What's the difference between payroll software and an HRIS?

Payroll software specifically handles the calculation and disbursement of employee compensation, including salary, deductions, and payslip generation. An HRIS (Human Resource Information System) is broader — it includes payroll processing alongside comprehensive HR functions such as leave tracking, performance management with 360° feedback, attendance monitoring, recruitment and onboarding, document management, workflow automation, and advanced analytics. For mid-sized Philippine companies, an integrated HRIS eliminates the need to manage multiple disconnected tools: attendance data flows directly into payroll, leave balances update automatically based on DOLE requirements, and all employee records live in one audit-ready location.