ADP is an HRIS provider, but ADP is a portfolio of products rather than one single HRIS platform. ADP Workforce Now, ADP Vantage HCM and ADP Lyric HCM manage employee data and connect HR, payroll, benefits, time and talent processes. ADP Workforce Now is aimed at organizations with approximately 50 to 999 employees, while other ADP products serve different business sizes and needs.

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RUN Powered by ADP is different. It is primarily a small-business payroll and tax solution, although higher-tier packages add HR features.

ADP HRIS System at a Glance

Question Answer
Is ADP an HRIS vendor? Yes. ADP offers cloud-based HRIS and HCM software.
Is ADP Workforce Now an HRIS? Yes. It manages employee records and connects HR, payroll, benefits, time and talent functions.
Is RUN Powered by ADP an HRIS? Selected packages provide HRIS-like capabilities, but RUN mainly focuses on payroll and tax administration.
Does ADP include payroll? Yes. Payroll is one of ADP's main functions.
Which ADP product suits larger organizations? ADP Workforce Now, ADP Vantage HCM or ADP Lyric HCM, depending on workforce size and requirements.

What Makes ADP an HRIS?

An HRIS stores employee information and connects core HR processes in one system. ADP describes HRIS software as technology that brings together payroll, benefits administration, talent management, time tracking and HR reporting.

Depending on the product and package, ADP can support:

  • Employee records and HR profiles
  • Payroll processing and tax administration
  • Benefits administration
  • Time and attendance
  • Paid-time-off tracking
  • Hiring and onboarding
  • Employee self-service
  • Talent and performance management
  • Compliance reporting
  • Workforce analytics
  • Integrations with other business software

ADP Workforce Now, for example, supports HR recordkeeping, employee lifecycle management, onboarding, reporting, organizational structures and connections to payroll and other HR modules.

Is ADP Workforce Now an HRIS?

Yes. ADP Workforce Now is an HRIS and HCM platform for many midsized organizations.

ADP positions Workforce Now for organizations with approximately 50 to 999 employees and offers an enterprise version for larger organizations. The platform can cover job applications, hiring, payroll, performance, termination, reporting and employee data management.

Workforce Now is a suitable option when a company needs:

  • A centralized employee database
  • Payroll and HR in the same platform
  • Employee self-service
  • Benefits and time-management connections
  • Onboarding and offboarding workflows
  • HR reporting and analytics
  • Integrations with other HR applications

Is RUN Powered by ADP an HRIS?

RUN Powered by ADP is best described as a payroll platform with optional HR capabilities.

ADP markets RUN as a payroll and tax solution for small businesses. Depending on the package, businesses can add HR guides, employee documents, applicant tracking, learning management, legal assistance and other HR services.

RUN may be enough for a small company that mainly needs:

  • Payroll processing
  • Payroll tax filing
  • Employee pay statements
  • Basic employee information
  • Limited HR support

A company that needs a broader HRIS may need ADP Workforce Now or additional integrations.

Is ADP an HRIS or an HCM?

ADP offers both HRIS and HCM solutions.

HRIS generally refers to the core system used to manage employee information, payroll, benefits and HR administration. HCM, or human capital management, includes those functions along with tools such as recruiting, talent management, workforce planning and analytics.

ADP uses both terms because its product range covers basic payroll and HR administration as well as broader workforce and talent requirements. ADP Vantage HCM is designed for large, complex organizations. ADP Lyric HCM is positioned as a full-suite solution for growing global enterprises.

Which ADP Product Is the Right HRIS?

The right choice depends on company size, HR complexity and the functions required.

  • Small business focused mainly on payroll: RUN Powered by ADP
  • Small business needing additional HR services: RUN with an expanded HR package
  • Midsized business needing a central HR system: ADP Workforce Now
  • Large or multinational organization: ADP Vantage HCM, ADP Lyric HCM or another enterprise ADP solution
  • Company with specialized HR needs: An ADP core platform connected to applications through ADP Marketplace

ADP is the provider. RUN, Workforce Now, Vantage HCM and Lyric HCM are separate products with different capabilities and target customers.

Bottom Line

ADP is an HRIS provider, but the product name matters. ADP Workforce Now is the clearest example of a complete ADP HRIS. RUN Powered by ADP focuses on payroll, with HRIS-style features available through selected plans.

Before choosing ADP, compare the exact product and package rather than evaluating ADP as one system.