Frequently Asked Questions
What is BambooHR? I want to know what you guys actually do.
In a nutshell, we are an employee tracking tool. We track everything from the basics (name, address, phone, emergency contact, email address), to the itty bitty details (training, certifications and licenses, benefits, job specifics, salary, and more). We are also your file storage solution. Your employee handbook, training materials, hiring checklists, and all of your other documentation is managed and stored with our service. Basically, we take some really time consuming tasks and let you do them in minutes….or seconds if you're a fast typer.
Why should I use BambooHR? Tell me the main benefits of your service.
We think the key benefit can be described with one word – RELIEF! Relief from time spent juggling data. Relief from the headache of updating and changing employee data on a spreadsheet or piece of paper (or a post-it or whiteboard). Relief from technical headaches and problems.
Why are you giving it away for a month? Gimme the lowdown!
You caught us! There is a hook, and this is what it is…but keep it a
secret. We know that we're the best priced tool out there for the
value you receive, and we are the coolest thing around since the lava
lamp, but there's a reason!
The old way to get a tool like ours was to buy some software that you
take out of a box, put the disc in your computer, and install it with
the hope that it worked and you wouldn't have to call customer
support. You had to make sure you had the right operating system,
hardware, other software, and more. Then, six months later, you had to
pay for the new version of your software and do it all again.
Our model is different. We have a constantly improving solution that
you don't ever have to worry about. Technology has advanced so much
that we don't need to pay all of those old-school costs for typical
software – so neither do you! Our purpose from the beginning was to
build an incredibly useful tool that is easy to use and
affordable. We wanted to build a tool that we would use (and we do)
and pay for.
What do I need to use BambooHR? Let me know what type of computer or internet connection I need.
You just need a browser, like Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari, and an internet connection. Our system doesn't care if you use a PC or a Mac. You can access your information anytime, anywhere… which is always nice when you explain to your boss why you should be able to work from home!
Do I have to install anything? Please tell me that I don't.
Okay, you don't! Also, we are constantly updating the system and adding new features, and you never have to worry about upgrading because we take care of that for you. The tools and features will just keep getting better as you tell us what you want. We just want to make it easy, fast, and simple (you'll be hearing that a lot around here).
What is SaaS? I keep hearing the term, but what exactly is it?
Software-as-a-Service (or SaaS) refers to applications and services that are provided online, rather than software you have to install on your computer.
With SaaS, you access your application using a web browser. Generally, you pay for these services on a monthly per-user and/or per-service subscription basis. All the high costs you would normally have: such as hardware and infrastructure that hosts the software, the right to use the software, and all maintenance, upgrades, and support services are included in the monthly subscription fee. In other words, for many companies it is cheaper, easier, faster, and they don't have the headache of maintenance, upgrades, and cost of personnel to manage it.
An easier way to look at it is to check out this chart:
| Old and Expensive Way (Yuck) | Software-As-A-Service |
|---|---|
| You pay the entire costs upfront when you acquire the application. You also pay for maintenance fees along the way. | You pay a monthly subscription price. |
| You are responsible for installing, upgrading, and maintaining the application. | Nothing to install. |
| You are responsible for backing up your data and the application and for making sure that a copy of the backup is in a safe offsite location. | Daily backups happen automatically. |
| Technical support is generally available only for an additional payment to the vendor. | Technical support is included. |
| You have to purchase and install any upgrades to insure that the application is applicable to your current needs. | Upgrades are included. |
| As your business grows you have to purchase and install additional servers to support the growth. | The system scales as your company grows. |
How secure is my data?
All of your data is transmitted using high security 256–bit SSL encryption and stored behind firewalls. We also run nightly backups of your data in case of emergency.