Convenience store operator Co-op Group has implemented new HR technology for its 60,000 employees

Co-op has installed Symatrix’s managed services to deliver a next generation HR model.

Since partnering in January 2020, Symatrix has supplied key support at a difficult time for Co-op with the tax year-end coinciding with the first weeks of lockdown.

Gareth Abreu, cloud devOps manager at the Co-op, said: “Of all our partners, Symatrix made the single biggest difference to our Covid response. They provided crucial advice and consultancy on areas like furlough, tax year end, P11Ds at year-end.”

Previously, Co-op had implemented the cloud-based Oracle human capital management (HCM) and payroll system to streamline its HR processes.

Payroll systems

To maximise the capabilities within Oracle HCM Cloud, it turned to Symatrix for a flexible and agile approach to supporting and developing the product.

Collaborating with Symatrix has enabled Co-op to make changes to its HR and payroll systems on demand, with the Symatrix team augmenting its in-house HCM delivery. It has been able to ‘triage’ one-off incidents quickly and efficiently and manage the information back to Oracle. That has led to quicker results and has saved Co-op’s internal team time and effort.

Gareth Abreu added: “We wanted to create a new approach to complement our internal talent, rather than just an off-the-shelf offering. Symatrix had the capability and agility to help us do this and after shaping our partnership we selected them to support our HCM solution.”