How to Load Demo Data into Horilla HRMS [Step-by-Step]

Horilla Open Source HRMS is a flexible, scalable, and user-friendly tool that simplifies human resource management for organizations of various sizes. To fully explore and evaluate its capabilities, especially with a blank database, having example data becomes crucial. This is where demo data plays an essential role.
Demo data acts as a simulated dataset that mirrors real-world scenarios, helping users to test processes, explore features, and identify any issues effectively. Loading demo data is a straightforward way to ensure the system is ready for testing without manually entering large amounts of information.
In this blog, we’ll explain how to load demo data into Horilla HRMS, guiding you step by step to get started with testing and using the system efficiently.
What is Demo Data?
Demo data refers to a set of predefined sample information that replicates typical HR records and operations within Horilla HRMS. It covers all available modules in the system, providing a comprehensive dataset for testing.
Some examples of these modules include:
- Employees: Sample employee profiles with personal and job-related details.
- Base: Foundational configurations like departments, organizational units, and job positions.
- Attendance: Example attendance records to test tracking and reporting functionality.
- Contract: Predefined employee contracts outlining roles, compensation, and terms of employment.
- Payroll: Sample salary structures and payment details to test payroll features.
- Leave Management: Example leave requests and balances for testing workflows.
- Performance Management: Simulated data for appraisals and goal tracking.
By including all modules, demo data creates a realistic test environment, allowing users to explore the system’s features without manually entering any data. This approach saves time and ensures an efficient evaluation of Horilla HRMS for your organization.
Step-by-Step Process to Load Demo Data into Horilla HRMS
1. Access the Login Page
Navigate to the login page of Horilla HRMS. Here, you’ll find the “Load Demo Data” button. Click this button to proceed to the database authentication form.

Note:
The “Initialize Database” and “Load Demo Data” options will only appear if you are working with a fresh or empty database.
2. Enter the Database Credentials
On the database authentication form, provide the database password. You can find this password in the DB_IN_PASSWORD section of your Horilla HRMS source code. You may also update this value while setting up the .env file. This step ensures the application connects securely to your database.

3. Verification
After entering the credentials, the system will verify them. During this process, you’ll see a loading image, indicating that the system is importing the demo data into your database.

4. Complete the Data Loading Process
Once the demo data is successfully loaded, the system will redirect you to the login page. Use the default credentials:
- Username: admin
- Password: admin

5. Explore Horilla with Demo Data
After logging in, you will see the fully functional Horilla HRMS interface populated with demo data. For instance, the Employee module will display example employee records, allowing you to test and evaluate the platform’s features.

This simple process ensures you have a realistic test environment, enabling you to explore and analyze how Horilla HRMS can meet your organizational requirements.
Conclusion
Loading demo data into Horilla HRMS is a straightforward yet essential step to ensure a smooth testing and evaluation process. By populating the system with realistic sample data, you can explore all the features and workflows without needing to input information manually.
This setup provides a practical, hands-on experience that allows you to understand how Horilla HRMS aligns with your organization’s needs.
Whether you’re testing employee management, payroll, attendance, or other modules, demo data gives you a clear view of the system’s capabilities in action. With just a few steps, you can transform an empty database into a fully functional HRMS environment ready for evaluation and testing.
Let Horilla’s demo data guide you in making informed decisions for your organization’s HR management needs!