The strategic rise of payroll

In recent years, something interesting has been happening in the payroll industry. 

Given the right tools and guidance, payroll is stepping out of the back office and taking its rightful place as a strategic contributor to business success.  

As businesses become more digital and data-driven, using tools such as automation and artificial intelligence (AI), payroll has an opportunity to shift from being an administrative function to a central source of insight and strategic value. 

To help you capitalise on this shift, in this guide, we’ve covered:

  • The current state of payroll
  • Payroll systems: three strategic areas you must consider 
  • The pressure to leverage artificial intelligence (AI)
  • The next generation of payroll professionals 
  • A vision for the future

Done poorly, payroll can damage the employee experience. Done well, payroll builds trust. Done strategically, payroll strengthens culture, optimises cost and enables better decision-making. 

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Payroll industry overview

Did you know that 24% of employees will start job hunting after just one payroll error, and 49% will begin looking after two? 

There’s no doubt that payroll is essential to maintaining a happy and engaged workforce. 

That said, payroll has typically been viewed as a back-office function, simply there to carry out one key task: ensure staff are paid correctly and on time. 

You don’t need us to tell you that this view severely undersells the value payroll professionals can offer. 

In this guide, we’ve examined the current state of the payroll industry, sharing our thoughts on where the profession is going and how you can become more strategic.  

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