The use of payroll software is a best practice across nearly every industry for good reason. The savings in time and efficiency go beyond the relief from calculating overtime and taxes correctly. They extend to things like staying abreast of major developments in tax and labor compliance in local, state, and federal jurisdictions. They extend to reporting mandates for tax collecting, remitting, and filing, and even health insurance tracking, enrollment, and reporting. They can cut down on the need for hard copy paper documents, saving you the headache of a separate system to secure private information. The advantages to an organization with quality payroll software on its side go on and on. So what is the best payroll software for a manufacturing company, and how can you make sure that the software you choose is tailored to your needs?
The best payroll software for a manufacturing company may often be one with other clients in the same industries. Though valid and real security concerns often prevent payroll software businesses from sharing their client list with you, you are still allowed to ask if they have any other clients in your field.
Look for an established company with the resources to answer your most detailed questions and shepherd you through the implementation process. They should be able to address your concerns for any piece work rates and levels of access for different managers and roles within your company and establish a great track record of getting you timely answers in cases where their representatives cannot immediately satisfy your questions.
For the manufacturing industry, in particular, piece rate pay capability can be crucial. A payroll software worthy of your business will accommodate other enterprises in a similar industry, be they medical, construction, or automotive manufacturing. Each of these groups may use a piece rate of pay contracts. Look for the ability to serve you whether your contracts are for flat rates per piece, a flat amount for a certain number of pieces, or a rate for pieces in addition to wages.
Crucially, find out if there is compatibility with any time and attendance or other tracking systems currently used by your company and the payroll software. If you decide to upload that data into your payroll system and not have it tracked with a time and attendance tool provided by the new payroll system, make sure to ask about the bridge between each system and how much work will go into customizing upload files to feed into the new software. Using the software’s time and attendance system could save you time, but the decision should be made in light of your own business needs, as well as short and long-term goals.
Employee self-service is another key feature that can save even smaller companies heaps of time and money. The ability for an employee to make their own address changes and direct deposit changes should include an easy roll-out and come with the ability for administrators to audit all changes made as well.
Also, your payroll software should carry the potential for use across the human resources department. HR is often involved in rate changes, for example, and processing leave requests. If your business is large enough to have separate, dedicated human resources and payroll staff, look for ways they may be able to work together to increase efficiency while safeguarding very private information.
Additionally, ask for the expected rollout timeframe for any new software implementation and whether you’ll have a dedicated team to assist you. You’ll need to prepare your historical and current information for transfer, so ask who will guide you in this process. Look for great responsiveness as you communicate and choose your next steps.
A picture says a thousand words, so get in front of the interface by asking for a demo. Ask to record the demo and walk through it with both your payroll and human resources directors or managers. Those who will use the payroll software most will be a rich resource for feedback, and an early look at any new system will help them mentally prepare for any changes to come.
Accuracy, timeliness, and cost savings are three excellent reasons to use manufacturing payroll software. Efficiency, ease of use, and professionalism are three more. We could go on. Your employees pledge their days to your enterprise, and in return, you pledge your commitment to paying them correctly and on time, every time. When you look for the best payroll software for your manufacturing company, you look to enroll in a service that can guarantee more than just the guarantee of exact overtime and vacation pay calculation. You look for a knowledgeable service able to help you stay on top of compliance and help you deduct, collect, remit, and report on taxes at all levels. You look for software offering a holistic and comprehensive suite of features relevant to your business. Luckily, TruPay has you covered.
Get an inside look at the best manufacturing payroll software from TruPay by requesting a demo today!