As a CEO of a payroll system company, I need to know what my competitors are up to. That means I’m often researching about and/or playing around with their products, you know, it’s part of the job. Here, I share my findings of that research, giving credit to those competitors where credit is due and being honest about which products I believe you really need to avoid. And so, there you have it, this review, and in it, I try to be honest, fair, and insightful… I hope it helps you make the right decision…
Overview
Running payroll isn’t the most fun part of managing a business, especially in Malaysia where you have to deal with various payroll forms, statutory payroll deductions, and tax requirements. The process can easily overwhelm anyone. But thanks to modern solutions, there is a way to simplify the crucial task of running payroll – using payroll management systems.
Payroll management systems work to simplify and automate the payroll process by calculating employee wages and deductions and ensuring timely payments, usually through direct deposit. Some even offer features for tax filing, leave management, reporting, SSL data encryption, and more.
Given the number of benefits these nifty tools can bring businesses, there’s definitely no question as to whether you need one or not – YOU DO!
Whether you’re a small startup or a medium-sized enterprise, we’ve rounded up the best payroll management systems that can revolutionise payroll for your team. Try them out and see for yourself.
6 Best Payroll Management Systems
The Definitive List
1. PayrollPanda
PayrollPanda is Malaysia’s #1 payroll management system for a reason. It’s not only full of great features but it’s also dead easy to use. You don’t need to be an experienced accountant to make full use of the platform’s features and start running payroll like a pro.
With PayrollPanda, users can easily generate monthly payroll, payslips, reports, and statutory forms such as Form E and EA Form for year-end compliance. From filling out forms to adding payroll items, you are guided through what each data field entails and which fields are mandatory for accurate computations of payroll and deductions. All calculations are done in line with the legal requirements approved by LHDN so you can rest assured that your payroll processes are compliant with local regulations. PayrollPanda also integrates with several Malaysian banks, allowing for seamless bulk payments to employees and statutory bodies.
On top of all that, PayrollPanda includes leave management functionalities, enabling staff to apply for leave and managers to approve requests with just a few clicks. The Employee Self-Service (ESS) features empower staff to access and manage their leave allocations and view payslips independently. And if you ever need any assistance using the platform, you can count on direct access to PayrollPanda’s live agent.
PayrollPanda is easily accessible from any desktop and is securely encrypted with SSL encryption, making sure that managing payroll is secure, straightforward, and can be done from anywhere, at any time, without requiring extensive training.
Key Features
- HRDF claimable
- Multiple bank integrations
- Time and attendance tracking
- Self-service leave management system
- Automatic monthly and year-end (E/EA) form generation
- Bulk payment processing
- Payroll summary, variance, and custom reports
- LHDN compliant computations
- SSL data encryption
2. Swingvy
Swingvy is pretty much an all-in-one HR software with its feature list extending from leave management, time & attendance, claims and reimbursement, and of course, payroll.
There’s a lot to like about Swingvy’s payroll feature, giving it a spot on this list. Off the bat, the interface is pretty clean and intuitive. Despite having a ton of features, navigating across them is fairly easy. You can switch between different payroll functions and access the data you need in seconds.
Another thing that sets Swingvy apart is its flexibility – you can run payroll more than once per month, which is particularly useful for companies that prefer mid-month payments. With the system’s Groups feature, you can assign administrative powers to different users so they can run and manage payroll themselves. This helps ease up your workload and avoid any payroll delays.
Businesses will also be happy to know that Swingvy’s online payroll solution ensures compliance with EPF, MoHR, and LHDN regulations, offering businesses peace of mind regarding regulatory compliance.
Despite being a good payroll management system option though, Swingvy does have its downsides. Its pricing structure, which requires a minimum of 10 users may not be the best fit for smaller businesses. Access to a free trial is more difficult than it should be. And the absence of live chat support poses a challenge for users seeking immediate assistance.
Key Features
- Mobile access
- EPF, MoHR, and LHDN-compliant
- Allows more than one person to run payroll
- Customizable access permissions
- Bulk payroll items updates
- Detailed payroll calculations
Why not check out our full, and of course completely honest, Swingvy review?
