HRMLabs is a Singapore-built HR and payroll platform designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses operating in Southeast Asia. It handles payroll with automatic CPF and SDL calculations, tracks attendance via GPS and facial recognition, and manages leave, scheduling, training, and employee records from a single cloud-based system. For companies with 3 to 3,000 employees in Singapore (and increasingly Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam), it fills a clear gap: an affordable, modular HRMS that understands local compliance requirements without the complexity of enterprise-grade platforms.
Our assessment: HRMLabs is a solid, focused tool that does the fundamentals well for its target market. The Singapore-specific compliance features (IR8A generation, CPF file submission, AIS validation) are genuine differentiators. But the interface needs polish, offline functionality is essentially absent, and the lack of transparent pricing makes it harder to evaluate against competitors without engaging in a sales conversation first.
What Is HRMLabs?
HRMLabs Pte Ltd was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Singapore. The company is privately held, with no publicly disclosed funding rounds. It serves what it describes as “thousands of companies from various industries,” ranging from startups with a handful of employees to mid-sized firms with up to 3,000 staff. The vendor is an IRAS-approved vendor for Auto Inclusion Scheme (AIS) validation, and its solutions are eligible for Singapore’s Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), which can subsidize up to 50% of the cost through authorized partners.
The platform’s core value proposition is consolidation: replacing spreadsheets, paper forms, and disconnected tools with a single cloud system that handles payroll, attendance, leave, scheduling, training, performance appraisals, claims, inventory, and employee records. HRMLabs has recently expanded its availability beyond Singapore to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, though its deepest compliance capabilities remain Singapore-focused.
HRMLabs Key Features
Payroll Processing with Singapore Compliance
HRMLabs automatically calculates employee salaries including CPF contributions, SDL (Skills Development Levy), and other statutory deductions. It generates IR8A forms and CPF submission files, and supports AIS (Auto Inclusion Scheme) export for IRAS. Salary transfers are supported across major Singapore banks including DBS/POSB, Maybank, UOB, and OCBC, with other banks available upon request. Government statutory changes are automatically updated in the system, so payroll stays compliant without manual intervention.
This is the platform’s strongest module. For Singapore SMEs that have been wrestling with Excel-based payroll or generic international tools that don’t understand CPF calculations, the automation here is genuinely time-saving. The vendor also offers a payroll outsource service for companies that prefer to hand off the process entirely.
Attendance Tracking with Face Recognition and GPS
Employees can clock in and out through a smartphone application that records their GPS location. The system also supports face recognition for attendance, which reportedly works even without an internet connection (the data syncs once connectivity is restored). Temperature recording is also available, a feature that gained relevance during the pandemic for workplace health screening. Overtime is tracked and feeds directly into payroll calculations.
The GPS and biometric approach is particularly useful for companies with field workers, multiple sites, or security teams, which is reflected in HRMLabs’ client base that includes security firms and facilities management companies.
Leave Management
Leave requests and approvals can be handled entirely through the smartphone app. The system automatically calculates leave entitlements based on join date, seniority, and experience, removing the need for manual tracking. Multiple leave types are supported, and managers can approve or reject requests with a few taps. This module is consistently cited as one of the platform’s easiest to use.
Employee Records Management
HRMLabs stores employee data in a secure cloud environment with no cap on the number of employee records. This includes personal information, job history, skills, training records, and document storage. The paperless approach replaces traditional 201 files, and employees can access their own records through the self-service portal.
Scheduling and Shift Management
The scheduling module allows managers to build employee schedules quickly, handle shift swapping, and manage complex work patterns. Overtime calculations from scheduling feed directly into the payroll module. For businesses with irregular or rotating shifts (security companies, F&B, healthcare), this integration between scheduling and payroll eliminates a common source of errors.
Claims Management
The claims module is integrated with payroll and payslip generation, so approved expense claims flow directly into salary processing. This reduces the manual reconciliation that many small businesses deal with when claims are handled through separate systems or paper forms.
Training Management
Managers can view employee job histories, skills, and past training records in detail. Training sessions can be scheduled with automatic reminder notifications. For companies that need to track certifications or mandatory training (common in security, healthcare, and construction), this provides a centralized record.
Performance Appraisal
The performance module supports goal setting, monitoring, and formal evaluation. Managers can document and review employee performance over time. While not as sophisticated as dedicated performance management platforms, it covers the basics that most SMEs need for annual or semi-annual review cycles.
