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Learn how a vendor-agnostic HRIS broker delivers real savings. This guide uses case studies and data to show the ROI of making a smarter software choice.
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Choosing an HRIS is a high-stakes game. The right system can accelerate your business, but the wrong one can set you back years. Yet, most companies tackle this decision with a DIY approach, relying on Google searches and vendor demos to get through a crowded and often misleading market. The result is often a costly mismatch.
A vendor-agnostic HRIS broker fundamentally changes the odds. An expert partner like OutSail doesn't sell software; they provide clarity. Working only for you, they use deep industry knowledge to ensure you select the perfect platform and get the best possible terms.
But what's the real-world value? Let's look at the data. These case studies prove the tangible ROI of using a vendor-agnostic broker is one of the smartest investments a growing company can make.
A vendor-agnostic HRIS broker is a neutral third party that helps businesses evaluate, select, and implement HR software systems. They are not affiliated with or compensated by software vendors, allowing them to give objective guidance across a wide range of solutions.
Companies often attempt to go it alone, assuming their HR or IT leaders can manage software selection. While this may seem cost-effective, the hidden costs are enormous:
OutSail, one of the leading vendor-agnostic HRIS brokers, has helped over 1,000 companies find the right-fit software. These real-world case studies demonstrate that the ROI isn't just a vague promise; it's a quantifiable result measured in dollars saved, hours reclaimed, and strategic goals achieved.
The clearest measure of an HRIS broker's value is found on the bottom line. By leveraging deep market knowledge, pricing benchmarks, and negotiation expertise, a broker can secure terms that are simply unattainable for a company going it alone.
For Dorel, a large manufacturer, an outdated and fragmented HRIS was creating costly inefficiencies. They needed a modern, integrated platform to manage their US and Canadian operations effectively.
Olo, a fast-growing restaurant technology provider, was being held back by its existing HRIS. They needed a superior platform to support their expansion.
Financial services firm First Manhattan discovered that looking beyond the big-name providers could lead to significant returns.
The telehealth brand Nourish needed to transition away from its expensive PEO model to support its 1,500 employees. For their one-person HR team, this was a high-risk move.
Beyond hard dollars, an expert broker returns something just as valuable: time. A DIY selection process is a notorious drain on an HR team's internal resources, pulling them away from strategic work.
Global technology leader Gentherm understood that its HR team's time was better spent on strategic initiatives than on the administrative burden of vendor research and demos.
The highest level of ROI comes when the right HR technology actively enables core business strategy and mitigates the risk of failure.
As a remote-first company in over 20 countries with a one-person HR team, Cambly faced an existential threat from data fragmentation. Strategic workforce planning was impossible without a single source of truth.
Avenues, a global education organization, needed to double its headcount in two years to meet its strategic goals. Its existing recruitment technology could not support this scale.
According to OutSail’s internal tracking across 500+ engagements:
Summary: The average client working with OutSail saves $10,000–$50,000 and over 80 hours in internal work.
Let’s look at some pillars that contribute to ROI from an HRIS broker:
With insider knowledge of market rates, a broker negotiates:
Less time researching = more time optimizing people operations.
HR leaders and CFOs save hundreds of hours by receiving curated vendor lists, prepped demo questions, and scoring frameworks.
By thoroughly mapping business needs to software capabilities, vendor-agnostic brokers ensure:
With implementation guidance, clients start using their new HRIS sooner. This accelerates the benefits of automation, compliance, reporting, and employee satisfaction.
While all companies can benefit, the impact is most visible for:
Choosing an HRIS is a high-stakes decision where the cost of getting it wrong is enormous. The DIY approach, while seemingly free, is laden with hidden costs in the form of wasted time, biased information, missed savings, and the strategic risk of a misaligned solution.
Partnering with a vendor-agnostic HRIS broker transforms the selection process from an administrative burden into a strategic investment with clear, compelling ROI. As demonstrated by the cases of Dorel, Olo, Gentherm, and others, this partnership delivers tangible outcomes: significant cost savings, dramatic reductions in annual fees, reclaimed team time, and strategic empowerment through optimized technology.
Ready to calculate the ROI for your organization?
OutSail’s vendor-agnostic brokerage model has helped over 1,000 companies find their perfect HRIS fit while saving them time and money.
To learn more about our proven process, visit our services page or Book a Free Consultation today.
