Cleaner Systems, Smarter Operations: Transforming Time & Attendance for a Global Industrial Manufacturer

Client Background

Founded in 1870 as a small woodworking shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the client has become a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and marketing solutions that create cleaner, safer, and healthier environments. Its product line includes a wide range of floor cleaning machines and technologies, such as scrubbers, sweepers, and burnishers, serving customers across various industries worldwide. With a strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and quality, the company focuses on providing effective cleaning solutions while minimizing environmental impact.

The Challenge

The client initially partnered with HRchitect in 2019 to implement WorkForce Software’s Time and Attendance platform. The project was structured in two phases and delivered on HRchitect’s own paper, reflecting a direct and trusted relationship from the outset. The engagement quickly evolved beyond implementation to encompass broader strategic support, driven by internal changes at Tennant and increasing system complexity. As the client faced high volumes of urgent configuration requests, such as state-level sick time updates, and turnover in key payroll and HR roles, they leaned on HRchitect not only for issue resolution but also for long-term planning and proactive system management.

HRchitect’s understanding of the client’s business and technical landscape made the team a critical partner in ensuring system continuity, optimization, and compliance. Since go-live in August 2020, HRchitect has continued to support the client across more than 12 follow-on projects and Statements of Work.

Client Profile

• Global leader in industrial and commercial cleaning equipment
• 2020 Recipient of EPA’s Green Chemistry Award
• Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN
• 4,000 employees
• Chose HRchitect for WorkForce Software implementation and support services

The Project

The client was seeking to replace a legacy time and attendance solution that had lost support in 2017. Beyond technical viability, the company prioritized user experience and needed a system that would be intuitive and accessible for employees, managers, and the payroll team alike. A key objective was to ensure broad adoption and support future growth with a scalable, flexible solution. The client selected HRchitect based on the firm’s deep expertise in WorkForce Software, their ability to implement complex configurations, and their people-first approach to consulting. The initial implementation addressed the client’s need to replace an outdated time and attendance system that couldn’t support necessary calculations or integration logic. From there, the relationship expanded organically as the client encountered new challenges.

Among the most notable were the design and implementation of barcode scanning and kiosk functionality to track labor distribution across work centers, integration of a custom SAP payroll export to accommodate a legacy environment, and configuration support for a multinational workforce. The client selected WorkForce Software due in part to its user-friendly interface and existing integration with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, which aligned with the company’s HR technology roadmap. This compatibility streamlined implementation efforts and improved system cohesion across platforms.

Even during periods with minimal active issues, HRchitect maintained regular strategic check-ins with the client’s team to stay ahead of business needs and system changes. The result has been a partnership that spans nearly six years, consistently characterized by responsive service and deep system knowledge.

“The client has accomplished a lot within their current system, and that is something to be proud of. As a consultant, my main focus is to see the system and the ways it can go even further.”

— Lead Consultant, HRchitect

Services Provided:

• Time & Attendance Implementation – Full deployment using HRchitect’s WorkForce Xcelerate methodology.
• Custom SAP Payroll Export Integration – Built to accommodate the client’s transition to ECP while maintaining legacy system needs.
• Monthly strategic support meetings
• Incident management and troubleshooting
• Resource planning for upcoming system changes
• Ongoing support strategy development

Key Benefits

• Proactive support with regular strategic touchpoints
• Reduced internal workload through reliable external support
• Fast implementation of urgent policy updates
• Flexible system adjustments aligned with business growth
• Strong, collaborative client-consultant relationship
• Continued support despite internal turnover
• Strategic insight for long-term planning and expansion

The Results

Since the initial go-live in August 2020, HRchitect has played a central role in the client’s workforce management strategy. The collaboration has resulted in measurable gains in operational efficiency, user experience, and compliance. The client company reduced its backlog of configuration tasks by 60% within the first six months of post-implementation support. Barcode and kiosk time entry reduced manual input by approximately 30%, saving hours of administrative effort each week. HRchitect also enabled the on-time rollout of state-level sick leave policies across five states, ensuring the client stayed ahead of compliance deadlines. The transition to a new SAP payroll environment was completed without disruption, thanks to HRchitect’s custom integration solution.

End users have received the platform well, noting a more positive experience than the client’s previous time system, which had been used exclusively by operations. In contrast, WorkForce Software provided functionality for all North American employees, expanding access and improving engagement across business functions.

From a process improvement and return on investment perspective, the client reports that WorkForce has become a valuable tool for both HR and operations teams. Its customizable design has supported productivity tracking and operational oversight, helping the organization meet evolving workforce needs. According to the the client team, “Whatever our system requirements are, HRchitect can configure WorkForce to meet our business needs.”

Even as internal turnover affected the client’s HR and payroll teams, HRchitect’s continued presence and institutional knowledge provided essential continuity. With 13 Statements of Work to date and discussions underway for an expanded 2026 workforce initiative, the client’s partnership with HRchitect continues to grow in scope and value.

“Overall, the company has generally had very good experiences with HRchitect. The individuals we have worked with over the years have been very talented in their field and have been easy to work with.”

— Senior Manager, Global HR Technology and North America Payroll