Different companies have distinct requirements when it comes to selecting human resources (HR) software. Some prefer simpler solutions with just the right number of features, while others (big companies, in particular) look for extensive functionality.

Personio and Workday are two popular names in the industry that can automate and streamline HR processes, reducing the administrative burden. Most importantly, these platforms can be customized to meet the requirements of organizations of all sizes.

Let’s figure out which of the two is the best HR software in this detailed Personio vs Workday comparison guide, where we will compare their features, pricing plans, and HR functionalities.

Personio Vs Workday At A Glance

Feature

Personio

Workday

Payroll

Offers preliminary payroll with calculations, tax filings, and compliance checks. Integrates with accounting/payroll software

Handles complex payroll needs with global compliance, real-time analytics, and seamless HR-finance integration through Workday’s ecosystem

Ease of Use

Easy to learn with a clean interface and guided workflows

Sleek and polished interface suitable for users with varying technical expertise 

People Analytics

Provides basic analytics for HR metrics like turnover and attendance. Reports are easy to generate but lack advanced visualization tools

Advanced analytics with predictive insights, AI/ML-driven tools, and real-time dashboards for in-depth analysis and decision-making 

Employee Experience

Includes surveys for feedback, whistleblowing with anonymity, and AI-powered HR help desk for prompt responses

Offers pulse surveys and collaboration tools to empower and engage employees while fostering career advancement opportunities

Mobile App

Replicates all web functionalities, including leave requests, pay details, and approvals, with an intuitive interface

Feature-rich app with pay slips, benefits, learning materials, and global payroll compliance for seamless HR tasks across regions

What Is Personio?

Personio is an all-in-one platform that offers essential HR tools, including recruiting, employee engagement, payroll, and compliance. With a focus on automation and ease of use, it helps businesses reduce manual workload, ensuring HR teams can focus on strategic initiatives.

It addresses the diverse requirements of businesses of all sizes and helps them manage human resources effectively. Furthermore, the software supports integrations with over 200 popular third-party applications and systems, such as Slack, Okta, HRCast, and GoTime Cloud, which further enhances its functionality.

Unique Features Of Personio

  • E-Signature: The software integrates a secure digital signature tool, simplifying document signing processes and facilitating faster agreement approvals
  • Digital Employee File: This feature centralizes all employee-related data in a single digital hub, ensuring secure and organized storage for easy access and compliance
  • Recruiting Management: It offers end-to-end recruitment tools, from job posting to candidate evaluation, helping businesses hire effectively and efficiently
  • Onboarding And Offboarding: It automates workflows for welcoming new employees and managing employee exits for a seamless transition and compliance

Who Are The Main Users Of Personio?

Personio is used by small, medium, and large-scale companies across various industries and sectors, including:

  • Non-profit
  • Food and beverages
  • Cosmetics
  • Consumer electronics

Pros And Cons Of Personio

Pros

  • Ensures transparency on remaining leaves by classifying them into different categories
  • Offers a centralized database for all employee information
  • The timesheet recording system offers great functionality

Cons

  • The feature placement often changes, impacting the usability
  • Calendar view is outdated compared to other features

What Is Workday?

Workday is an enterprise-grade cloud platform specializing in Human Capital Management (HCM), financial management, and analytics. It integrates a suite of tools that allow companies to manage their workforce, financials, and operations within a unified system.

In terms of human resources, it stands out for its focus on real-time insights, scalability, and robust AI capabilities positions. The platform offers an extensive marketplace featuring top names in the industry for seamless integration.

Unique Features Of Workday

  • Benefits Administration: Workday supports health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks for global teams. Employees can access their benefits easily through a sleek self-service portal
  • Workday Skill Cloud: It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to map and analyze employee skills across the organization, helping teams identify skill gaps, recommend learning opportunities, and align talent with business needs
  • Manager Insights Hub: This feature centralizes critical data and provides managers with actionable insights into team performance, engagement, and productivity

Who Are The Main Users Of Workday?

