Managing employees effectively is one of the biggest challenges faced by growing startups and SMEs in India. From tracking attendance to processing payroll and managing performance, HR teams need a powerful and easy-to-use system. That’s where Keka HRMS comes in.
Keka is one of the fastest-growing HR software platforms in India, built specifically for small to mid-sized businesses. Known for its modern interface, strong payroll features, and employee-first approach, Keka has become a top choice for Indian companies looking to automate their HR functions. Keka’s platform supports core HR operations like:
- Payroll and compliance
- Leave and attendance
- Performance management
- Recruitment and onboarding
- Employee engagement
Thousands of Indian businesses use Keka today, from 20-member startups to companies with 1000+ employees.
In this article, we will explore the key features, major benefits, and common drawbacks of Keka HRMS, and why it’s considered one of the most comprehensive HRMS solutions in India in 2025.
Key Features of Keka HRMS
1. Payroll and Compliance
Keka’s payroll system is one of its strongest features. It handles:
- Salary processing
- Statutory deductions (PF, ESI, PT, TDS)
- Loan and advance tracking
- Full and final settlements
- Payslip generation
- Integration with Tally and accounting tools
The system automatically updates tax rules and statutory compliance settings based on Indian laws.
2. Attendance Management
You can track employee attendance using:
- Biometric devices
- Web check-in/out
- Mobile app with GPS-based tracking
- Integration with attendance machines
You can also define shift timings, apply grace periods, and generate real-time reports.
3. Leave Management
Keka allows you to:
- Create multiple leave types (CL, SL, EL, etc.)
- Configure leave policies per department/location
- Approve/reject leave via mobile or dashboard
- Track leave balances and carry-forwards
4. Performance Management
This module supports:
- Goal and OKR setting
- 360-degree feedback
- Review cycles and self-assessments
- Skill mapping and manager feedback
It helps in identifying top performers and planning appraisals with transparency.
5. Recruitment and Onboarding
You can manage hiring processes with:
- Applicant tracking system (ATS)
- Resume parsing and job board posting
- Candidate evaluation workflows
- Onboarding checklists and document collection
All hiring activities can be tracked on a centralised dashboard.
6. Employee Self-Service Portal
Employees can:
- View payslips and tax slips
- Update their personal details
- Apply for leave or reimbursements
- Submit attendance regularisation
This reduces the back-and-forth between employees and HR.
7. Mobile App
Keka has a well-designed app for Android and iOS. Employees and managers can use it for:
- Attendance tracking
- Leave approvals
- Performance reviews
- Accessing HR documents on the go
Benefits of Using Keka HRMS
1. Designed for Indian Businesses
Keka is built keeping Indian HR practices in mind. From statutory compliance to leave policies, everything is aligned with Indian rules and processes.
2. Excellent UI/UX
Keka is one of the most visually appealing HRMS platforms in the Indian market. The dashboards, reports, and workflows are clean, modern, and easy to use—even for non-technical users.
3. End-to-End HR Automation
Keka covers the entire employee lifecycle—from recruitment to retirement. You don’t need to use multiple tools for payroll, performance, and attendance.
4. Smooth Payroll Processing
Many Indian companies struggle with payroll due to changing tax rules. Keka simplifies this with automation, timely updates, and in-built checks.
5. Customisation & Flexibility
You can create custom workflows, approval hierarchies, policies, and reports based on your organisation’s structure.
6. Employee-Centric Design
Keka focuses on improving employee experience through:
- Mobile access
- Transparent performance reviews
- Simple leave and attendance processes
This helps in increasing employee engagement and satisfaction.
Drawbacks of Keka HRMS
While Keka is powerful, it does have a few limitations:
1. Higher Starting Price
Compared to other tools like greytHR or Zoho People, Keka’s pricing starts at ₹6,999/month for up to 100 employees. While reasonable for mid-sized businesses, it might be high for bootstrapped startups or very small companies.
2. Learning Curve for New Users
Because Keka has so many features, new users may take some time to fully understand and implement all modules. Proper training is needed for admins and HR teams.
3. Limited Third-Party Integrations
While Keka integrates well with Tally, Razorpay, and some biometric systems, its integrations with global platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or SAP are still limited.
4. Support Response Time
Though generally good, some users have reported delays in resolving complex issues through customer support. Priority support is available in premium plans.
Who Should Use Keka HRMS?
✅ Best For:
- Indian startups and SMEs looking for end-to-end HR automation
- Companies with multiple departments or locations
- HR teams that want a user-friendly and modern system
- Organisations needing Indian payroll and compliance tools
❌ Not Ideal For:
- Very small teams (under 10–15 employees) with budget limits
- Companies looking for free or entry-level plans
- Businesses that rely heavily on third-party global integrations
Conclusion
Keka HRMS is one of the most complete and well-designed HR software solutions available for Indian companies. It combines a beautiful user interface with strong backend features like payroll, compliance, attendance, and performance tracking.
Though it may be slightly more expensive than other tools, its value for money is justified by the depth of automation and the ease it brings to HR operations. If your business is growing and you want a future-ready HRMS that puts employees first, Keka is definitely worth considering.
Remember, the best HRMS is not just about features—it’s about how well it fits your team’s size, culture, and growth plans. Keka ticks most of the boxes for Indian businesses ready to scale.