Introduction

When it comes to managing HR processes, selecting the right Human Resource Information System (HRIS) tool is crucial. Two prominent options in this category are Breathe and Lucca. Breathe is a multi-award-winning, simple, and secure people software that helps UK and Australian SMEs move their core people processes online—saving time, providing peace of mind, and enabling businesses wherever they are working. On the other hand, Lucca offers a suite of HR software that transforms spreadsheets into interactive online services, streamlining your internal management processes.

​

Choosing the appropriate HRIS tool is essential for improving operational efficiency, automating manual tasks, and ensuring smooth internal management. This comparison will provide a comprehensive evaluation of Breathe and Lucca, helping you make an informed decision.

​

Breathe Overview

Key Features

Breathe offers a range of features designed to simplify and automate HR processes for SMEs:

​

• Employee Database: Maintain comprehensive employee records with all essential information in one place.
• Leave Management: Streamline the process of requesting and approving leave with an intuitive interface.
• Performance Management: Set goals, track performance, and conduct reviews to ensure employee growth.
• Document Management: Store and manage HR documents securely, ensuring easy access and compliance.
• Reporting and Analytics: Generate detailed reports and gain insights into various HR metrics.
• Compliance Management: Ensure adherence to legal requirements with built-in compliance tools.
• Employee Self-Service: Empower employees to update their personal information and manage their leave.

​

Lucca Overview

Key Features

Lucca provides an extensive suite of HR tools to turn traditional spreadsheets into interactive online services:

​

• Onboarding and Offboarding: Optimize new employee onboarding and smooth offboarding processes.
• Leave and Absence Management: Automate leave requests, track absenteeism, and ensure policy compliance.
• Time Tracking: Capture employee working hours accurately with integrated time tracking tools.
• Expense Management: Streamline expense reporting and approval processes.
• Performance Reviews: Conduct performance evaluations and manage employee development plans.
• Payroll Integration: Seamlessly integrate with payroll systems to ensure accurate salary calculations.
• Employee Self-Service: Facilitate employee access to their data, leave balances, and more.

​

Similarities

Both Breathe and Lucca are designed to automate and streamline various HR tasks, ensuring better efficiency and compliance for businesses:

​

• Employee Self-Service: Both tools offer self-service portals for employees to manage their information, request leave, and more.
• Leave Management: They provide comprehensive leave management functionalities.
• Performance Reviews: Each tool enables performance tracking and goal setting.
• Document Management: Secure storage and easy access to HR documents are common features.
• Reporting and Analytics: Both platforms offer tools to generate HR data insights.
• Compliance: Ensuring adherence to legal regulations is a priority for both systems.

​

Differences

Despite their similarities, Breathe and Lucca have distinct features and capabilities that set them apart:

​

• Geographic Focus: Breathe is specifically tailored for UK and Australian SMEs, while Lucca offers a more global approach.
• Suite Integration: Lucca provides a broader suite of tools encompassing time tracking and expense management, which Breathe lacks.
• Payroll Integration: Lucca integrates with payroll systems for automated salary processing, a feature not present in Breathe.
• User Interface: Breathe is known for its simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for non-tech savvy users, while Lucca offers more comprehensive functionalities which might come with a steeper learning curve.
• Customizability: Lucca's offerings might provide more customization options, suitable for businesses requiring deeper flexibility in their processes.

​

Pros and Cons

Breathe

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Tailored for UK and Australian SMEs
• Comprehensive leave and performance management
• Secure document management
• Affordable pricing for SMEs

​

Cons:

• Limited to specific regions (UK and Australia)
• Lacks advanced features like time tracking and expense management
• No direct payroll integration

​

Lucca

Pros:

• Extensive suite including time tracking and expense management
• Payroll system integration 
• Flexible and customizable to fit various business needs
• Global approach, not limited by region
• Comprehensive onboarding and offboarding processes

​

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve due to extensive functionalities
• Might be pricier for small businesses
• More complex interface which can be daunting for non-tech savvy users

​

Use Cases

Breathe

Ideal scenarios for using Breathe include:

• SMEs in the UK or Australia looking for a straightforward HRIS tool
• Companies needing a user-friendly platform for leave and performance management
• Organizations prioritizing secure document management and compliance
• Businesses seeking an affordable solution tailored to their specific regional legal requirements

​

Lucca

Lucca is best suited for:

• Businesses operating on a global scale that require extensive HR functionalities
• Companies looking for an all-in-one solution, including time tracking, expense management, and payroll integration
• Organizations needing customizable tools to fit unique HR processes
• Enterprises seeking robust onboarding and offboarding management solutions

​

Conclusion

In summary, selecting between Breathe and Lucca depends on your business needs and regional specifics. Breathe is an excellent choice for UK and Australian SMEs that prioritize simplicity, security, and affordability. Its user-friendly interface and core HR functionalities make it a great fit for smaller businesses with straightforward HR needs.

​

On the other hand, Lucca offers a comprehensive suite of HR tools suitable for businesses that require more complex and customizable solutions. Its integration with payroll systems, along with time tracking and expense management, makes it ideal for larger organizations operating on a global scale.

​

Ultimately, consider the size, location, and specific HR requirements of your business. If your priority is a simple, efficient tool tailored for SMEs in the UK and Australia, Breathe might be the better option. However, if you need a broader set of HR functionalities with deeper integration options and global reach, Lucca could be the right choice.