ERGs offer numerous values in the workplace. They provide a sense of community amongst underrepresented groups, have the potential to drive (and accelerate) a company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion progress, encourage growth and innovation, and increase employee engagement and improve organizational performance.
But to reap the organizational benefits of ERGs, companies need to take the steps to provide ERG leaders and members with the resources that they need and follow best practices. That’s where the best ERG Software comes in.
Employee Resource Groups Explained
ERGs, which stands for Employee Resource Groups refer to voluntary groups where members who share a common identity form within an organization. Also commonly known as affinity groups, it provides a community for groups that are (often) historically underrepresented or disadvantaged in the workplace. It’s common to find ERGs for women, BIPOC employees, LGBTQIA, veterans, and those with disabilities. In many cases, employees have also set up ERGs around common issues such as parenting and mental wellness.
ERGs provide many benefits to employees, including a sense of belonging and psychological safety. A 2023 Workhuman survey found that employees who belong to ERGs experience higher levels of psychological safety.
Investing in ERG software allows ERG leaders to be in a position where they can create the best experience for their members. ERG software eliminates the need for administrative work, allows the members to fulfill their respective ERG roles and responsibilities and can quantify the benefits that ERGs bring to the organization’s bottom line.
If your organization is looking for ERG software, here are the five best ERG platforms available:
5 Best ERG Software Providers
Chronus
Best for: All-around best ERG software
Chronus is the best all-around option if you’re in the market for an ERG software. Whether you’re utilizing ERG to make inroads on your DEI goals, bolster employee engagement or create an open and inclusive organizational culture, Chronus has the tools that can help you in your organization’s ERG journey.
The software allows you to streamline, standardize and scale your ERG experience as needed. This makes it easier for ERG organizers to start new ERGs and manage every aspect of ERGs—whether that be enrollment, managing initiatives and organizing events. You can also integrate the software with existing platforms that your employees are already using, such as MS teams, Slack and Workday.
Chronus also provides access to real-time feedback and metrics. You can then use that data to fine-tune and optimize your programs for success, and generate reports that showcase your program’s ROI.
Alongside ERG software, Chronus also has mentoring software that is built with a DEI lens in mind. The company has serviced more than 3 million worldwide users, and customers have highlighted the support and responsiveness that Chronus has provided during the implementation process. One reviewer in particular, noted that Chronus has felt like a partner to their program, rather than just a vendor.
Price: Available on request
Teleskope
Best for: Community building
If one of your biggest ERG goals is to build a community within your organization, you might want to consider Teleskope. Its flagship product, Affinities, is centered around fostering a sense of culture in the workplace.
The Teleskope ERG platform provides a comprehensive approach to managing ERGs with the goal of promoting DEI in the workplace. ERG program managers will have access to tools that allow them to organize and manage projects. Some of the unique features that the software provides include the ability to create group hierarchies (i.e. setting up global or local chapters), assign different levels of authority for different members, and for employees to have access to ERG resources without work-issued devices or ID.
Teleskope also provides employee mentoring software as well as employee communication software. The latter can be especially beneficial for community building, as it can be tailored to specific groups, teams, or other parameters that are relevant for your organization.
Price: Starts at $2.50 per user
Qooper
Best for: Ease of use
Qooper is a good option if your organization is looking for an intuitive platform that is straightforward and easy to use. The ERG software provides a platform for ERG members to communicate with one another, and access resources and information. Qooper’s ERG platform has scheduling features, and provides analytics around ERG membership counts, engagement and growth, as well as the program’s ROI on career mobility, retention, and inclusion.
Alongside ERG software, Qooper also provides a mentoring platform. Both softwares can be easily integrated with a range of HRIS/database, calendar solutions, video, email, collaboration systems, and survey integration. Reviewers have praised its ease-of-use and clean UI design. One customer summarized the software as having “all the functions you need. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Price: Available on request (usage-based pricing model)
Diverst
Best for: Easy setup
Diverst is a great option for organizations looking to streamline their ERG practices. The company has built their software around the goal of optimizing the ROI of DEI initiatives. Diverst allows ERG leaders and managers to expand membership, organize events and allocate budget in an efficient way, as well as provide consolidated data that illustrates the impact that ERGs have on the organization as a whole. While the platform is user-friendly, it isn’t well-suited for large enterprises when it comes to scaling their ERGs.
Diverst is a MentorCliq product—an employee mentoring software designed for maximizing the effectiveness of virtual mentoring programs. Both provide integration with a range of HRIS (Human Resources Information System) and collaboration tools.
Price: Available on request (dependent on number of employees)
Chezie
Best for: Scaling ERGs
As your organization grows and evolves, so will your ERG software needs. If you anticipate that you’ll need to scale your ERG programs sooner than later, you might want to consider choosing Chezie.
Chezie allows you to quantify your ERG initiatives, as well as streamlining processes such as onboarding, budget approvals, and end-to-end event management. Created by former ERG leaders, the software also provides access to real-time data that illustrates the growth of ERG memberships. In addition to membership, Chezie also tracks members’ interests and can distinguish between in-group and allies. This allows leaders to create initiatives and projects that serve members’ interests and needs. Chezie customers have reported increased membership in ERGs after implementing the software.
Price: Dependent on the number of ERG members. According to Chezie’s website, 200 ERG members will cost the company $15,000.
Choose the Best ERG Software to Fit Your Organization’s Needs
Ultimately, your company’s needs and reality will determine what kind of ERG software will be best. Below are some of the things you’ll want to consider when you’re choosing the best ERG software for your company:
Your company’s needs and existing software suites
Start with considering what you need to get out of the software, and how that might integrate with your company’s existing tools. You don’t want to pay for features that aren’t necessary for your organization, and you want to make sure that they can connect with your suites of existing software.
Budget and usage
The second thing that you need to consider is your company’s budget, and how that might change as your ERGs evolve and grow. In most instances, the cost of ERG software will rise as the number of users increases. Some vendors will be open to negotiating a discount or bulk pricing once you hit a certain number of users, or if you sign multi-year contracts. Make sure that you sign terms that align with your organizational priority.
Ease of adoption
Lastly, ensure that you choose the best ERG software that your employees will use and that will actually make things easier for the ERG leaders and members. You want to choose an ERG software that doesn’t have a steep learning curve and that employees can figure out with just a little bit of time and effort. When selecting the best ERG software, aim for a solution that reduces, rather than increases, the workload associated with running and participating in an ERG. This will ensure that both your employees and your organization can fully benefit from the advantages ERGs offer.
