SAFEGUARD AND FICO
Transform global payroll challenges into streamlined operations
3305
employees across 90+ countries
100%
of banking files and pay stubs delivered on time
170+
coiuntries supported by Safeguard Pay
Industry
Financial software
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Region
North and South America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa
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Company size
3,305 employees
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Challenges
- Managing global payments was complex.
- Disparate payment vendors complicated every transaction.
- Consistency and accuracy of payments were a struggle to maintain.
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Services used
Payroll 360 with Workday integration
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Challenge: Multiple vendors, multiple headaches
FICO is a software company that builds, deploys and sells various analytics tools. One of our most well-known offerings is an individual FICO Score, which lenders use to assess consumer credit risk. In addition to predictive analytics and fraud detection tools, we provide decision-making technology to B2B and B2C companies. These efforts require a massive workforce: approximately 3,305 people across more than 90 countries. I joined the FICO team in July 2017, having decades of experience in payroll management. Still, I had yet to see such an extensive payroll system with seemingly insurmountable challenges.
When I started as Senior Global Payment Manager, FICO had a disparate global payment process with multiple international vendors. Each vendor dictated their own set of rules and procedures, which complicated every transaction. My team was juggling too many spinning plates, as coordinating different processes across different time zones was an incredible time sink. The battle for consistency and accuracy had become a daily struggle that threatened to disrupt FICO’s daily operations. We needed an integrated, one-stop solution with top-notch support to simplify complexities and ensure consistent, accurate payroll.
FICO had been looking for a unified payments partner long before I arrived. One of the frontrunners was Safeguard Pay, which offered a global payroll system in more than 170 countries. Ultimately, the team decided on the platform because of its ability to create a single, cohesive solution everywhere FICO operated. It would eliminate our need to manage disparate processes, freeing time to manage more human-centric tasks. We were simultaneously skeptical and hopeful this would be the best solution for our team.
Solution: Navigating the intricacies of global payroll with Safeguard Pay
I was involved with Safeguard Pay from day one. The software is very intuitive and the migration was seamless. The onboarding process offered lots of hands-on learning opportunities and training on the payroll regulations for various countries. This information was invaluable and quickly enabled me to become comfortable with international payroll.
For example, I learned about Mexico’s anti-money laundering laws, which require people to notify their banks about large deposits. We share awareness of this and other regulations with our employees, and we put measures in place so they can easily communicate with their banks and the institution doesn’t reject the funds.
Having a payroll partner who is knowledgeable in regional payroll nuances is so important. It would take me a lot longer to learn them on my own, and we’d run a greater risk of payroll delays for our employees. Safeguard Pay guided me through the ins and outs of this landscape, so I can ensure employees get paid on time while staying compliant, especially when it comes to larger holiday bonuses.
One of my favorite features is the Workday integration through Payroll 360. In the past, when FICO managed payroll updates through multiple channels, I needed to dig through documents and contact employees directly. Now, everything flows through Workday. I have a one-stop view of pay data, so I don’t have to bother anyone individually or spend hours sifting through documentation. Because Safeguard Pay simplifies all these intricacies, our employees are largely unaware of the behind-the-scenes complexities. The company proactively addresses issues, which means most problems get resolved without disrupting our employee’s payroll experience.
Access to global payroll experts
Ensure complianca and avoid delays
Streamlined payroll and HR processes
Results: Staying ahead of changes with a proactive partner
I can’t imagine doing payroll without Safeguard Pay. In addition to their great depth of expertise, they provide detailed information on changes and updates. They share a roadmap at the beginning of the year and a checklist that outlines what I need to do, what they’re going to do, and what we’re going to do together. With that, I have a clear picture of upcoming projects so I can schedule and prepare accordingly. It makes my team much more confident about the journey ahead.
That proactive communication is one of Safeguard Pay’s strengths. They go out of their way to prevent misunderstandings and ensure our payroll operations run smoothly each month. With their help, 100% of our banking files and pay stubs go out on time.
Safeguard Pay has turned my team at FICO into a powerhouse. Their ongoing support is invaluable in my day-to-day operations, and we’re all relieved that we now have a seamless global solution. It’s truly a partnership, and we’ve developed a great sense of reliability and confidence in handling global payroll. Anyone in the market for a global payroll solution should talk to Safeguard Pay. I have a feeling they have a solution that will fit and ultimately transform any payroll process for the better.
Relying on their robust platform and expert team, I stress less often, work more efficiently, and deliver payroll in confidence, always with the knowledge that employees will get paid, no matter what.
SUCCESS STORIES
100s of Countries — 1,000s of Payrolls — 100,000s of People Paid
30% reduced costs
See how Safeguard Pay helped Jacobs Engineering streamline their global payroll, eliminating manual processes and achieving significant cost savings. With Payroll 360, they transformed their operations, enabling faster, more efficient payroll across 40+ countries.
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