The software is widely used by companies across various industries and sectors, including;

  • Higher education
  • Hospitality
  • Banking and capital markets
  • Media and entertainment
  • Non-profit

Pros And Cons Of Workday

Pros

  • Offers a fully functional and intuitive mobile app
  • Has an easy to use, multifunctional dashboard for smooth navigation
  • Offers a secure way to store employee records and paperwork

Cons

  • Reporting feature can be improved
  • Certain features, like onboarding automation, may require additional charges

Personio Vs Workday – Key Feature Comparison

Payroll

Personio offers preliminary payroll, which takes care of calculations, tax filings, and compliance checks, leaving minimum work for HR managers. It integrates with accounting and payroll software, which further enhances its utility. Furthermore, the payroll dashboard is user-friendly, offering clear visibility into salary structures and deductions.

Workday excels in handling complex payroll requirements for large organizations. It supports global payroll needs with seamless compliance for multiple countries. Additionally, it offers real-time payroll analytics and flexible configurations, which make it suitable for companies with dynamic salary structures. Its integration with Workday’s ecosystem ensures accurate data across HR and finance.

Winner: Workday is the winner here for its global payroll capabilities and its support for large enterprises.

Ease Of Use

Personio is easy to learn and use, even for non-technical users. Its clean interface and guided workflows make navigation simple. This feature makes it beneficial, particularly for small businesses, as it minimizes the learning curve for HR teams.

Despite offering multiple features, Workday’s interface doesn’t feel cluttered. In fact, it gives a polished and sleek look, making it suitable for users with different levels of technical expertise.

Winner: This one is a tie! Both these platforms offer intuitive and easy-to-use platforms with minimal to no required training.

People Analytics

Personio provides basic analytics for tracking key HR metrics like turnover rates, attendance, and employee satisfaction. Also, the software offers straightforward and easy to generate reports. However, advanced data visualization tools are limited.

Workday offers data-driven analytics with advanced reporting, predictive insights, and real-time dashboards. It uses AI and machine learning (ML) to help users drill down into specific metrics and gain relevant information and personalized insights.

Winner: Although Personio is great for basic analytics, it lacks advanced complexity. So, Workday wins for its comprehensive features and in-depth capabilities.

Employee Experience

Personio offers different tools for improving employee experience. These include:

  • Surveys – a tool to help managers gain valuable feedback and actionable insights on different metrics
  • Whistleblowing – an anonymous reporting channel with a built-in protection feature, providing employees with a platform to voice their concerns confidently and anonymously
  • Conversations - a central HR help desk with AI capabilities that can answer employees’ questions and concerns promptly

Workday provides pulse surveys to help businesses empower, engage, and support their employees, fostering a more connected and responsive work environment. It offers collaboration tools for employees to manage their daily tasks effectively and capitalize on opportunities that can help them advance their careers.

Winner: While Workday offers great collaboration tools, Personio is the clear winner here with its advanced functionality and anonymous reporting feature.

Mobile App

Personio’s mobile app offers all the functionalities available in its web version. Employees can submit leave requests, check pay details, and view important company updates. Managers benefit from these tools to approve workflows, monitor schedules, and stay connected to their teams. The app scales well for larger companies, supporting diverse HR needs without losing its intuitive interface.

Like Personio, Workday also offers a feature-rich mobile app. It allows users to access pay slips, benefits, performance reviews, and learning materials from anywhere. The app supports global payroll and compliance, making it ideal for large organizations operating across multiple regions. Managers can approve workflows, review analytics, and handle team management tasks seamlessly.

Winner: This one ends up in a tie! Both Persoino and Workday offer functional and intuitive mobile apps, empowering HR teams to manage their tasks on the go while providing employees with access to key information at all times.

The Verdict – Which HR Software Is Better?

Personio and Workday both shine in their respective ways, catering to different organizational needs and sizes. Personio stands out for its simplicity, ease of use, and tools designed to enhance employee experience. On the other hand, Workday impresses with its powerful payroll capabilities, advanced analytics, and global reach.

In short, the choice between Personio vs Workday comes down to your specific business needs. Choose the one that aligns with your business goals.