June 7, 2022 
4 min read Solving your global payroll challenge
Payroll cannot work without accurate and timely HR data.
Yet, getting HR data obtained from various sources directly into payroll software has been a challenge for decades.
In the ‘80s
HR data entry processes were manually being keyed into payroll systems.
In the ‘90s
Tapes and floppy disks were all the rage, transferring data from one system to another physically.
Then came FTP
Things shifted when FTP came on the scene and became hugely popular.
The birth of API
Now, with far more efficient interfaces, the modern approach for data exchange between systems lies in the API.
What is FTP?
FTP is short for File Transfer Protocol, a standard communication protocol used to transfer computer files.
What is API?
API refers to Application Programming Interface, a software intermediary that allows two applications to connect and talk to each other.
Naturally, one of the biggest challenges their payroll teams face is creating a centralized HR system across all of their global locations.
Today, more and more companies are pursuing global expansion. Naturally, one of the biggest challenges their payroll teams face is creating a centralized HR system across all of their global locations.
However, these technological developments have still not resolved key global payroll challenges.
- Collating HR data across systems and providers
- Delivering HR data to payroll systems and providers efficiently
- Avoiding expensive interfaces with individual providers
- Reducing error and inefficiencies in data handling
- Ensuring continued compliance globally
- Ensuring steady access to talent pipeline
- Leveraging the power of automation
- Reducing the lack of transparency and visibility
How do global companies address this?
Global companies have the resources to address these challenges by acquiring global HCM solutions. Hugely popular, these solutions provide a single global HR system with a standard interface format. All HR data can be funnelled into one database.
Say goodbye to worries about building many local interfaces for different local payroll providers.
But global solutions do not always fit every type of company.
Companies that do not have highly standardized HR processes or which have varied operational setups in different locations cannot invest in global HRM. It is neither suitable for their size nor is the expense justifiable.
- Does this mean that you give up on your dream of having a global HR data repository?
- Does this mean that an efficient global payroll program is impossible for you?
No, not at all
The data lake explained
This is where data lakes come into play. Unstructured data streams feed into a data lake where the data is ingested, distilled, tagged and converted into structured data.
Data is then passed downstream to consumer systems.
What is amazing about this?
Data lake technology allows companies to feed their HR data, in any format, from various global systems into a single database from which structured data will emanate to any number of payroll systems and providers.
What is a data lake?
A data lake is a centralized repository that allows you to store all your structured and unstructured data at any scale with no hierarchy or organization. But they are flexible and can be configured.
How does this help you?
As payroll processes are platform agnostic and separate from the HCM, you can change HCM systems and feed HR data to the payroll providers and systems easily.
The data lake is not a futuristic dream but a practical solution for setting up a world-class global payroll program today.
Running on data lake architecture, our innovative, automated and native global payroll solution will revolutionize your payroll across 160 countries.
Say goodbye to massive payroll processing centers and let’s make payroll a career choice for the machines.
