Rippling

Overview

Rippling's unified employee database, which the company refers to as the 'Employee Graph,' serves as a central nervous system for synchronizing data across its native HR, IT, and Finance systems, as well as a wide array of third-party applications. This architecture is built on the principle of a single system of record, where every piece of employee data is stored once and serves as the definitive source of truth. When a change is made to an employee's record in this central database, the 'Employee Graph' automatically propagates that update to all connected systems and workflows. This event-driven automation eliminates the data silos, manual data entry, and reconciliation challenges that typically exist when HR, IT, and Finance operate on separate platforms.

Key Features

The 'Employee Graph' is a sophisticated data model that connects not just employee profiles but also their roles, reporting structures, devices, application access, and compensation details. A practical example of this synchronization is an employee promotion. When a manager updates an employee's job title and salary in Rippling's HR module, a cascade of automated actions is triggered across the platform. The Payroll system automatically adjusts the employee's compensation for the next pay cycle. The IT module, referencing the new role, might automatically grant access to management-level software applications and distribution lists. Simultaneously, the Finance module can update the employee's permissions on their corporate card, potentially increasing their spending limit to align with their new responsibilities. This entire sequence occurs without requiring separate manual inputs in each departmental system.

Technical Specifications

Technically, Rippling achieves this synchronization through two primary pathways: native integration and third-party connectivity. For its own suite of products—such as HR Cloud, Payroll, Spend Management, and IT Cloud—the integration is native and seamless, as all modules are built upon the same underlying 'Employee Graph.' This allows for real-time data flow and the deepest level of automation. For external systems, Rippling integrates with over 650 third-party applications. It uses a variety of industry-standard protocols to ensure robust and reliable data exchange. These include the System for Cross-domain Identity Management (SCIM) for automated user provisioning and de-provisioning in cloud apps, Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) for Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication, and custom-built Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for more complex data flows. The platform also utilizes webhooks to enable near-real-time, event-driven updates between Rippling and external services.

How It Works

This unified data model automates numerous events throughout the employee lifecycle. During onboarding, a new hire's profile can trigger the creation of accounts in Slack and Google Workspace, enrollment in benefits, registration for state taxes, and the provisioning of a new laptop, all within minutes. When an employee relocates to a different state, the system automatically updates their tax withholding profiles and ensures compliance with local labor laws. During offboarding, a single status change can initiate a workflow that revokes access to all applications, suspends the employee's corporate card, triggers the laptop retrieval process, and calculates their final paycheck.

Use Cases

Limitations and Requirements

There are, however, limitations and considerations associated with this model. The most comprehensive and real-time automation is achieved when an organization uses Rippling's native modules. While third-party integrations are extensive, the depth and bidirectionality of the data sync can vary depending on the external application's API capabilities. To maintain data integrity in a multi-system environment, Rippling designates its HRIS as the authoritative 'source of truth.' The platform includes features to flag and help resolve data discrepancies that may arise from conflicting edits made in connected systems. The initial implementation also requires a data mapping and migration process to populate the 'Employee Graph' accurately.

Comparison to Alternatives

Summary

In conclusion, Rippling's 'Employee Graph' is the foundational technology that enables the seamless synchronization of data across HR, IT, and Finance. By creating a single, authoritative record for each employee and using event-driven automation, the platform eliminates redundant administrative work, reduces the risk of data entry errors, and ensures that policies and permissions across the entire organization are consistently and automatically enforced based on the most current employee information.