annual Support fees are a percentage of the original license cost.

- Licensed/Hosted HRIS Solutions (also referred to as ASP) - Are the same as Licensed/Purchased with the software being configured to your particular needs. However, the Vendor hosts your software in its secure facility and provides the back office IT support. There are still implementation and Support fees. There is usually no minimum term as you own a license.

Closing - You are likely not the only person who has asked -What is the difference between an HRIS and an HRMS application?- I have worked in the industry for 15 years and I have asked the same question. Before today, I did not have a definitive answer. They are the same.

HRIS, HRMS - Is There a Difference?

Web Development Versus Web Design - Is There Really a Difference?

Technology pundits have constantly argued that the terms web development and web design are interchangeable with one another. I respectfully disagree and argue that though the terms may have been interchangeable in the past; they have long since become two terms completely separate from one another with different goals, standards, and philosophies behind them. Web development can be quickly defined as "a broad term for any activity related to developing a web site for the World Wide Web or an intranet. This can include e-commerce business development, web design, web content development, client-side/server-side scripting, and web server configuration"; whereas a definition of web design can be summed up as "a process of conceptualization, planning, modeling, and execution of electronic media content delivery via Internet in the form of technologies" (definitions courtesy of Wikipedia). We can take note of a couple of things simply from these simplified definitions. The first is that web design falls under the wing of web development and it is easy to see why many think the two are intertwined much like the concept that a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square. Web design is a part of web development, but not actually an essential part of developing the web.

Web design, more specifically website design, is a process of creatively visualizing and utilizing the tools and applications created by the web development process. Web design takes the development process one step further and often finds itself using these tools for ideas and applications vastly different than what they were intended for. A quick analogy would be that of how the plane engine made for war combat was used as the basis for the car engine we use in our every day lives. Web design has brought us things like the web 2.0 concept of user generated content; some thing that web development tools are capable of, though not intended for it specifically. Content management systems such as the ones talked about earlier provide the framework for social networking websites and blogs. Dynamic web pages which appeal to our aesthetic eye use frameworks set forth by web development tools yet take it one step further by using the tool to create a masterpiece of web design.

Content Management System

With all of America's advances in web development it became easy to separate the two terms from their synonymous relationship; it has become a process of developing technologies and applications for the advancement of the World Wide Web. These technologies of course, can be adapted and used by anything related to the internet (such as websites) but is not merely limited to it. Content management systems (CMS) are one of the many examples of positive strides made in web development. CMS systems allow for easy management of content and data while online and can be used for simple server networking within an office, or as the backbone of an ecommerce website (voting systems in various states use CMS systems to tally and record votes via software). Web development also houses things such as the creation, modification, and innovation of scripting and coding languages. The advent of Actionscript 3.0 and PHP 5.2 can be marked as some of the great achievements of the web; Actionscript 3.0 is part of Adobe Flash CS3; however Adobe created AS 3.0 to make it much more logical for creative web applications. More specifically, web development in NY has been known to constantly utilize the most up to date tools and research to create some of the most innovative web applications.

If web development is the paintbrush, web design is the Mona Lisa.

Web Development Versus Web Design - Is There Really a Difference?

What Is the Difference Between CMS, Blogs, Websites and Websites Builders?

So, you're new to this online business thing and all you hear about is CMS, blogging and websites. No wonder you might be confused, at the end of the day, what's the difference and why should you bother? Oh well, I hope you'll get more clarity on the matter by reading this article.

Let's first analyze some basic definitions of each term (Wikipedia):
- CMS or Content Management System: is a computer application that is used to create, edit, manage, search and publish various types of electronic text and digital media
- Blog (coming from weblog): is a type of website, usually managed and maintained by an individual, that has regular entries of commentary, description of events and material such as video or graphics. These "entries" (usually called "posts") are displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to add content to a blog.
- Website: a collection of related web pages, videos and other digital material that are hosted on one web server, usually accessible over the Internet.
- Website Builder: online or offline tool used to build websites, that are meant to serve people that want to build their own website but they have no knowledge about the technical aspects of website programming. For the matter, we will only talk in this article about the online web builders' providers (one example of offline website builder would be Adobe Dreamweaver).

Content Management System

So, to recap a little bit before moving on:
- A website is a collection of web pages
- A blog is a collection of pages and posts that runs on a content management system (or simply said, you have a pre-defined structure and even template you can just use)
- A website builder also uses a content management system, but it allows you to design your own website the way you want it

Next, I want you to pay attention to the MAIN two differences between a blog and a website. One - the blogs reveals the posts in reverse chronological order, while in a website you can choose the way the pages are arranged according to the navigation setting on your website. And the second - while a blog allows you to interact with your audience in the form of comments to posts and pages, that is not valid anymore for a static website.

If you are trying now to decide which one is best to use, the basic criteria should be the ease of use and the cost of each option.

If you want to save money, you can arrange your own website hosting and create your blog, by sourcing a template and installing all the necessary plug-ins (like the autoresponder). It's the do it yourself way, and you might get stuck - but feel confident there's always a way out and you can use the online resources to get out of it fast!

If on the other side you don't mind paying a little extra for your web hosting, template and blog installation, then go with a website builder. Make sure you do your homework and research the website builders offers, as they might include useful gadgets (like autoresponder or datafeed). These packages can cost you way less compared with buying them alone.

Are you more clarified now? I certainly do hope so! All the best with the creation of your online page, be it a blog or a website!

What Is the Difference Between CMS, Blogs, Websites and Websites Builders?