ATS vs. HRIS: What’s the Difference in 2025?

If you’re hiring hourly employees or running a multi-unit operation, you’ve probably come across two terms: ATS and HRIS.

They both sound like tech acronyms—and they are—but they solve very different problems. And if you’re serious about building a great team, reducing turnover, and staying compliant, you’ll likely need both in your HR tech stack.

Let’s break down what each one does, how they work together, and what to look for if you’re hiring hourly workers in 2025.

 

What Is an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?

An ATS, or Applicant Tracking System, helps you manage the hiring process—from job posting to interview to hire.

Think of it as your recruiting command center. It’s where you:

• Create and post jobs to multiple boards (Indeed, Google Jobs, ZipRecruiter, etc.)
  
  
• Collect and organize applications in one place
  
  
• Screen candidates and filter out unqualified ones
  
  
• Communicate with applicants via text or email
  
  
• Schedule interviews and send reminders
  
  
• Track hiring metrics like time-to-hire and source of hire
  
  

ATS Key Benefits (2025)

• ✅ Faster hiring: Top candidates are off the market in under 5 days
  
  
• ✅ Fewer no-shows: Automated reminders reduce dropoff
  
  
• ✅ Better applicant flow: Multi-channel job distribution
  
  
• ✅ Legal compliance: Built-in pay transparency and job posting standards
  
  

HigherMe is a leading ATS purpose-built for hourly hiring—used by restaurants, retailers, and franchisees across North America. It’s easy to use, mobile-friendly, and gets jobs in front of the right people fast.

 

What Is an HRIS (Human Resources Information System)?

An HRIS is a broader platform that helps you manage employee records and back-office HR tasks after someone is hired.

It covers:

• Employee profiles and documents
  
  
• Payroll and tax reporting
  
  
• Time and attendance
  
  
• Benefits administration
  
  
• Onboarding workflows
  
  
• Compliance and reporting
  
  

While an ATS is built for candidates, an HRIS is built for employees.

 

HRIS Key Benefits (2025)

• ✅ Centralized employee data (no more spreadsheets)
  
  
• ✅ Automated payroll and tax compliance
  
  
• ✅ Streamlined onboarding and offboarding
  
  
• ✅ Time clock integrations for hourly workers
  
  
• ✅ Simplified benefits enrollment
  
  

Recommended HRIS for Hourly Employers: Netchex

If you’re hiring hourly employees—especially across multiple locations or franchises—Netchex is one of the most trusted HRIS platforms in the space. It’s designed with hourly businesses in mind and integrates seamlessly with tools like HigherMe to connect hiring with payroll, onboarding, and compliance.

 

How ATS and HRIS Work Together

In a perfect world, here’s how it flows:

1. HigherMe (ATS) helps you attract, screen, and hire the right candidate.
   
   
2. Once hired, the candidate is automatically sent to Netchex (HRIS) to start onboarding, payroll, and compliance tracking.
   
   

That integration avoids manual data entry, reduces errors, and makes life easier for your managers and HR team.

 

Do I Need Both?

If you're doing your own hiring and managing your team’s HR tasks, yes—you need both.

You Need an ATS If…	You Need an HRIS If…
You’re actively hiring	You need to run payroll or track time
You want to reduce time-to-hire	You have multiple employees across locations
You get poor applicant flow	You need to manage benefits or tax reporting
You lose candidates to faster employers	You want to store documents and track hours

 

One Doesn’t Replace the Other

Some platforms try to offer everything—but they often fall short on the hiring experience, which is where speed and usability matter most.

At HigherMe, we focus on doing hourly hiring exceptionally well. That’s why we integrate with great HRIS platforms like Netchex—so you can connect best-in-class hiring with world-class HR management.

 

Final Thoughts

In 2025, the competition for hourly talent is fierce—and the tools you choose can make or break your team.

Use an ATS like HigherMe to build your team.
Use an HRIS like Netchex to manage and retain them.

Together, they make hiring, onboarding, and managing your hourly workforce a whole lot easier.

 

 

👉 Want to see how HigherMe + Netchex work together?
Email sales@higherme.com or schedule a demo to learn more.