It’s that time of year again! HR Brew periodically checks in with real HR pros to see what sorts of tech programs, software, and platforms are really making the work of work better.

We heard from HR pros who wanted to shout out their human capital management systems and payroll platforms—because helping enable the workforce and paying employees is core to the HR function.

They sang the praises of a variety of advancements affecting the HR tech landscape, from Bamboo HR to Workday Learning to Textio.

For more on these platforms and tools that are making life easier for people pros, keep reading here.—AD

School children might look at clouds and see cotton candy or popcorn. High up in the sky they can look like long locks of my sister’s (naturally) platinum hair crimped and ready for her first day of middle school in the early-aughts. But when HR and people pros look to cloud, they should see a comprehensive global network of servers storing data and running applications that has empowered the HR function in the new millennium.

In the early 2000s, HR had predominantly relied on paper-based processes, outdated legacy systems, and manual data entry. But the rise of cloud computing completely reshaped the focus and work of the function, as well as its strategic value to corporations and SMBs. Now, new tech, people analytics, and AI and automation continue to transform HR into a strategic and insights-based function critical to business outcomes.

“[To] the HR [department] of the early 2000s...the word ‘talent’ didn’t really exist. It was used for the top talent. So there was a very strong segmentation of early-career people, mid-level management, and senior leadership, and companies were a little more stable. They weren’t disrupted all the time,” said HR industry analyst Josh Bersin.

For an in-depth look at how the cloud transformed work and enabled HR to reach new heights, keep reading here.—AD