El Car Wash’s UKG Implementation With HRchitect

Client Background

Initially a self-service car wash with four locations, El Car Wash has grown rapidly in recent years, with over 40 total locations across Florida. Drawing on over two decades of experience in HR, El Car Wash’s Director of People and Culature, Jia Kruger, oversaw significant growth, with El Car Wash’s employee count more than doubling in less than a year. Facing challenges with an outdated HR system ill-suited for this rapid growth, Jia sought a comprehensive solution to support El Car Wash’s new requirements.

The Challenge

El Car Wash needed a scalable HR solution capable of accommodating their growth from 250 employees to over 700 employees across multiple new locations while still providing support for future expansion as well; concerns arose regarding El Car Wash’s goals of scaling the company to over 2,000 employees with their current system in place. The existing HR system was inadequate for managing an expansion of this magnitude effectively, as it was designed for smaller organizations of 0-50 employees. Furthermore, El Car Wash’s old system lacked the reporting capabilities that senior leaders needed.

Client Profile

• Premier car wash in Florida
• Official car wash of the Florida Panthers and Miami Heat
• Headquartered in Miami, FL
• 700+ employees
• #45 on Inc 5000 Southeast Regionals, 2024
• Chose HRchitect to help implement their new UKG system

The Project

Solution Selection:

After evaluating several options, El Car Wash chose to implement UKG for its robust HR capabilities and because many of their competitors also used UKG. El Car Wash initially implemented UKG Pro payroll, employee management, and applicant tracking in a six-to-eight-week project timeline. However, impressed by all of UKG’s features, El Car Wash opted for a full-suite implementation to be completed in the same initial timeframe.

During the implementation, Jia felt overwhelmed and alone. So, she asked her contact at UKG: “Who can really help me and give me the most bang for my buck?”. UKG provided various options, but Jia found herself continuously interested in HRchitect. After one conversation with an HRchitect consulting director, Jia was sold.

Services Provided:

HRchitect assisted El Car Wash with the initial UKG implementation using a phased approach. HRchitect also assisted in bringing three FEINs to go-live in November, and that number expanded to forty-one by January.

After working so closely with the HRchitect team, Jia made the strategic decision to reinvest her approved new hire funds back into El Car Wash’s partnership with HRchitect.

Key Benefits

• Comprehensive system integration: Implementing the UKG suite enabled El Car Wash to consolidate HR functions into a single, scalable platform.
• Enhanced reporting and analytics: Advanced reporting capabilities provided actionable insights for El Car Wash’s strategic decision-making as they expanded exponentially.
• Improved efficiency: Automation of payroll and HR processes reduced administrative burdens and improved operational efficiency.

The Results

El Car Wash successfully completed the implementation of the full UKG suite within an ambitious eight-week timeframe, thanks to the dedicated support and expertise provided by HRchitect consultants. Despite the tight timeline, both teams worked tirelessly, taking meetings well into the morning as they began to foster a strong bond. Both parties made sure to make every call, and when quick decisions were required, the El Car Wash team was decisive so that progress on the implementation wouldn’t slow down.

By the end of the implementation, Jia and her team considered the HRchitect consultants who supported them to be an extension of El Car Wash’s greater community. It was clear that choosing HRchitect was the best decision for El Car Wash.

The new system not only met immediate operational needs, but also positioned El Car Wash for sustainable growth, ensuring scalability as they continue to expand their business. Jia emphasized that HRchitect’s assistance proved to be the catalyst for a successful, on-time implementation, with HRchitect providing El Car Wash with invaluable tools for project completion.

“You will never regret buying UKG, but you can’t implement it without a strong partner like HRchitect.” – Jia Kruger, Director of People and Culture