Most Kenyan SMEs start managing HR in WhatsApp groups and spreadsheets. This works until it doesn't — and the transition point is earlier than most founders expect.
The signals worth paying attention to
If you are spending more than 2 hours per week on leave requests, if payroll calculations feel risky, if you cannot quickly answer "how many days of leave does this person have left," you have outgrown your current tools.
Process first, software second
Software does not fix broken processes — it accelerates them. Before evaluating tools, document how leave is approved, how attendance is tracked, and how payroll is calculated. Good software then automates what already works.