Global Payroll Optimization for a Medical Device Manufacturer

The Client

A leading global medical device and healthcare supplies manufacturing company with operations across North America and international markets. The organization operates in highly regulated industries where accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in payroll are critical for both operational success and employee satisfaction.

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The Challenge

The client had payroll operations in place for both the U.S. and Canada, but their business processes were not fully aligned with their Workday payroll system. This misalignment created inefficiencies, manual workarounds, and the risk of payroll errors. Additionally, the organization needed specialized expertise in expatriate payroll—covering leadership compensation elements such as bonuses and stock options—to ensure compliance and proper execution.

Workday recognized the complexity of the challenge and referred the client to two potential partners, ultimately introducing them to The Planet Group. The client’s leadership—including the Global Payroll VP and Chief Accounting Officer—sought a solution that would not only optimize processes but also align the Workday platform with their specific operational needs.

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The Solution

The Planet Group deployed a targeted team of three specialists for a six-month engagement:

• Payroll Director – Operations Focus: Led process optimization and documentation efforts, bringing deep payroll expertise and hands-on Workday experience from a user perspective.

• Two Workday Partner-Certified Consultants: Configured, optimized, and automated the Workday payroll system to match the client’s business processes in both the U.S. and Canada.

This combined team worked closely with the client to:

• Streamline and document payroll business processes.

• Align Workday payroll configurations with operational workflows.

• Automate manual steps to improve accuracy and efficiency.

• Address expatriate payroll requirements for leadership-level compensation.

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The Results

• Process Efficiency: Business processes were streamlined and fully documented, reducing inefficiencies and enabling smoother operations.

• System Optimization: Workday payroll was configured and automated to match business needs, improving accuracy and reducing manual interventions.

• Specialized Compliance: Expatriate payroll processes were correctly configured to handle complex compensation structures.

• Positive Feedback: The client provided multiple positive performance reviews, praising the team’s expertise, collaboration, and impact.

The engagement concluded successfully, with the client expressing satisfaction and appreciation for the results delivered. We left on excellent terms, with discussions underway to explore expanding The Planet Group’s support into additional areas beyond payroll.

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Ready to streamline your payroll operations and maximize the value of Workday? Contact us today to connect with experts who can optimize your systems and support your business goals.