HRMLabs Pricing and Plans
HRMLabs does not publicly disclose its pricing. The model is quotation-based and modular; you pay only for the modules your business needs. One authorized reseller lists a starting price of approximately $50 per month, but we recommend confirming current pricing directly with HRMLabs, as reseller pricing may differ from direct pricing.
The vendor positions itself as affordable for SMEs and emphasizes transparent pricing with “no nasty surprises after 12 months.” HRMLabs is also eligible for Singapore’s Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) through authorized partners like 361DC, which can subsidize up to 50% of the cost for qualifying businesses.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Quotation-based, modular (pay per module) |
| Starting Price | Contact vendor for pricing (reseller reference: ~$50/month) |
| Free Trial | Not advertised; demo available upon request |
| Free Tier | None |
| PSG Grant | Eligible for up to 50% subsidy (Singapore businesses) |
| Payroll Outsource | Available as an additional service |
The modular approach is sensible for smaller companies that may only need payroll and attendance initially, then add leave management or scheduling later. However, the lack of published pricing makes it difficult to comparison-shop without requesting a quote, which adds friction to the buying process.
Integrations
HRMLabs offers an API, which enables custom integrations with other business systems. The platform can export data to accounting software, though this must be specified during initial setup, so you should clarify your accounting integration needs before onboarding.
Third-party sources list the following integrations: CD2 Learning, Encompassing Visions, HR Acuity, Semos Cloud Total Rewards, Sorwe, and TalentQuest. However, we could not independently verify these on HRMLabs’ own website, so we recommend confirming specific integration availability directly with the vendor.
For Singapore-specific workflows, HRMLabs integrates with IRAS for AIS validation and supports CPF file generation for submission to the CPF Board. Bank file generation covers DBS/POSB, Maybank, UOB, and OCBC, with other banks available on request. No Zapier or similar middleware integration is documented.
Customer Support
HRMLabs offers phone and online support, with the vendor emphasizing a “human-centric” approach staffed by trained HR experts rather than generic technical support agents. Training is available through documentation, live online sessions, and in-person training.
Support quality is one of the areas where HRMLabs performs well. The support team is responsive and knowledgeable about Singapore-specific HR and payroll requirements, which matters when you’re dealing with CPF calculation questions or compliance issues. Client testimonials consistently highlight the support experience as a differentiator.
Specific support hours and SLA details are not published, so businesses requiring guaranteed response times should clarify this during the sales process. There is no publicly documented knowledge base or community forum for self-service troubleshooting.
Pros and Cons
Based on our analysis of the platform’s capabilities, user feedback patterns, and competitive positioning, here is where HRMLabs delivers and where it falls short.
Pros
- Deep Singapore payroll compliance with automatic CPF, SDL, IR8A, and AIS support that stays current with government changes
- GPS and facial recognition attendance tracking works well for companies with field workers and multiple locations
- Modular design lets you pay only for the features you need, keeping costs manageable for smaller teams
- Responsive, knowledgeable customer support staffed by HR experts rather than generic tech support
- PSG grant eligibility can reduce costs by up to 50% for qualifying Singapore businesses
- Simple setup process compared to competitors, with fast onboarding for small teams
Cons
- Interface feels cluttered and dated; navigation is not intuitive for first-time users
- No publicly disclosed pricing forces prospects into a sales conversation before they can evaluate cost
- Limited offline functionality since the platform is entirely cloud-dependent
- English-only language support is a limitation for Southeast Asian expansion markets
- Narrow integration ecosystem with few documented third-party connections and no Zapier support
- Only an Android mobile app is documented; iOS availability is unconfirmed
Who Should Use HRMLabs?
HRMLabs is best suited for Singapore-based small and medium businesses with roughly 3 to 500 employees that need a payroll-first HR system built for local compliance. Security firms, facilities management companies, F&B businesses, and other industries with shift workers and field staff will benefit most from the attendance (GPS/facial recognition) and scheduling modules.
Companies that are currently managing HR through spreadsheets or paper-based processes will see the most dramatic improvement. The platform is also a strong fit for businesses that qualify for Singapore’s PSG grant, as the subsidy can significantly reduce the cost of adoption.
HRMLabs is expanding to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, making it worth evaluating if you operate across multiple Southeast Asian countries and want a single platform. However, the compliance depth outside Singapore is less established.
Who should look elsewhere: Enterprises with more than 3,000 employees or complex multi-country operations will likely outgrow HRMLabs. Companies that need deep integrations with a broad ecosystem of tools (CRM, ERP, project management) may find the integration options too limited. Businesses outside Southeast Asia will find little value here, as the platform is built around regional and especially Singaporean regulatory requirements. And if you need an iOS app, note that only an Android app (“HRM People”) is documented.
