How can an organisation simplify payroll while staying compliant with New Zealand’s unique and potentially evolving regulatory environment?

Sanitarium answered this challenge by partnering with Alxemy to streamline processes and modernise workforce management. The result was a unified system that improved efficiency, scalability, and the employee experience.

The Problem

Sanitarium’s payroll and workforce management processes were spread across multiple legacy systems, creating risk and inefficiency. Key challenges included:

• Compliance risk – Managing complex New Zealand payroll compliance under the Holidays Act was manual and error-prone.
• Operational inefficiency – Payroll and rostering operated in silos, requiring time-consuming reconciliations.
• Employee experience – Limited self-service payroll functionality reduced staff engagement.
• Scalability concerns – The old systems lacked flexibility to support growth and evolving needs.

Sanitarium needed a smarter, unified payroll system that could handle NZ compliance without the manual headaches. Alxemy worked closely with the Australian partner but tailored every step to meet NZ’s unique rules.

The solution

Sanitarium had already partnered with an Australian Dayforce provider. Recognising the complexity of New Zealand payroll compliance, the partner recommended bringing Alxemy on board as a local specialist.

Alxemy focused on tailoring the Dayforce implementation to meet NZ’s unique requirements:

Payroll implementation

Configured Dayforce to support diverse employment types and ensure full alignment with the Holidays Act.

Time & Attendance

Integrated rostering and shift management directly into payroll, removing manual reconciliations.

Contract interpretation

Automated pay rules and entitlements across collective agreements and a newly acquired entity.

Alxemy’s phased approach included discovery workshops, detailed configuration, rigorous UAT, and multiple parallel payroll runs to validate accuracy.

Implementation Highlights

Successful implementation required more than just technology. It relied on collaboration, testing, and local expertise to ensure the system worked seamlessly for New Zealand’s unique requirements. Here’s what made the difference in bringing the solution to life:

• Cross-border collaboration – Alxemy worked seamlessly with the Australian partner.
• Close engagement – Joint workshops built confidence across HR, payroll, and operations.
• Rigorous testing – Extensive UAT and parallel runs ensured accuracy.
• Local expertise – In-depth knowledge of NZ legislation underpinned compliance.
• Change management – Tailored training helped employees transition smoothly.

The Results

The impact was immediate across compliance, efficiency, and staff experience:

• Compliance confidence – Automated calculations aligned with NZ payroll rules.
• Efficiency gains – Streamlined processes reduced manual intervention and payroll errors.
• Improved employee experience – Staff gained mobile self-service access to payslips, rostering, and leave.
• Unified platform – HR, payroll, and workforce data consolidated into one system.
• Future-ready – A scalable platform for analytics and workforce optimisation.

Client Feedback

Strong outcomes matter, but the real measure of success is how the client feels about the journey. Here’s how Sanitarium described the partnership:

“Partnering with Alxemy on our Dayforce implementation has been transformative for Sanitarium. Their deep understanding of New Zealand payroll and compliance meant we could trust the solution was configured correctly from the start. The team provided outstanding support, from testing through to go-live, and ensured our staff were confident with the system. We now have a single source of truth for HR, payroll and workforce management, improved efficiency, and with a much better experience for our people. We find the Alxemy team very easy to deal with and solution-focused, and we are going to continue working with them post-implementation to optimise the Dayforce solution for our business.”

— Peter Hartnett, Head of People & Culture

Why It Matters for NZ Businesses

Sanitarium’s success is more than just a single project – it highlights the challenges many New Zealand organisations face when balancing compliance, efficiency, and employee experience. For any organisation navigating workforce management in NZ, compliance with the Holidays Act (along with its potential successor) is non-negotiable. Sanitarium’s journey shows what’s possible when payroll and rostering integration is done right.

If your business is struggling with payroll complexity, this case study highlights how a tailored Dayforce NZ implementation can reduce compliance risk, improve efficiency, and empower your employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did Sanitarium choose Alxemy for NZ payroll compliance?
   – Because of Alxemy’s local expertise with NZ legislation and Holidays Act requirements.

