HR Myth #17 : "We don't need HR Tech, Excel is good enough."

Employee View

"So… my leave application was misplaced >>> again!"

"Eh? My payslip leh? Still not sent"

"Appraisal form, mana pergi? Printed last-minute and barely filled in"

"Wah now they’re asking me to 'remind HR' to update my details"

"Why does it feel like everything here is done by memory, not system? Even in Caves they write it on the wall!"

"When you work in a company that still runs HR on Excel and WhatsApp, it shows >>> in all the wrong ways"

"We don’t expect fancy systems but we expect consistency, we want to trust that our records are updated, our feedback is tracked and our information is secure >>> so many scammers out there lah"

"When these are missing, we feel like we’re working in the past, not the present, let's not even talk about the future"

"Boss... AI is already here, next Gen Tech already !"

Employer Reality

Let’s be real- lah ah, a lot of bosses think HR tech is a luxury.

“We’re small. Excel works fine”

“Why spend money when we can DIY?”

“Too complex. No time to learn”

In reality (hopefully wake up the giant)

❌ Staff don’t get clear or timely updates
❌ HR decisions rely on memory or manual files
❌ Payroll errors slip through
❌ Appraisal records go missing
❌ Compliance becomes guesswork

And when the business scales, here's the kicker >>> CHAOS GROWS with it.

🧠Here’s what many businesses overlook

✅ HR tech doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated
✅ It’s not just for big companies, it’s for smart ones
✅ Even simple tools can automate leave, claims, attendance and reviews
✅ It builds structure, trust and accountability

Your employees won’t always say it out loud…
But they notice when things feel unprofessional.

They compare your processes with companies they left or are considering.
And in today's talent market, that matters.

📌What HR tech really does >

Saves time⏳

Reduces errors🔍

Centralizes and Secures data🗂️

Improves transparency🔓

Builds employer credibility📈

No more chasing WhatsApp approvals.
No more outdated Excel files floating in 5 different folders.
No more "Eh did we issue a letter for that?"

💥HR Takeaway:

If YOU and/or YOUR TEAM is still relying on spreadsheets for core HR tasks, it’s only a matter of time before things slip.

HR tech is no longer “nice to have.”

It’s the basic foundation for growing, protecting and retaining your people and your business!

The question isn't "Can we afford it?" >>>

The real question is : Can we afford not to ?

I am Kevin Goh, Empowering People & Businesses | Building Modern HR for the Evolving Workplace

This article originally appeared on LinkedIn by Kevin Goh – Director. You can read the full post here. Adapted and shared with permission.