Three cloud HRMS connectivity concerns you can't neglect

Cloud connectivity is a little thing that can make a big impact on a user’s daily activities in the HRMS. SaaS products can seem simple and intuitive to use like any other website but connectivity issues can defeat even the best application. Are you making these rookie mistakes?

1. Low bandwidth or high traffic networks

Today’s generation of cloud HRMS providers use the latest and greatest technology to deliver a user-friendly experience. In a modern office or headquarters, fast internet is expected and standard but in remote locations or on mobile networks access can become a challenge.

Recommended reading: find cloud HRMS vendors to suit your company with our unbiased and independently-compiled HRMS vendor directory

When you are considering products and vendors or increasing HRMS functionality for managers and employees, review the vendor’s technical requirements to ensure that your infrastructure and hardware can support their ever-increasing appetite for bandwidth.

2. Is the product compatible with your devices and platforms?

Some companies use a strict structure on their PC builds and a corporate standard for hardware, operating systems, browsers, etc. Others operate on a more flexible bring your own device (BYOD) methodology. Some cloud HRMS vendors are technology-agnostic and work across the spectrum of browsers and platforms while others are more locked down to a limited set of offerings.

Nothing causes more frustration to an HRMS user than a lack of accessibility or having to logout and restart transactions due to incompatible software. This is a very common scenario as there are so many devices and options on the market today. Align and communicate expectations so that your users can operate in the HRMS as intended.

3. Responsibility for connectivity issues

As you move toward a cloud solution your control of your HRMS data is partially passed to an outsourced provider and you are reliant on third party data centers and technology to ensure your success. A struggle that I have seen repeatedly with companies and their cloud HRMS vendors is the management of the troubleshooting process when there are connectivity issues. As connectivity issues are often temporary and unpredictable it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause. These situations require a close relationship between vendor and internal teams in order to identify a root cause.

How are these types of problems handled? Will the vendor make a one-time check and then close the ticket as nothing is found on their end? Will the ticket be transferred around the globe in a ‘follow the sun’ model or will it get a dedicated resource to see it to completion? Ensure that your support package covers these scenarios and that the timeline for resolution is acceptable.