In the high-stakes world of private-equity-backed scaling, momentum is everything. For FirmaPak, a platform company backed by Shore Capital, the ambition to dominate the packaging sector was clear, but the internal machinery was grinding to a halt. Following the acquisition of Apex Plastics, the company found itself caught in a “manual process” storm that threatened to derail its expansion.
Joe, FirmaPak’s CFO, realized the organization was operating “backwards.” Simple requests for a census file had devolved into day-long manual tasks, and payroll had become a complex web of workarounds. To professionalize, FirmaPak attempted to implement Paylocity, but the project stalled. Managed by an external vendor that lacked direction, the result was a “half-baked” system. Joe found himself “deep underwater,” attempting to project manage a failing implementation while leading a finance function. The stakes were no longer just operational; a failed rollout risked damaging employee morale and creating skepticism toward the management team’s vision at a critical juncture.
The Encounter: Deploying the Firepower of a Strategic Sidekick
Every hero needs a guide who has walked the path before. For FirmaPak, that connection happened on the sidelines of a baseball tournament, where the CEO met EmphasisHR’s Kurt. The conversation revealed exactly what FirmaPak was missing: not just a software vendor, but a partner with the “firepower” to rescue a failing implementation.
EmphasisHR stepped in as a true extension of the team. As “super users” of Paylocity, they didn’t just offer advice; they provided the technical expertise and urgency required to survive a high-pressure transition.
“It’s the level of care, the level of attention to detail, and the urgency. You guys were able to step up and mirror our levels of urgency as we needed to, which was great.” — Joe, CFO, FirmaPak
The Turning Point: The Audit That Saved the Platform
The recovery began when EmphasisHR, led by Colin on the implementation side, performed a rigorous audit of the “half-baked” setup. While the previous vendor had operated on a passive “tell us what to do” model, creating a natural incentive to stall and bill hourly, EmphasisHR brought a “tried and true” system.
Colin’s audit revealed that the system was far from “best-in-class.” Data was stagnant, and critical modules like Time & Labor were fundamentally misconfigured. EmphasisHR took control, replacing confusion with high-accountability milestones.
Redefining the Standard: Implementation Recovery
| Previous Implementation State (Enhance HCM) | The EmphasisHR Standard |
|---|---|
| Passive Guidance: “Tell us what you want” approach with no clear direction. | Expert PMO: Proactive ownership and strategic project leadership. |
| Hourly Incentive to Stall: Slow progress driven by billable hour models. | High-Accountability: Driven by strict, results-oriented timelines. |
| “Half-Baked” Configuration: Time & Labor and HR modules set up incorrectly. | Best-in-Class Setup: Optimized Paylocity environment built for scale. |
| Manual Data Risk: Inaccurate data causing employee skepticism. | Data Integrity: Clean, audited data rolled forward for a seamless go-live. |
The Transformation: Creating Strategic Runway
Once the system was live, the partnership evolved into a seamless Managed Services model. This transition was anchored by Zinnia, whose attention to detail in payroll Joe described as “unmatched.” Her ability to maintain high expectations for accuracy and timelines ensured that the “blocking and tackling” of HR was handled with surgical precision.
This shift provided the “strategic runway” for FirmaPak’s new VP of HR, Angie. No longer mired in the day-to-day fires of payroll errors, Angie was empowered to focus on high-level initiatives:
- Refining incentive compensation and quarterly bonus plans.
- Analyzing and solving turnover challenges.
- Integrating the culture of newly acquired entities like Apex Plastics.
The Result: A Scalable Platform Ready for the Future
FirmaPak is no longer just a company trying to keep its head above water; it is a professionalized, scaled platform ready for multiple future acquisitions. By partnering with EmphasisHR, they achieved:
- A Professionalized HR Infrastructure: Moving from “backwards” manual tasks to a sophisticated, automated system.
- Seamless Transition to Managed Services: Zero loss of knowledge as the implementation experts became the daily support team.
- Restored Employee Confidence: A successful go-live that proved management’s ability to deliver on its promises.
Let Us Do The Work
At EmphasisHR, our mission is to inspire and motivate maturing companies to focus on what they do best: grow. We specialize in helping growing companies looking to professionalize their HR functions and “get it right from the start,” avoiding the costly risks of a “half-baked” implementation.
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Don’t let a failing system stall your momentum. Let EmphasisHR do the work so you can scale. Contact us today.
