Comparing the HR Performance Management Market

Market Overview

The human resources (HR) technology industry is vast, with one of its most influential segments being performance management software. These platforms empower organizations to measure, analyze, and improve the performance of their employees, ultimately leading to increased productivity, engagement, and retention. This blog post will provide a detailed comparison of the major players in the HR Performance Management vendor space based on their prominence, geographies they operate in, funding, and their founders.

Established Players

PeopleGoal

• Overview: PeopleGoal is global leader in custom HR workflows, allowing customers to build out HR functions for performance management, engagement, onboarding and Core HR.
• Geography: Global, with a strong presence in the United Kingdom and United States.
• Funding: Bootstrapped
• Founders: Nikolaos Lygkonis and James Strickland.

Workday

• Overview: Workday is a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources, including performance management.
• Geography: Global, with a strong presence in North America and Europe.
• Funding: Workday went public in 2012 and its IPO was one of the biggest in the tech industry at the time.
• Founders: Dave Duffield and Aneel Bhusri. Both have a rich history in the enterprise software space with Duffield having previously co-founded PeopleSoft.

Cornerstone OnDemand

• Overview: Cornerstone offers a suite of talent management tools, including learning, performance, and recruiting software.
• Geography: Global.
• Funding: Publicly traded since 2011.
• Founders: Adam Miller.

BetterWorks

• Overview: BetterWorks provides continuous performance management solutions to help companies align, develop, and activate their workforce for business growth.
• Geography: Primarily in North America.
• Funding: Raised over $65 million from investors like Kleiner Perkins and Emergence Capital.
• Founders: Kris Duggan and Di Wu.

15Five

• Overview: 15Five offers a comprehensive suite focused on continuous performance management, employee engagement, and people development.
• Geography: Global.
• Funding: Raised over $40 million from investors such as Matrix Partners and Point Nine Capital.
• Founders: David Hassell and Nazar Ivaniv.

Geographies

• North America: The US hosts many of the leading vendors like Workday, BetterWorks, and 15Five. The region is characterized by high adoption rates of performance management solutions, primarily because of the mature HR tech market.
• Europe: With a rising trend in HR digitalization, Europe is home to numerous performance management vendors. Workday and Cornerstone OnDemand have a significant presence here.
• Asia-Pacific: This region is witnessing growth in the adoption of HR technologies. While many global players are expanding their reach here, local vendors are also emerging.

Funding and Market Dynamics

• Venture Funding: Many of the newer entrants in the space, like BetterWorks and 15Five, have relied on venture capital to fuel their growth. This investment suggests confidence in the continued evolution and importance of performance management tools.
• Public Markets: Giants like Workday and Cornerstone OnDemand have taken the IPO route. Their continued growth on the stock exchange reflects the market's trust in their solutions.
• Mergers and Acquisitions: The space has seen several M&As, with bigger players acquiring niche solutions to expand their product portfolio.

Founders and Their Vision

Behind every great company, there's a visionary founder or a group of them. Here's a brief look:

• Dave Duffield and Aneel Bhusri (Workday): With a combined vision to revolutionize the enterprise software space, they built Workday. Their previous experience with PeopleSoft played a crucial role in understanding the gaps in the market.
• Adam Miller (Cornerstone OnDemand): Miller’s focus was always on continuous learning and development. This vision led to the creation of Cornerstone's holistic talent management suite.
• Kris Duggan and Di Wu (BetterWorks): Their belief in 'continuous performance' rather than 'annual reviews' led to the inception of BetterWorks.
• David Hassell and Nazar Ivaniv (15Five): With a passion for enhancing employee engagement and performance, they created 15Five, a platform that emphasizes communication and feedback.

Conclusion

The HR Performance Management vendor space is both competitive and diverse. From industry stalwarts like Workday to newer entrants like BetterWorks, each vendor brings unique strengths to the table. As organizations continue to recognize the importance of a data-driven approach to employee performance, it's evident that these platforms will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of work.

Sources:

• Workday's Official Website
• Cornerstone OnDemand's Annual Report
• Crunchbase
• Articles from TechCrunch on BetterWorks' funding rounds.
• 15Five's About Us page
• "HR Technology Market 2022" by Bersin by Deloitte.