Integrated HR Tech Stack vs All-in-One: Why It’s Smarter | Business Toolbox

When it comes to HR technology, bigger isn’t always better. Many organisations are moving away from expensive, all-in-one systems in favour of integrated HR tech stacks—flexible ecosystems made up of best-in-class tools that work together seamlessly. This approach delivers scalability, innovation, and cost efficiency, all while fitting the specific needs of your business.

 

At Business Toolbox, we've spent over 30 years helping NZ and Australian organisations build HR ecosystems that work — by combining best-of-breed systems like BambooHR, TalentLMS and local payroll providers such as iPayroll, Datapay and Xero.

 

Here’s why more organisations are moving away from rigid “all-in-one” HR systems in favour of smarter, integrated HR technology.

Every workforce is different. You might have remote workers, multiple entities, contractors, seasonal staff or volunteers. An integrated HR stack gives you the freedom to select the best tools for your specific HR, payroll and workforce requirements — instead of squeezing into a one-size-fits-all platform.

 

Best-of-breed vendors (like BambooHR) focus on doing one thing exceptionally well. That means faster development cycles, frequent feature releases and modern user experiences — rather than waiting 12–18 months for a major update in a monolithic system.

 

Your business will grow and change — your HR system should be able to do the same.

With an integrated stack, you can replace or add tools without disrupting your entire system. You’re choosing tools that work for right now — not trying to predict what you’ll need in three years.

 

Modular systems are faster to deploy because they’re not overloaded with complexity. BambooHR alone can be fully implemented in as little as 4–6 weeks, and we’ve even completed full setups in just one week.

 

You can also choose to implement tools one at a time — instead of paying for a full suite upfront and waiting a year to go live.

 

Specialist vendors bring specialist knowledge.

 

Payroll is a perfect example — compliance in New Zealand and Australia is complex. Using local payroll systems like iPayroll or Datapay integrated with BambooHR gives you peace of mind that you're aligned with legal requirements while still benefiting from a world-class HR platform.

 

The same goes for Time & Attendance, LMS, or Recruitment — choose tools made by experts, then connect them.

 

All-in-one systems tie you to one provider — for everything.

 

Integrated HR tech spreads your risk across multiple vendors. If one platform changes direction, increases pricing, gets acquired or no longer suits your needs, you can replace it without dismantling your whole HR system.

 

Modern HR software is built to connect. Open APIs, pre-built integrations and “plug-and-play” marketplace apps make it easier than ever to link payroll, HR, LMS, recruitment and more.

 

Integrations are no longer expensive IT projects — they’re expected features.

 

All-in-one systems often include modules you don’t need — but still have to pay for.

With an integrated stack, you only pay for tools you actually use. That creates higher ROI, less waste, and greater adoption across teams.

 

 

At Business Toolbox, we specialise in designing HR tech ecosystems that actually work — tailored to the way NZ and Australian businesses operate. With over 30 years’ experience in HR technology, we’re proud to be official partners of BambooHR and TalentLMS, and experts in connecting these with trusted local payroll systems such as iPayroll, Datapay, Xero, and IMS.

 

Our team provides everything under one roof — from implementation and integration to ongoing support and training — ensuring your HR stack remains connected, compliant, and performing at its best. Whether you’re building your HR ecosystem from the ground up or refining what you already have, we can help you create a solution that’s flexible, scalable, and future-ready.

 

And if you’d like to talk through your current HR tech setup (or brainstorm possibilities) over a coffee — virtual or in person — we’d love to help.