HRMLabs Alternatives
BambooHR
BambooHR offers a more polished interface and a broader integration ecosystem, making it a stronger choice for companies that need their HRMS to connect with many other tools. However, it lacks Singapore-specific compliance features like CPF calculation, IR8A generation, and AIS export. BambooHR is better suited for US-based or global companies that don’t need deep Southeast Asian localization.
Talenox
Talenox is another Singapore-based HR and payroll platform that competes directly with HRMLabs for the local SME market. It offers a clean interface, transparent pricing, and strong payroll compliance for Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Choose Talenox if you prioritize a modern UI and published pricing; choose HRMLabs if you need more advanced scheduling and attendance features for shift-based workforces.
PayrollPanda
PayrollPanda focuses on Malaysia and is a strong choice for Malaysian SMEs needing payroll compliance with EPF, SOCSO, and PCB. It’s less suited for Singapore operations. If your business is primarily Malaysian, PayrollPanda may offer deeper local compliance; if you’re Singapore-first, HRMLabs is the better fit.
ADP Workforce Now
ADP Workforce Now is an enterprise-grade solution with far broader capabilities in analytics, benefits administration, and global compliance. It’s significantly more expensive and complex than HRMLabs. Choose ADP if you’re a larger organization (500+ employees) with multi-country operations and a bigger HR technology budget. For smaller Singapore SMEs, ADP is likely overkill.
Payboy
Payboy is another PSG-eligible Singapore HR and payroll platform targeting SMEs. It offers similar core features (payroll, leave, claims, attendance) with published pricing and a free trial. If pricing transparency and trying before you buy are important to you, Payboy is worth comparing against HRMLabs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HRMLabs suitable for businesses outside Singapore?
HRMLabs is available in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. However, its deepest compliance features (CPF, SDL, IR8A, AIS) are built for Singapore. If you operate primarily in another Southeast Asian country, confirm the level of local compliance support with the vendor before committing.
Does HRMLabs offer a free trial?
HRMLabs does not advertise a free trial on its website. However, a demo is available upon request through the vendor’s demo overview page. Contact HRMLabs directly to ask about trial options.
What is the PSG grant and how does it apply to HRMLabs?
The Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) is a Singapore government program that subsidizes up to 50% of the cost of qualifying productivity solutions for eligible businesses. HRMLabs is PSG-eligible through authorized partners such as 361DC. Your business must meet the grant’s eligibility criteria, which typically include being registered in Singapore and having a certain annual revenue threshold.
Does HRMLabs have a mobile app?
Yes, HRMLabs offers an Android app called “HRM People” available on Google Play. It supports attendance check-in/out, leave requests, and employee self-service features. An iOS version is not documented in any current source material; contact the vendor to confirm iPhone support.
Can HRMLabs integrate with my accounting software?
HRMLabs can export data to accounting software, but this integration must be configured during the initial setup process. Specify your accounting platform when onboarding so the export format can be set up correctly. The platform also has an API available for custom integrations.
How does HRMLabs handle attendance tracking?
Employees can clock in and out using a smartphone app that captures GPS location data. Face recognition is also available, and it reportedly functions even without an internet connection, syncing data once connectivity is restored. Overtime hours are tracked and can flow directly into payroll calculations.
What languages does HRMLabs support?
HRMLabs currently supports English only. There is no documented support for Mandarin, Malay, Bahasa Indonesia, or other regional languages, despite the platform’s expansion into Southeast Asian markets.
The Bottom Line
HRMLabs is a focused, competent HR and payroll platform that does exactly what Singapore SMEs need: automate payroll with full CPF and statutory compliance, track attendance across distributed workforces, and centralize employee records in the cloud. It won’t dazzle you with a beautiful interface or an extensive app marketplace, but it handles the core HR workload reliably and with genuine understanding of Singapore’s regulatory landscape.
The platform earns its strongest marks for Singapore-specific payroll compliance, the GPS and facial recognition attendance system, and responsive human support. It loses points for an interface that feels cluttered, limited offline capability, English-only language support, and quotation-based pricing that makes it harder to evaluate without a sales conversation. The integration ecosystem is narrow compared to more established global platforms.
If you’re a Singapore-based business with 3 to 500 employees, especially one with shift workers or field staff, HRMLabs deserves a spot on your shortlist. Request a demo, get a quote, and check your PSG eligibility. If you need a more polished user experience, published pricing, or deep multi-country compliance, look at Talenox, Payboy, or BambooHR instead.
