How to get real answers from a 14-day HR software trial

A free trial is only useful if it answers a question. The question isn't "is this nice?" — most software is nice on day one. The question is: will my team keep using this when nobody is watching?

Day 1–2: set it up like it's real

Add your actual people, not test users. Use real departments, real managers, real start dates. Upload one genuine policy. If setup takes more than an afternoon for a company of thirty, that's a finding.

Day 3–7: run one real process end to end

Pick the process that hurts most today — usually time off. Ask three people to request leave through the tool, have their managers approve it, and check the wallchart. Did anyone need help? Did the manager get notified where they actually look (Slack, email, phone)?

Day 8–11: try the thing you're not sure you'll use

Run a pulse survey. Create an onboarding checklist for your next starter. Draft a payroll run, even if you won't submit it. Tools earn their keep on the second and third module, not the first.

Day 12–14: look at the numbers

Open the reports. If the headcount, tenure and absence figures match what you know to be true, the tool is computing from your data rather than showing you a demo. If they don't, ask why.

Then decide. In Staffvelo, every module is open during the trial precisely so you can run this plan without hitting a paywall halfway through.

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