3. Kakitangan
The Kakitangan payroll management system offers a comprehensive solution for managing employees, covering everything from payroll to leave, claims, and attendance.
Getting started on the platform isn’t the easiest. The interface can be hard to navigate with the overwhelming number of buttons and options of the app. Thankfully, Kakitangan does have helpful resources, including video tutorials and guides, to assist new users in setting up and navigating the system. But even then, new users can expect a fairly steep learning curve.
If you run payroll on a bi-monthly basis, you’ll have no problem using Kakitangan since it supports a bi-monthly payment frequency. And since the system automates statutory deductions, including pensions, EPF, and SOCSO, you can save a ton of time and ensure payroll accuracy according to legal requirements.
With various bank integrations and a payroll system compliant with PDPA (Personal Data Protection Act) policies, Kakitangan ensures a smooth payroll management experience for both employers and employees.
Key Features
- Several bank integrations
- Automatic deduction computations
- Multiple pre-built payslip templates
- Salary payment automation
- Compliant with PDPA policies
Why not check out our full, and of course completely honest, Kakitangan review?
4. BrioHR
BrioHR is a one-stop shop of sorts for the HR needs of Malaysian businesses. Among its numerous offerings is payroll management.
BrioHR simplifies payroll processing by automatically calculating EPF, SOCSO, EIS, HRDF, and PCB deductions, ensuring compliance with LHDN regulations. For added convenience, BrioHR also offers automated tax filing and generates local bank reports and GIRO files for streamlined processing.
With seamless integration with local banks, bulk salary payments can be processed effortlessly. BrioHR also facilitates claims integration and syncs payroll data with accounting software like Xero for streamlined operations.
The platform supports multi-cycle payroll, accommodating different payment frequencies for both part-time and full-time employees. All payroll data, including history and payslips, is stored and can be easily accessed with custom fields and filters.
BrioHR is definitely a stand up choice for payroll management. Fair warning though, they don’t have live customer service so if you need immediate assistance while using the app, you’re out of luck for now.
Key Features
- Auto-calculations of EPF, SOCSO, EIS, HRDF, and PCB deductions
- Supports multi-cycle payroll
- LHDN compliant
- Automated tax filing
- Accounting software integrations
- Leave and prorated calculation
Why not check out our full, and of course completely honest, BrioHR review?
5. HReasily
HReasily is a cloud-based payroll management system designed to streamline and automate HR processes for businesses in Southeast Asia. With features like automated payroll processing, leave and claims management, and facial recognition time attendance tracking, HReasily simplifies HR tasks, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations.
The platform offers seamless integration with software and hardware, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in payroll and HR processes. It also has a fairly user-friendly interface accessible via mobile app or web, enabling employees and employers to access information and perform tasks anytime, anywhere.
Key Features
- Automated Payroll Processing
- Leave Application and Tracking
- Expense Claims Processing
- HR Reporting and Analytics
- Accessibility via Mobile Application
- Compliance with Regulatory Standards
6. Employment Hero
Employment Hero is a cloud-based HRMS tailored for small and medium-sized businesses, featuring modern HR policies and self-service capabilities for employees. Alongside its Applicant Tracking System for streamlined recruitment and Employee Learning Management System for developing your team’s skills, Employment Hero integrates payroll tools that automate payroll processes.
Approved by LHDN, the cloud-based software automates payroll calculations, covering essential contributions like PCB (MTD), EPF, and SOCSO. Accessible through desktop and mobile apps, it simplifies processes with automated statutory calculations and form generation.
The system includes self-service features for leave requests, overtime recording, and accessing payslips, enhancing employee convenience. With automated pay calculations, employee scheduling, and real-time location monitoring, Employment Hero ensures efficient workforce management. Moreover, it integrates seamlessly with popular accounting software like Xero, Zoho Books, and NetSuite, offering enhanced functionality and convenience for users.
Key Features
- Automated payroll calculations
- Monthly payroll reports and detailed payroll summaries
- MTD/PCB and statutory contribution calculations
- Custom pay rules
- LHDN-approved payroll software
