Introduction

When it comes to managing HR tasks efficiently, selecting the right Human Resources Information System (HRIS) is crucial. Breathe and Rippling are two prominent HRIS tools designed to streamline HR processes and improve workforce management. 

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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, giving peace of mind, and enabling businesses wherever they are working. It focuses on making HR management effortless for small and medium-sized enterprises.

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Rippling, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive solution that gives businesses one place to run HR, IT, and Finance globally. It brings together all the workforce systems typically scattered across a company, such as payroll, expenses, benefits, and IT equipment management. For the first time, businesses can manage and automate every part of the employee lifecycle in a single system.

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Comparing HRIS tools like Breathe and Rippling is essential to ensure you select the best fit for your organizational needs and can handle HR tasks effectively.

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Breathe Overview

Key Features

Breathe offers a range of features tailored specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises:

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• Employee Database: Centralize all employee records in a secure, online space. Easily access and manage personal details, job history, and more.
• Leave Management: Automate and simplify the leave request, approval, and tracking processes.
• Performance Management: Conduct and manage performance reviews effortlessly, with templates and performance tracking tools.
• Document Management: Store, manage, and share important HR documents securely.
• HR Reporting: Generate insightful HR reports to help with decision-making.
• Expense Management: Easily track and manage employee expenses online.
• Employee Self-Service: Empower employees to manage their own information and requests via a self-service portal.

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Breathe is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking to streamline their HR processes without a steep learning curve.

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Rippling Overview

Key Features

Rippling provides a comprehensive suite of tools that extend beyond traditional HR functions:

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• Unified Workforce Management: Manage HR, IT, and Finance from a single platform.
• Global Payroll: Automate payroll across multiple countries, ensuring compliance with local law.
• Benefits Administration: Easily manage employee benefits, including health, dental, vision, and more.
• Expense Tracking: Seamlessly track and manage employee expenses using built-in tools.
• Device Management: Issue and manage computers and other IT equipment for employees.
• App Management: Integrate and manage third-party apps used across your organization.
• Time Tracking: Easily track employee working hours and sync them with payroll.
• Onboarding and Offboarding: Automate the processes for new hires and terminations, ensuring a smooth experience.

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Rippling’s extensive feature set allows businesses to automate and streamline every aspect of the employee lifecycle, making it a versatile solution for growing organizations.

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Similarities

Breathe and Rippling, as HRIS tools, share several similarities:

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• Employee Management: Both tools centralize employee information, making it easy to access and manage records.
• Leave Management: Both platforms offer automated leave management features, simplifying request and approval processes.
• Expense Management: Each solution provides tools to track and manage employee expenses.
• Performance Tracking: Both software include features to manage employee performance reviews.
• User-Friendly Interface: Both Breathe and Rippling focus on offering an intuitive and user-friendly interface, ensuring easy adoption and minimal training requirements.

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Differences

While Breathe and Rippling share common functionalities, they differ significantly in their scope and capabilities:

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• Target Audience: Breathe is tailored for SMEs, particularly in the UK and Australia, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. Rippling targets a broader range of businesses, including large enterprises, with a global focus.
• Comprehensive Management: Rippling extends beyond HR, offering tools to manage IT and Finance. Breathe focuses solely on HR functions.
• Payroll Capabilities: Rippling provides global payroll management, ensuring compliance across multiple countries. Breathe does not offer payroll management.
• Device and App Management: Rippling includes features to manage IT equipment and third-party apps, whereas Breathe does not.
• Scalability: Rippling is designed to scale with your business as it grows, accommodating a higher number of employees and more complex organizational needs compared to Breathe.

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Pros and Cons

Breathe

Pros:

• User-Friendly: Intuitive interface suitable for SMEs.
• Focus on Core HR Functions: Efficiently handles essential HR tasks like leave management, performance reviews, and document storage.
• Cost-Effective: Affordable pricing model attractive for small to medium-sized businesses.
• Localized Support: Tailored to UK and Australian markets, providing localized support and compliance features.

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Cons:

• Limited Scope: Does not manage IT or Finance functions.
• No Payroll Management: Lacks built-in payroll capabilities.
• Scalability Issues: May not be suitable for very large enterprises or businesses looking to scale rapidly.

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Rippling

Pros:

• Comprehensive Solution: Manages HR, IT, and Finance from a single platform.
• Global Reach: Supports payroll and compliance in multiple countries.
• Device and App Management: Integrated tools to handle IT equipment and third-party apps.
• Scalability: Designed to grow with your business, suitable for large enterprises.

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Cons:

• Complexity: May have a steeper learning curve due to its comprehensive feature set.
• Higher Cost: Pricing may be higher compared to tools focusing solely on HR, making it less attractive for very small businesses.
• Overkill for SMEs: Some features may be unnecessary for small businesses with straightforward HR needs.

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Use Cases

• Ideal Scenarios for Breathe:
• Small to medium-sized enterprises in the UK and Australia seeking a simple and efficient HR management tool.
• Businesses that need to automate core HR tasks like leave management, performance reviews, and document storage.
• Companies looking for an affordable, yet robust HRIS solution that is easy to implement and use.

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• Ideal Scenarios for Rippling:
• Larger enterprises or rapidly growing businesses that require a comprehensive solution to manage HR, IT, and Finance.
• Companies with a global workforce that need to ensure payroll compliance across multiple countries.
• Organizations looking to streamline IT equipment management and integrate third-party apps from a single platform.

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Conclusion

In comparing Breathe and Rippling as HRIS tools, both systems offer robust features tailored to different business needs.

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Breathe is an ideal choice for SMEs in the UK and Australia looking for a user-friendly, affordable HR solution that simplifies and automates essential HR tasks. Its focused feature set makes it highly suitable for smaller organizations that do not require extensive IT or financial management capabilities.

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Rippling, on the other hand, stands out for its comprehensive approach, managing HR, IT, and Finance from a single platform. It is well-suited for larger enterprises or businesses with complex needs, including global payroll and device management. While it may come at a higher cost and with more features than necessary for smaller businesses, Rippling’s scalability and integration capabilities make it a powerful choice for growing organizations.

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Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific business requirements. For SMEs seeking a straightforward HR tool, Breathe is likely the better fit. For larger, more complex organizations, Rippling’s extensive feature set and global capabilities provide a compelling solution.