9 top employee retention software options

Good employee retention requires the right policies, culture and software.

Many tools on the market can help improve employee retention, such as applications for learning management, performance management, employee engagement, compensation, recruiting and core HRIS. The right technology can not only provide a better user experience but also help identify top talent and drive strategies to retain them.

The following list of employee retention software is based on data from G2, Capterra, Forrester, Software Advice, Gartner, vendor websites and personal experience. The list is sorted alphabetically.

1. 360Learning

360Learning is a combined LMS and LXP and includes AI capabilities for developing courses, translating text and answering employee questions. Many employees want opportunities to improve their skills and gain new ones, so a system that can help them do so could improve employee retention.

360Learning is a more complex system than some competitors, so HR leaders should look into whether their company can afford 360Learning and if their IT department is prepared for the complexity of its administration. 

2. Achievers

Recognizing and rewarding employees can positively affect employee experience, which can then improve employee retention. Achievers offers both “shoutouts” and points that employees can cash in to receive items of their choosing. The platform also enables external feedback for employees, such as feedback from clients.

Before moving ahead with the software, CHROs should look into the cost of Achievers to ensure it’s a good fit as well as the fees associated with the rewards program.

3. Cornerstone

Cornerstone offers a full suite of modules for managing the employee lifecycle, which could help improve employee retention. Cornerstone’s skills capability identifies employee skills and helps workers develop them so employees can work on new projects or take on new roles.

However, Cornerstone’s administrative functions can be complex to manage, and the cost of ownership and expansion may put the system out of reach for smaller companies.

4. Culture Amp

Companies use Culture Amp to send out employee surveys, manage employee performance and help employees plan their future using personalized career paths. The software can help improve employee retention because the survey capability can flag problems affecting employee experience.

However, some users say they wish they could customize the software further.

5. Lattice

The Lattice HR system offers various features that could help companies improve their employee retention. For example, the performance management tools could help improve the overall performance management process for workers.

In addition, Lattice’s employee engagement surveys can help CHROs and other company leaders address employee concerns.

6. Lever

Employee retention begins with the hiring process. Lever enables recruiters to post open positions in multiple locations without needing to create multiple requisitions, which remote-first companies may find helpful. In addition, the recruitment team can use the CRM functionality to maintain contact with candidates for previous positions if desired.

Lever’s AI tools can automate processes and help improve the text of job listings, which could help attract more candidates.

7. Perceptyx

Employee feedback is essential to building and maintaining a good company culture, which can then improve employee retention. Perceptyx collects feedback from employees at different moments in the employee experience, from standard employee surveys to more spur-of-the-moment data collection. Perceptyx’s AI tool can summarize employee feedback, help develop action plans and send leaders reminders on action items.

CHROs or other leaders evaluating the software should confirm that all desired survey question types are available and that Perceptyx can integrate with the company’s current software.

8. SAP SuccessFactors

SuccessFactors helps companies carry out the tasks associated with hiring, managing, training and promoting employees. Ensuring these processes go smoothly could help improve employee experience and thus employee retention.

SuccessFactors offers a consistent user interface and many of the top-ranked modules in the market, but it may be too expensive for some companies. Other challenges include the system’s advanced configuration options potentially making system management more complicated and the complexities of administering an application in which many of the modules were acquired rather than built by SAP.

9. Tableau

CHROs should be considering multiple data points when attempting to improve employee retention. Tableau and other data analytics tools can import data from multiple HR systems into one application, which can simplify that process.

CHROs should consider whether the cost of Tableau is within their company’s budget as well as the work that will be required to import data from multiple systems, develop the needed dashboards and carry out ongoing system maintenance.

Eric St-Jean is an independent consultant with a particular focus on HR technology, project management and Microsoft Excel training and automation. He writes about numerous business and technology areas.