Building a Single Source of Truth Across 60+ Countries

Overview

A global logistics leader with over 15,000 employees across more than 60 countries embarked on an ambitious transformation to modernise its payroll function. As the business expanded across jurisdictions and employment models, payroll had become increasingly complex, fragmented and difficult to manage at scale.

The organisation set out to take control by strengthening governance, standardising processes and unlocking real time visibility of global labour costs. To deliver this vision, it partnered with Leap29 to design and implement a future ready global payroll operating model powered by the LeapForward platform.

The Challenge

Years of rapid growth had left payroll operating in uncertainty. A patchwork of local vendors, country specific systems and manual processes created inefficiencies and heightened operational risk. In many regions, payroll was still heavily reliant on spreadsheets, slowing processes and increasing the likelihood of errors.

This fragmentation made global oversight extremely difficult. Differing payroll calendars complicated financial reporting, while headquarters lacked a single consolidated view of payroll data. Manual reconciliation between payroll and finance added further strain.

Although a global HR system existed, inconsistent adoption meant it could not function as a reliable single source of truth. The result was limited governance, reduced transparency and a lack of control over a critical business function.

Selection Process

Recognising the need for meaningful change, the organisation undertook a rigorous 12-month vendor selection process, assessing more than 15 global payroll providers. The evaluation extended beyond technology to include governance, scalability, data security, integration capability and delivery approach.

Leap29 stood out by offering more than a platform. Its ability to combine a modern, centralised solution with hands on delivery expertise proved decisive. LeapForward, alongside its in house implementation model, demonstrated a clear path to not only streamline payroll processing but also establish a fully governed global payroll function.

The Solution

Leap29 deployed its LeapForward platform to establish a centralised, controlled and scalable payroll model. The transformation began with a comprehensive global audit, mapping existing processes and identifying opportunities for standardisation.

Payroll operations were restructured around the HR system as the single source of truth, bringing consistency and alignment across all regions. Multiple local vendors were unified under a single governance framework, simplifying delivery and creating clear accountability.

With LeapForward, the organisation gained access to real time reporting and analytics, giving HR and finance teams full visibility of payroll performance and labour costs. Integration with finance systems eliminated manual reconciliation, ensuring payroll data flowed directly into financial reporting with accuracy and speed.

The Result

Payroll governance is now stronger and clearer, with a single accountable model driving consistency across all countries. Processes have been standardised, enabling smoother coordination and more efficient global reporting.

Operational efficiency has significantly improved, reducing manual effort and freeing up valuable time for HR and finance teams. Real time insights from LeapForward have enhanced accuracy and enabled faster issue resolution.

The organisation now has a unified global view of its labour costs, supporting better, data driven decision making. Payroll has evolved from a fragmented administrative burden into a strategic capability, built on strong governance, reliable data and a scalable operating model.