Overview
Naval Group Far East is a key player in the marine defence industry, managing operations across the region with a workforce of approximately 200 employees – around 60 of whom are based in Singapore. As the company scaled, its HR function needed to evolve from manual, Microsoft Excel-based processes to a more streamlined, digital-first approach.
To support this transformation, Naval Group Far East implemented PayDay! HRMS, an integrated human resource management system developed and owned by PayrollServe, designed to simplify HR operations and ensure regulatory compliance. We spoke with Serene, HR Country Manager, to learn how this shift led to tangible improvements in efficiency, compliance, and employee experience.
The Challenge
Previously, HR operations were handled manually using Excel spreadsheets—a setup that made even routine tasks cumbersome.
“Before using PayDay!, we were on Excel. It was quite painful because we had to do everything manually, raising leave applications, sending hard copies or emails for approval. So, it was very time-consuming.” — Serene, HR Country Manager, Naval Group Far East
Leave applications, approvals, and employee data updates involved hard copy forms or emails, leading to delays, follow-ups, and miscommunications. This administrative burden left little room for strategic HR work.
The Solution
With PayDay! HRMS, Naval Group Far East transitioned from manual HR processing to a fully digital, centralised system. The platform streamlined key functions including employee data management, leave applications, and report generation.
“My favourite feature is the ESS Portal— where it allows new joiners to capture their own data independently. It saved us time and refrained us from doing transactional work.”
In addition, the customisable reporting capabilities of PayDay! HRMS enabled the HR team to easily extract the data they needed, supporting faster and more strategic decision-making. This shift from reactive to proactive reporting helped the team keep pace with compliance checks, management requests, and workforce analysis.
The system’s interface also provided HR users with better visibility into ongoing tasks, upcoming deadlines, and overall workflow status—minimising errors, reducing missed deadlines, and allowing for early intervention when needed.
The Impact
The implementation of PayDay! HRMS delivered immediate and substantial operational gains for the HR team at Naval Group Far East:
- About 80% Reduction in Processing Time: What once took 20 hours to process is now completed in just 5 hours. This allowed the HR team to redirect efforts toward core people initiatives, while also reducing burnout associated with repetitive, manual work.
- 75% Reduction in Errors: Automated workflows eliminated many of the inaccuracies common in manual systems. This was especially important in areas like payroll inputs, leave tracking, and statutory reporting—where errors could previously result in time-consuming revisions or compliance risks.
- Enhanced Compliance: Ongoing updates from PayDay!’s technical team ensures that the system remains aligned with changing regulations. Whether it's adjustments to CPF contribution rates or tax policies, the product is regularly maintained to reflect statutory changes. This allows users like Naval Group Far East to stay compliant without needing to manually track or reconfigure settings—offloading the complexity to a team that monitors and implements these changes behind the scenes.
“When CPF rates changed, the system was updated and compliant with the regulations—we didn’t have to adjust settings manually.”
Beyond efficiency and compliance, employee enablement was also a key outcome. With the integration of Freshdesk, a 24/7 knowledge portal, employees could independently find answers to common queries—freeing HR from repetitive questions and enabling a self-serve culture.
“Before Freshdesk, employees would come to us with simple questions that were already in the user guide. Now they can search keywords and find answers themselves anytime.”
This shift not only reduced HR’s administrative load but also improved the employee experience, making information more accessible and reducing wait times for common queries. The platform empowered staff at all levels to take more ownership of their HR interactions.
Why It Works: Efficiency, Empowerment & Automation
What sets PayDay! HRMS apart for Naval Group Far East was its ability to simplify complex processes without compromising on control or compliance. The system delivered what modern HR teams need most: the ability to scale operations without scaling stress.
“Trust the system, let the system do the work for you and refrain yourself from doing transactional tasks. Focus on human expertise and scale up your operations without scaling up the stress.”
Conclusion
PayDay! HRMS has helped Naval Group Far East build a more agile, efficient, and compliant HR infrastructure. With reduced processing time, improved accuracy, and empowered employees, the platform supports a modern HR function that’s built to grow.
PayDay! HRMS is designed for real-world HR needs, so teams can spend less time on paperwork and more time on people. With a system that supports automation, compliance, and user empowerment, Naval Group Far East is well-positioned to handle future challenges while delivering a positive experience for both employees and leadership.
Contact us today to see how PayDay! HRMS can transform your HR operations.