2. How does Dayforce improve compliance with NZ employment legislation?
  – Dayforce automates complex pay rules and calculations, reducing manual work and ensuring payroll accuracy in line with NZ employment legislation.

3. Can Alxemy support both NZ and Australian payroll projects?
  – Yes. Alxemy collaborates with partners across regions while ensuring NZ-specific compliance.
 

Ready to simplify payroll and compliance?

Talk to the Alxemy team about how we can help your organisation achieve the same clarity and confidence. Get started with Alxemy.

 

With a vision to strengthen their HR recruitment systems and employee experience, Sky TV New Zealand engaged ELMO, an HR and payroll solution provider to strengthen their talent acquisition capabilities, remuneration, performance management and succession in addition to refining their financial control systems

Once the implementation got underway, complexities of the project came to lightas the scope expanded, and feedback from the payroll team indicated unanticipated challenges mixing their new HR solution with their current payroll provider, PayGlobal during transition. Furthermore, the new payroll solution accompanying ELMO HR, brought with it some challenges of its own.

To minimise the risks they brought Alxemy onboard to support the implementation project and bolster Sky TV’s internal resources, affording them the ability to manage both BAU as well as the implementation project.

The project’s end result? Sky New Zealand now have their HR and payroll systems collaborating seamlessly with one another, and have cemented an ongoing relationship with Alxemy.

A solution that ticks all the boxes

Sky New Zealand has a head count of over 600 people. As a national broadcaster, providing media services countrywide, and employing a range of full time & part time staff and contractors, having a centralised, efficient, and compliant HR and payroll platform in place was a must.

With a robust solution they would be able to attract talent, manage workflows more efficiently and meet the needs of their people, all the while simplifying HR & payroll processes across the board.
Knowing this, Sky New Zealand went out to market to find a solution that met all their requirements. After an in-depth selection process, they chose ELMO as a full end to end solution in HR.

Seeking a trusted hand

As can be the case, with enterprise level system implementation projects, there can be unexpected complexities along the way. These complexities can become amplified and extensive when you add the integration of multiple systems to the scope.

With a small internal team managing the project, Sky New Zealand recognised early on that they were not going to be able to do this themselves. And so it was that they sought external expertise to smoothen the journey and ensure compliance, alongside a streamlining of processes.

Alxemy steps in as Sky’s payroll partner

Because of their strong reputation, Sky’s Head of People Operations Property & Safety, Alex Howieson, reached out to the team at Alxemy for payroll support.

Working in tandem with Sky’s Payroll Manager Anu Balasooriya, Alxemy and Sky worked closely with the team, actioning agreement requirements and adjustments in accordance with Sky’s business processes.

Over several months the Alxemy team implemented and executed systematic manual workarounds to address any calculations and processes for which the system did not cater, and worked internally to assist the payroll team with payroll two-days a fortnight.

As part of the project, Alxemy also assisted with delivering:

• a greement requirements
• reporting for the finance team
• streamlining of all payroll processes
• automation of processes where possible

Alxemy didn’t just sign off on project completion, today they continue to provide payroll support when required.

Future-proofing payroll for Sky

Trust and exceptional service resonated across the project. Sky’s Head of People Operations Peroprty & Safety, Alex Howison was highly impressed with Alxemy’s professionalism – their service culture an essential key to project success.

“Alxemy went above and beyond the call of duty and superseded our expectations,” says Alex. “Their profound expertise, exceptional organisational qualities continue to serve us beyond implementation. I can’t identify any areas for them to improve upon.”

And the trust and understanding between Sky and Alxemy has expanded beyond individuals to a companywide relationship.

Conclusion

Sky New Zealand now benefits from a robust, streamlined, and compliant HR and payroll system, with Alxemy continuing to provide invaluable support. This partnership not only resolved immediate challenges but also equipped Sky with the tools and systems needed for long-term success.

Winning the 2Degrees Business Award (South and East Auckland)

The New Year often invites us to look forward, but it also provides a moment to reflect on past milestones. For Alxemy, one of the highlights of 2024 was being recognised as the Best Emerging Business at the 2Degrees Business Awards (South and East Auckland), held on 4th December at the Cordis Hotel.

