Why ERP and HRIS Systems Still Struggle to Deliver on People Analytics
Organizations have invested — and continue to invest — heavily in ERP and HRIS systems to automate HR, payroll, and talent management processes. Yet, when it comes to people analytics, the reality is almost always the same:
- Reports are limited or non-existent
- HR teams still export their data into Excel
- Leadership struggles to get a clear and reliable view of the workforce
The Core Issue: The Structure of ERP and HRIS Systems
ERP and HRIS systems were built to manage transactions, not to analyze trends.
They excel at handling employee records, payroll, and approvals. But when it comes to understanding the why behind the numbers, their rigid data models quickly become a limitation.
HR data is dynamic and multidimensional:
- Roles evolve
- Organizational structures change
- New external systems (recruitment, training, engagement surveys) are constantly being added
As a result, data becomes fragmented, and reports generated from ERP or HRIS systems reflect only part of the picture.
The Consequences: A Lot of Effort, Little Useful Insight
HR teams often spend hours trying to:
- Reconcile headcount data across multiple systems
- Combine payroll, position, training, or absenteeism data
- Manually verify turnover or diversity metrics
This isn’t a matter of skill — it’s an architectural limitation.
These systems were never designed to analyze, compare, or predict.
Rethinking HR Data as a Strategic Asset
To move beyond this bottleneck, organizations need to shift their mindset:
People analytics shouldn’t be a “next step” that comes after HRIS implementation.
It should be integrated into the talent management strategy from the start.
That requires:
- A flexible HR data model capable of connecting multiple sources
- Clear governance around data quality and ownership
- A dedicated analytics layer that transforms data into decision intelligence
This Is Exactly What Kara Analytix Delivers
At Kara, we designed our platform to bridge the gap between transactional ERP/HRIS systems and the real-world needs of HR teams and leadership.
Kara doesn’t replace your existing systems — it complements them intelligently by transforming existing data into predictive insights and actionable recommendations.
Our approach goes far beyond visualization:
- We deliver dashboards — the first step to simplifying access to HR data and eliminating countless Excel files.
- We combine and clean data from multiple sources to ensure consistency and reliability.
- We analyze and interpret key trends to uncover what the data truly reveals.
- We analyze and interpret key trends to uncover what the data truly reveals.
- We recommend concrete actions aligned with your HR and organizational priorities.
- Most importantly, we measure the real impact of decisions, turning people analytics into a continuous performance lever.
With Kara, people analytics stops being a reporting exercise — it becomes a learning cycle that fuels strategy, guides decisions, and demonstrates the true value of HR initiatives.
In Conclusion
ERP and HRIS systems are essential for managing processes.
But to truly understand human dynamics, you need an additional layer of intelligence.
That’s where Kara Analytix comes in: a solution designed to let your HR data finally tell the whole story of your organization — simply, visually, and strategically.
