How Zoomo Cut Payroll Processing Time from 1 Week to 3 Hours

Intro

Craig Steed, Global Head of Talent and People & Culture - Europe at Zoomo, runs a function that doesn't stand still. Spanning talent acquisition, people operations, and payroll across Europe, North America, and APAC, his team operates in a fast-moving environment where operational drag has real consequences.

That pace of growth brought increasing operational strain. As Zoomo scaled - especially in complex countries like Germany, the systems underpinning its people and payroll processes struggled to keep up, creating inefficiencies, risks, and rising costs.

The Challenge

Zoomo's HR and payroll tech stack had been built tool by tool, each addition solving an immediate problem while quietly deepening the complexity underneath.

To understand the full picture, Craig mapped it out himself.

HR systems sat within People and Culture; Payroll lived in Finance. The two rarely spoke cleanly to each other. Every cycle demanded manual reconciliation, spreadsheet management, and cross-platform data transfers — leaving little room for error and even less time for strategic work.

Nowhere was this more apparent than in Germany — one of the most complex payroll environments in Europe. Strict regulations, nuanced compliance requirements, and reliance on third-party aggregators created delays and uncertainty in every payroll cycle.

“What happens with aggregators is you’re passing messages through a third party and their systems aren’t set up for the nuances.”

Craig needed a solution that could unify systems, automate processes, and provide reliable, expert support, especially in complex international markets.

The Solution

Zoomo chose Rippling to consolidate its fragmented tech stack into a single, unified platform. The decision was driven not only by current functionality, but by confidence in Rippling’s long-term vision.

“It wasn’t just what Rippling's tech stack was at the time, it was what it was going to do in the future, and I really believed in the vision”.

By bringing HR, payroll, and reporting into one system, Zoomo eliminated the need for multiple point solutions and manual data transfers. Payroll processes that once relied heavily on spreadsheets became streamlined and automated.

The impact was particularly strong in Germany, where Rippling’s in-house expertise stood out. Craig noted that the country’s high level of bureaucracy makes trust and accuracy critical when implementing payroll. While Zoomo had previously worked with a local provider, Rippling’s experts brought a deeper understanding of the region.

Instead of relying on third-party aggregators, Zoomo gained direct access to Rippling’s in-house German payroll team — specialists who understand local compliance nuances and act on them quickly

“The German team gave me confidence they would solve anything that came up, and they have done that. The team is always there to help.”

That expertise paid off before the platform was even fully live. During implementation, Rippling identified localised tax optimisation opportunities that Zoomo had been eligible for but had never accessed — contributing to  meaningful cost savings.

“The implementation really tests your knowledge, and in a way, it educates you through that journey ”

Beyond setup, ongoing support has been a key differentiator. Germany, which was once the region with the highest risk, is now one of the most reliable payroll operations. 

“Germany is our biggest success story. The team is solving things behind the scenes and the response times are incredible.” 

By consolidating systems, automating workflows, and partnering with payroll specialists, Zoomo has transformed its people operations from a fragmented, manual process into a more streamlined, scalable function.

For Craig, the value goes beyond efficiency metrics. It’s about enabling his team to focus on what matters most.

“Most businesses are embracing automation to allow more human interaction on those critical moments rather than basic administration”.

In a high-growth, globally distributed company like Zoomo, that shift isn't just an operational win — it's a strategic one.

The Impact

• Payroll processing time reduced from one week to approximately 3 hours

• Streamlined the payroll team  through automation and efficiency gains

• Reduced significant manual reporting work through integrated reporting

• Unlocked significant cost savings, including identifying localised tax optimisation opportunities