Empowering small businesses to succeed

Zenefits vs. Workday: Key Features

The range of features is substantial, especially for Workday, but the main distinction between the two services is in their primary focus:

Zenefits:

• Payroll management with automated tax filing.
• Benefits administration for health insurance and pension schemes.
• Time and attendance tracking with scheduling tools.
• Compliance assistance with labour laws and employee onboarding.

Workday:

• Comprehensive talent management, covering recruitment and development.
• Workforce planning and budgeting tools.
• Advanced analytics and reporting for strategic decision-making.
• Financial management for budgeting and expense tracking.

Zenefits vs. Workday: Similarities

Despite many differences, the services share common elements. They:

• Are both powered by cloud-based solutions.
• Help automate HR processes.
• Support integration of additional tools and services (though the list of tools differs in various aspects).
• Aim to prioritise a positive employee experience.

Zenefits vs. Workday: Differences

When comparing Zenefits vs. Workday, the differences are apparent:

1. The target audience varies. One service targets small and medium-sized companies, while the other focuses on large enterprises. While Workday does offer a separate suite for smaller firms, that’s not its primary focus.
2. Payment policy. Workday’s subscription fee depends on the number of connected employees, whereas Zenefits offers free features with additional charges for more complex ones.
3. Workday boasts one of the most comprehensive lists of features and tools in the market, while Zenefits focuses on a straightforward and user-friendly tool for quick onboarding.

Zenefits vs. Workday: Pros and Cons

Zenefits Pros:

• Better suited for smaller businesses, especially if they don’t want to spend months mastering the tools.
• Clear and intuitive interface.
• Pre-configured workflows streamline HR tasks.

Zenefits Cons:

• Limited options for businesses planning to expand or needing sophisticated analytics.
• Basic reporting compared to Workday.

Workday Pros:

• Analytics and features comparable to tech industry leaders, incorporating AI.
• Comprehensive HR and financial tools.

Workday Cons:

• Higher cost structure.
• More challenging to learn (can take months to fully understand).

Zenefits vs. Workday: Pricing

Zenefits pricing, depending on the feature set, varies from $10 to $33 per employee per month.

Workday’s pricing is bespoke and dependent on organisational size and specific requirements, usually necessitating a significant initial investment. However, some tools like Workday Adaptive Planning, offer a free trial period.

5 Recommendations for Choosing Between Zenefits vs. Workday

1. Assess your business size and growth plans

Smaller companies manage fine with simple plans, and Zenefits’ out-of-the-box solutions fully cater to their HR needs. Meanwhile, large enterprises (500+ employees) with complex structures and international branches are more likely to choose Workday, which is perfectly scalable.

2. Determine which functions you genuinely require

In the Zenefits vs. Workday comparison, Zenefits is a perfect choice if your primary needs are payroll, automating compliance, and benefit management. Zenefits will automate ACA reporting and certainly ease onboarding new staff. However, if advanced tools like financial forecasting are needed, Workday, with powerful analytics and AI usage, is a superior choice.

3. Determine your budget

Zenefits offers clear and predictable pricing. In contrast, Workday operates after a personal service estimate and can cost over $100,000 annually for larger organisations.

4. Evaluate if you need tool integration

Zenefits integrates seamlessly with Slack, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. Workday supports more complex integrations, such as ERP systems like SAP, which integrate financial and HR reports.

5. Decide the time you can dedicate to mastering the tools

Zenefits facilitates quick implementation and staff training, whereas Workday can take 6 to 12 months to implement due to its complexity.

Zenefits vs. Workday: Use Cases

Zenefits Use Cases

• Small businesses that need to automate HR processes

A tech startup with 25 employees might use Zenefits for benefit and payroll management. Zenefits simplifies health insurance enrolment. Time tracking tools assist managers in managing schedules and approving holiday requests effortlessly.

• Retail businesses with hourly employees

Zenefits’s time and attendance tracking functions are particularly advantageous for retail businesses. For example, a chocolate shop owner with 10 part-time staff members can easily manage schedules, account for overtime, and accurately calculate payroll. Employees can view their schedules and request holidays via the mobile app.

Workday use cases

• Talent management in a large corporation

A global company with 5,000 employees can utilise Workday for recruitment and retention management. AI-enabled tools aid in constructing effective teams with a mix of diverse talents and traits. For instance, a healthcare company can use Workday to identify employees better suited for leadership roles.

• Global organisations operating in various countries

An IT consulting firm with offices in the US, Europe, and Asia can leverage Workday’s scalability. Workday supports salary calculations in multiple currencies and regularly updates data on laws in different countries.

Final Thoughts on Zenefits vs. Workday: Which Is Best For Business?

When choosing between Zenefits and Workday, focus on your needs. Zenefits suits small and medium-sized companies requiring immediate assistance without spending extensive time understanding complex tools.

Workday, conversely, is appropriate for large enterprises that necessitate advanced analytics, scalability, and seamless integration capabilities.