Sanitarium, the well-known maker of products like Weet-Bix, Up&Go, and So Good non-dairy milks, is currently in the testing phase of implementing a new integrated human resources (HR) platform. The company, which is owned by the Seventh Day Adventist church, is deploying the Dayforce system to replace a collection of older, outdated software. This upgrade comes during a period of significant growth for Sanitarium, as the business expands internationally, opens new distribution centers, and increases production, especially in its beverage lines.
Anna Meale, the company’s people technology leader, shared at the Dayforce Daybreak conference that the HR re-platforming decision was made years ago to modernize the company’s systems. Now, employees are testing the new system and exploring its functionalities. Over 1,000 employees, particularly those with heavy interaction with the platform, will receive comprehensive training.
Sanitarium encountered some challenges during the project, particularly related to workforce planning and payroll, which initially ran on different cycles. This mismatch led to manual adjustments in timesheets, especially when planning for production shifts of Weet-Bix, which operates on a Saturday to Friday cycle, while payroll ran Thursday to Wednesday. The company temporarily paused the HR transformation to align the pay week with the production cycle, a change that Meale described as critical to the success of the project.
To support the system design, Sanitarium created personas representing different employee types to map out their journeys through the new system. To ensure accessibility, the company is considering options like placing kiosks in lunchrooms to give all staff access to the HR platform. The implementation has been a collaborative effort across multiple departments, including HR, IT, and other stakeholders. The IT team has also been instrumental in identifying the need for an identity management system to enable single sign-on functionality, supporting the broader digital transformation.
Sanitarium is actively collaborating with Dayforce partner Pinpoint HRM to guide the implementation of its new integrated human resources platform. This strategic partnership ensures that the system not only meets the company’s current digital and operational requirements but also aligns with its broader business objectives. As Sanitarium undergoes significant growth, expanding into new markets and increasing production capacity, the need for a more efficient and cohesive HR system has become paramount.
The decision to re-platform its people systems was made several years ago, and the company is now in the testing phase, with staff engaging in hands-on experimentation with the new Dayforce system. Pinpoint HRM’s role is crucial in facilitating a seamless transition from the outdated and disjointed systems to a modern, integrated HR platform. This includes addressing challenges such as aligning payroll and workforce planning, optimizing employee rostering, and ensuring smooth communication across different departments.
Additionally, the collaboration ensures that all of Sanitarium’s employees, particularly the over 1000 high users who will regularly interact with the new system, have the tools they need to transition smoothly. The rollout plan includes providing access to the HR platform through various means, such as installing kiosks in staff lunchrooms to ensure accessibility for all employees, even those without regular access to personal devices.
Moreover, the project has involved close cooperation between Sanitarium’s HR, IT, and other business areas. The IT department, for instance, has identified the need for an identity management system to support the single sign-on functionality required for Dayforce. This has enabled parallel workstreams, ensuring that the necessary digital infrastructure is in place to support the HR transformation.
Pinpoint HRM’s involvement not only aids in the technical and operational aspects of the project but also supports Sanitarium’s long-term vision of creating a scalable HR system that can adapt to future business needs as the company continues to expand its presence and product lines. This collaborative effort underscores Sanitarium’s commitment to modernizing its internal systems, optimizing efficiency, and supporting its workforce through advanced technology solutions.