How BambooHR Sees the Future of HR Tech in 2025

BambooHR is a leading HR platform for small and mid-sized companies, widely recognized for its people-first philosophy and dedication to enhancing the employee experience. In this interview, we explore their perspective on how the role of HR software is evolving in 2025.

Today’s HR tools go far beyond payroll and administration. Platforms like FaceUp are redefining what HR can achieve, offering solutions that help build safer, healthier, and more transparent workplace cultures. Together, tools like BambooHR and FaceUp reflect a shift in the industry: from managing people to truly empowering them.

How are expectations toward HR software evolving in 2025, and what are today’s users really looking for, beyond just features? 

At BambooHR, we’ve seen a clear shift: HR teams are managing more than workflows, they're managing the well-being and potential of entire organizations, which is also its largest cost center. They expect sophisticated tools that combine robust functionality with a deep understanding of the human experience at work.

As HR is juggling both tactical work, like payroll, time tracking, or employee files, and strategic planning, compliance, and culture, they need the right tools to let them track, measure, and act. Leaders want data that enables inclusive decisions and reflects workforce sentiment in real-time.

Values like empathy, trust, and transparency now drive software adoption as much as functionality.

Intuitive UX, real-time engagement metrics, and features like anonymous feedback are no longer fringe benefits; they’re essential.

What role do HR platforms play in shaping company culture and should they? 

HR systems are no longer just behind-the-scenes tools; they’re front-and-center in how employees experience their workplace. HR systems become a company culture catalyst: From how onboarding is handled to how feedback is shared, the system becomes a marker of the employer brand. There is an expectation for HR software that is great for both HR pros and employees to use.

At BambooHR, we believe every interaction is a cultural touchpoint. Done right, software can reinforce belonging. 

Whether it’s how new hires are welcomed, how employees voice concerns, or how recognition is delivered, these moments create the employee experience. 

BambooHR is known for its open marketplace. Why invest in specialized partnerships like FaceUp?

BambooHR's mission to set people free to do great work drives our open integration and marketplace approach. We’ve built a core platform that’s powerful on its own, but even more valuable when combined with tools our customers already love. Our open API empowers companies to build integrations with us at their convenience, fostering flexibility and extensibility. 

With our open API and growing Marketplace, customers can tailor their stack without giving up the simplicity of a unified system. 

Partners like FaceUp add expertise we don’t need to replicate. That way, businesses get speed, specialization, and cohesion all at once.

What types of integrations are gaining the most interest right now, and why? 

We’re seeing a shift from purely operational integrations to tools that impact trust, well-being, and employee voice. Companies like FaceUp are great examples of this shift. 

Customers aren’t just asking "How do we manage our people?" but "How do we create environments where people thrive?" 

Recognizing that workplace culture directly impacts retention, productivity, and business outcomes, they want platforms that build trust and foster employee satisfaction. 

In your view, how can integrating a tool like FaceUp help HR teams go beyond just managing processes to stewarding culture?

Integrations like FaceUp give HR teams real-time visibility into team dynamics they previously couldn’t measure, transforming HR from reactive administration to proactive leadership. 

When problems do arise, the integration reveals underlying patterns and relationships, allowing teams to address root causes rather than individual complaints or symptoms.

Through two-way anonymous communication and actionable analytics, HR moves from damage control to actively strengthening team cohesion and workplace culture. This reflects BambooHR's fundamental belief that HR technology should expand what's possible, not just make existing tasks easier.

A measurable, proactive approach allows HR to both manage risk and build resilience, which is core to BambooHR’s philosophy: empowering HR to lead. 

What’s a common mistake companies make when rolling out HR software? How can they do better? 

Too often the rollout of HR software is treated as an IT project rather than a people initiative. There’s often a sole focus on efficiency: streamlining processes, reducing manual work, and increasing compliance. While important, this narrow view overlooks the system’s power to shape trust, engagement, and inclusion. 

To change that, companies can approach implementation through the lens of employee experience. Ask: “Will this tool make people feel heard, valued, and safe?” When companies include diverse voices in the selection process and emphasize adoption over automation, they see stronger engagement and ROI, not just from HR but across the entire workforce.

What’s one practical, low-cost way HR teams can foster a stronger culture in 2025?

Build a culture of feedback loops.

In today’s workplace and especially for Millennial and Gen-Z workers, feedback is currency. 

It builds trust, drives growth, and fosters resilience. Implementing simple, continuous feedback loops (whether through pulse surveys, one-on-one templates, or anonymous feedback channels) empowers employees and informs leaders.

Even with lightweight features—like regular check-ins or digital suggestion boxes—companies can create a dialogue-rich environment where people feel safe speaking up and supported in their growth.