Knowing the right payroll and human resources support is essential to the success of your company. This is especially true as you navigate the increasing complexities of business growth, operations, and HR itself. There seems to be more involved every year, along with more filings, regulations, and compliance questions.
But we probably don’t have to tell you that, right?
If an in-house HR team is out of the question, you have options. There are numerous HR providers available, and many have become household names because of their size, reach, and marketing. But it’s still challenging to choose the best one that is the right fit for your business, and it can be tempting to assume one is better than another just because it’s familiar.
In this article, we’ll be comparing major players in the market. At first glance they seem to share a very similar service lineup designed to ease the burden on growing businesses. Let’s dig a little deeper and take a closer look at what sets them apart and why DES may have the edge.
HR services solutions offered by DES
DES is a dynamic HR solutions provider offering tailor-made services for businesses of all sizes. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction, innovation, and cloud-native technology, DES aims to simplify and streamline HR, letting you focus on your core responsibilities.
Popular HR services include:
- Customized payroll processing: DES designs tailored payroll solutions to meet each client’s unique requirements, taking into account employee cafe 125 deductions, garnishments, PTO, and benefits.
- Tax filing and tax administration: DES ensures that clients stay compliant with ever-changing tax laws and regulations for accurate and timely filings within their respective industry.
- Time and attendance solutions: DES leads with powerful technology that offers rich flexibility. This lets clients design and implement solutions that are best suited for their workforce to ensure costs are managed.
- Human resource management: DES provides the day-to-day administrative support firms need, offering relief from dealing with daily issues.
- Risk management: DES offers a self-insured solution for workers compensation in Ohio and a spectrum of risk mitigation solutions for OSHA, unemployment, and ACA.
- Employee benefits administration: DES offers a range of employee benefits including access to a healthcare broker, optional benefits, and retirement plans, including 401(k), enabling clients to offer rich packages for better employee retention.
The National Players for Payroll & HR Solutions
The National Players are an established giant in the payroll and HR solutions space. They make up some of the largest providers globally, and have a comprehensive suite of services that caters to a wide range of businesses:
- They offer an array of payroll services, catering to businesses of different sizes and industries.
- Tax filing and administration: they help businesses stay compliant with employment laws and regulations, ensuring accurate and timely tax filings.
- Time and attendance tracking: Most of their platforms include robust time and attendance management features, ensuring businesses can accurately track employee work hours and manage labor costs effectively.
- Employee benefits administration: They provide an extensive range of employee benefits, including healthcare, retirement plans, and other perks, enabling businesses to offer competitive packages to their employees.
How about the service experience?
As we mentioned above, at first blush the services share a lot of similarities.
There are some key differences, however, that are worth pointing out before you make any final decisions.
Customer Support
DES’ focus on customer satisfaction ensures that their support team is always ready to assist with any issues or queries (there’s no voicemail during business hours).
You also will be assigned a dedicated account specialist who gets to know you personally and is intimately familiar with your business goals and needs.
If you have a question or need help, you know exactly who to call, and it’s a familiar voice.
This is all part of DES’ high-touch, one-on-one customer support model.
National players certainly have support services and systems in place, but because of its size and customer volume, a one-on-one model just isn’t possible.
In fact, as is the industry standard for many of these large organizations, smaller clients (usually less than 100 employees) are handed off to outsourced call centers that field account questions and concerns.
This means that you’re a faceless client, there’s a high turnover of support representatives, advice and help may be inconsistent, and there is no clear understanding of your business.
It’s a generic approach built on scalability rather than a personalized approach built on service and support.
Customized HR solutions
DES prides itself on its personalized approach, offering customized HR solutions to meet each client’s unique needs. Payroll administration is a keystone service which our other offerings can be added or subtracted as needed. This level of flexibility and adaptability allows businesses to choose the services they truly need without being tied to pre-packaged bundles. As you grow and your needs evolve, DES’ role can seamlessly expand and fill the gap.
In contrast, national players may require their clients to subscribe to their full suite of services. This can be an overwhelming proposition for some businesses, especially smaller ones that may not require all the features offered. In this case, DES’ tailored approach gives it an edge over national players.
User Experience For HR Solution Providers
DES’ user-friendly interface and intuitive design make it easy for businesses to navigate and manage their payroll and HR tasks. The platform was built to be adaptable, catering to a variety of businesses, from small startups to large enterprises.
Other platforms, while comprehensive, can be more complex and impersonal due to the sheer number of features and services offered.
For some businesses, this may lead to a steeper learning curve when setting up and using the platform.
Pricing from Payroll and HR Services Providers
DES offers competitive pricing with flexible options. By providing customized solutions, they ensure that businesses only pay for the services they really need, allowing for cost-effective payroll and HR management.
While market player pricing is also competitive, they don’t offer a flexible pricing plan.
This can lead to higher costs for businesses that may need some services within a specific price tier, but not all.
Questions To Answer When Choosing An HR Solutions Provider?
Which provider is right for you all comes down to your needs, expectations, and the level of service you’re looking for. More specifically, when you’re choosing an HR vendor you should carefully consider the answer to these core questions:
Do HR Solution providers offer a flexible business model?
Do they offer a flexible pricing model that conforms to your needs?
Can they offer you a dedicated team?
Can you expect a high-touch customer service experience, or will you be a faceless number?
Can you expect cost stability, or volatility?
Will they be a true administrative partner and make your job (and life) easier?
Do Payroll and HR service providers have high employee retention, and can they help you with yours?
Do they offer critical area expertise with proven experience in your vertical, or will you be forced into a generic approach?
Can they help you with high quality risk management?
Do HR solution providers offer cloud technology solutions that increase productivity, efficiency, and accuracy?
If a large-scale provider with turnkey services is a good fit, The Big Three might be your solution.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for personalized service that becomes your partner, offers flexible pricing, and white-glove support, DES is the better fit for you.
