Large Cruise Company Partners With HRchitect To Implement UKG Pro

Client Background

The Client is a growing organization with a highly seasonal workforce that fluctuates from approximately 500 employees during the off-season to nearly 2,800 employees at peak. With multiple FEINs and varied payroll frequencies across the organization, the Client required a scalable HR technology platform capable of supporting complex payroll and workforce management requirements.

To modernize HR operations and support future growth, the organization selected UKG Pro as its new human capital management system. To ensure a successful deployment given the complexity of the environment, the Client partnered with HRchitect to lead the implementation.

The Challenge

The Client’s workforce structure and operational complexity presented several challenges for a new HR system implementation. With multiple FEINs, varied payroll frequencies, and a workforce that fluctuated significantly throughout the year, the organization required a system that could manage payroll and workforce data accurately while remaining flexible enough to support seasonal hiring cycles.

Additionally, the Client was operating with separate systems for payroll and time tracking, which created inefficiencies in HR processes and required additional administrative effort to reconcile workforce data. The organization needed a unified system that could consolidate these functions, streamline operations, and provide a scalable foundation to support the company’s continued expansion.

Client Profile

• Dining and sightseeing cruise company
• Range of 500 employees in the off-season to 2800 employees during peak season
• Chose HRchitect to implement a new HRIS/Time & Attendance system, UKG Pro

The Project

The Client engaged HRchitect to lead the implementation of UKG Pro through a phased deployment strategy designed to manage the complexity of the organization’s payroll and workforce management requirements.

The project began with an in-depth discovery and requirements analysis process, during which HRchitect worked closely with the Client to understand current system usage, payroll structures, and business processes. Leveraging experience from similar complex implementations, the HRchitect team translated these insights into detailed configuration requirements while also identifying opportunities to optimize HR workflows and processes.

Phase 1 of the implementation focused on deploying the Core HRIS and Payroll modules with a targeted January 1 go-live. HRchitect’s consultants configured the system to support the Client’s multiple FEIN structure and payroll requirements, followed by a comprehensive User Acceptance Testing (UAT) phase to ensure accuracy and alignment with business processes. After the successful go-live of Core HR and Payroll, the implementation continued with the rollout of the Time & Attendance module, enabling the organization to consolidate payroll and workforce management into a single integrated system.

Key Benefits

• Successful implementation of a complex HCM environment
  HRchitect successfully deployed UKG Pro for an organization with multiple FEINs, varied pay frequencies, and a highly seasonal workforce ranging from 500 to 2,800 employees.

• Strategic phased implementation approach
  By implementing Core HR and Payroll first, followed by Time & Attendance, HRchitect ensured a controlled rollout that minimized disruption while allowing the Client to quickly begin realizing value from the new platform.

• Systems consolidation and streamlined HR operations
  The implementation unified previously separate payroll and time tracking systems into a single platform, improving efficiency, reducing administrative overhead, and simplifying workforce management.

• Improved scalability for business growth
  The new HCM environment provides a scalable foundation capable of supporting the Client’s expanding portfolio of brands and fluctuating seasonal workforce demands.

• Empowered HR team with system confidence
  Through hands-on collaboration, training, and knowledge transfer, HRchitect ensured the Client’s HR team was fully prepared to manage and optimize the system moving forward.

The Results

Partnering with HRchitect resulted in a successful implementation for the Client. The Client now has a fully configured UKG Pro system that matches the Client’s business processes, and beyond that, has a well-trained team who are confident in their use of the system. Overall, the successful implementation has led the Client to realize significant business results.

The Client has a new HCM solution that is scalable to grow with its aggressive growth plans around existing and new brands. Implementing a new system that included core HR, Payroll, and Time and Attendance modules allowed the Client to consolidate two separate systems for payroll and time and attendance into one system. As a result, HR processes have been streamlined, costs reduced, and the HR team has more time to allocate to strategic activities rather than administrative tasks.