An Unforgettable Night

None of us had attended an awards ceremony before, so we didn’t quite know what to expect. As the first category of the evening, Best Emerging Business, was announced, our team sat nervously, uncertain of what was ahead. Then, when Alxemy was declared the winner, it felt like a scene from the Academy Awards! Cameras swarmed our table as we sat in astonishment, and it took us a moment to collect ourselves and head to the stage.

The journey to that moment wasn’t easy. Hilde Marais, our HR Manager, was the driving force behind our decision to enter. It took significant effort to gather and submit our entry, and being named a finalist was a surprise in itself. The Gala Dinner was a bright moment in what had been a challenging year, and the night highlighted the resilience and tenacity of businesses in our region.

Celebrating Resilience

With over 41 finalists across various categories, the event was a celebration of perseverance in business. As the organisers noted, “The winners and finalists were not just exceptional in their respective industries, but they were also shining examples of what it takes to succeed in the highly competitive business landscape.”

Looking Ahead

With this incredible win behind us, the team at Alxemy is now preparing for the Auckland-wide Best of the Best Business Awards on April 11, 2025, where the top businesses from all regional categories will compete.

Stephan Blumenberg, Founding  Director of Alxemy, reflected on the journey: “Winning the 2Degrees Best Emerging Business Award is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and dedication of our team. It’s a proud moment for Alxemy and motivates us to aim even higher in 2025 as we continue to support our clients and grow our impact.”

Stay tuned—2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Alxemy!

Why Alxemy Was the Perfect Fit

Restaurant Brands sought a project management partner with both technical expertise and the ability to seamlessly integrate with their team and culture. After careful consideration, they selected Alxemy. With a proven track record of handling complex, multi-region projects, and a reputation for flexibility and adaptability, Alxemy was the clear choice.

Restaurant Brands Program Sponsor/CIO Managing Complexity with Precision

Alxemy took the reins of both projects with their hallmark precision and tailored project management approach. For the Customer Satisfaction Survey, Cel Medes, Director of Operations and PMO at Alxemy, led the project from start to finish. Her focus was on coordinating the many moving parts – vendors, internal teams, and external consultants – ensuring smooth communication and alignment.

“Every project comes with its own set of challenges, but this one required a deep understanding of both technical systems and stakeholder management,” Cel explained. “We worked closely with the business leads to ensure that testing and system integration went smoothly, and that the project stayed on track.”

On the Technology Unification Project, Tariro Sibanda, Project Service Delivery Manager at Alxemy, stepped up to lead the initiative. This project required managing teams across four regions with different time zones, local regulations, and operational requirements.

“One of the biggest challenges was aligning technology policies that complied with varying local laws while ensuring they were operationally efficient for Restaurant Brands,” Tariro said.

Alxemy’s collaborative approach helped simplify the complexities, ensuring seamless execution and delivery within the agreed timelines and budgets.

Seamless Execution and Tangible Outcomes

Both projects were delivered on time, within budget, and with remarkable success. The Customer Satisfaction Survey provided valuable insights to KFC New Zealand, shaping their customer engagement strategies moving forward.

The Technology Unification Project allowed Restaurant Brands to standardise their operations across multiple regions, making their infrastructure more scalable and compliant with local legislation.

“KFC Global praised Alxemy’s ability to integrate with our team and lead with both heart and strategy,” said the Global Project Sponsor. “Cel didn’t just manage the project – she became an integral part of our team.”

Tariro’s leadership in the Technology Unification Project was equally impactful. “Thanks to Tariro, we navigated the complexity of working across time zones and local regulations with ease,” said Restaurant Brand’s Program Sponsor/CIO..

Alxemy – A Partner in Growth and Success

Alxemy’s role in supporting Restaurant Brands through these complex initiatives has solidified their position as a trusted partner. With their ability to integrate seamlessly into existing teams, manage complexity with precision, and deliver impactful results, Alxemy is more than just a project management service – they are an essential component of Restaurant Brands’ continued success.