Powering Global Growth: Jack Link’s Implements UKG with HRchitect

Client Background

Jack Link’s is the world’s largest manufacturer of meat snacks and a global retail organization best known for its iconic beef jerky brand. Headquartered in Minong, Wisconsin, the company operates 17 global facilities and supports more than 5,000 employees across the United States, Canada, Mexico, APAC, EMEA, Australia, New Zealand, and multiple European countries. As the organization continued to expand internationally, it recognized the need for a modern HR technology ecosystem capable of supporting a complex, geographically dispersed workforce.

The Challenge

With rapid global growth came increased operational complexity. Jack Link’s relied on multiple legacy payroll, benefits, and timekeeping systems that varied by region and function. Processes were often manual and paper-based, and teams experienced frequent rework due to dual data entry and disconnected systems. Workforce data was inconsistent and difficult to access, limiting reporting capabilities and making it challenging for HR and leadership to make timely, informed decisions.

System ownership resided within IT, which created additional barriers. HR lacked direct administrative control, leading to delays in system updates, reduced agility, and dependence on external contractors for ongoing maintenance.

Employees had limited access to their own information, increasing administrative burden on HR teams and restricting workforce self-sufficiency. Fragmented global processes and inconsistent system ownership made scalability difficult and hindered the organization’s ability to operate as a unified enterprise.

Jack Link’s needed to modernize its HR technology while simultaneously transforming how HR operated globally. The organization sought to replace its outdated systems with a unified platform that would integrate payroll, workforce management, and benefits administration, standardize processes across regions, and improve data integrity. Just as importantly, Jack Link’s needed to transition system ownership from IT to the HRIS team, empowering HR with greater control, accountability, and responsiveness.

Beyond technology implementation, the company recognized that success would depend on preparing leaders, supervisors, and team members for change. A thoughtful deployment and adoption strategy was critical to minimizing disruption and ensuring the workforce was confident and ready at go-live.

Client Profile

• World’s largest manufacturer of meat snacks
• Headquartered in Minong, WI
• 5,000+ employees
• 17 global facilities
• Partnered with HRchitect for its UKG Pro implementation

The Project

The primary objective was to implement a fully integrated UKG solution that could support global operations while improving efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. Jack Link’s aimed to centralize and standardize HR processes, automate manual workflows, eliminate rework, and create a single source of reliable workforce data. The organization also prioritized enhancing the employee experience through intuitive self-service capabilities and robust reporting tools to enable more strategic decision-making.

Equally important was building a sustainable operating model by shifting system ownership to the HRIS function and driving strong adoption through structured change management.

Following a strong recommendation from UKG, Jack Link’s selected HRchitect as its implementation and change management partner. HRchitect brought senior consultants with HR practitioner backgrounds to the project, and they provided both technical expertise and strategic guidance.

HRchitect delivered an integrated implementation of UKG Pro Payroll and Benefits for the United States and Canada, alongside UKG Workforce Management (WFM) as a new global timekeeping solution. The deployment connected payroll, workforce management, and HR processes into a single ecosystem designed to eliminate silos, reduce manual effort, and improve data visibility.

Automated workflows replaced dual entry and paper-based processes, while centralized, reliable data enhanced reporting and analytics capabilities. The modern, user-friendly self-service experience empowered employees to manage their own information, reducing administrative burden and increasing engagement.

Deployment Strategy

The global rollout followed a phased approach designed to minimize disruption and build momentum across regions. Phase one launched in the United States and Canada, followed by phase two in APAC and EMEA, and concluding with phase three in Mexico. This structured deployment allowed the organization to apply lessons learned from earlier phases, refine processes, and tailor communications and training to regional needs.

In parallel, HRchitect provided dedicated change management support through its Gold Package services. This included comprehensive readiness planning, stakeholder engagement, targeted communications, and role-based training to ensure leaders, supervisors, and team members were fully prepared for the transition. The emphasis on adoption and preparedness was instrumental in driving a smooth go-live experience globally.

Strategic Approach

Beyond technology implementation, HRchitect worked closely with Jack Link’s to address underlying operational challenges. System ownership was successfully transitioned from IT to the HRIS team, giving HR greater autonomy and accountability. Global HR processes were standardized to support consistency, compliance, and scalability. Automation was leveraged to reduce manual effort and eliminate inefficiencies, while enhanced reporting capabilities provided leadership with accurate, real-time insights.

This holistic approach ensured the transformation extended beyond system replacement and delivered meaningful operational change. 

Key Benefits

The implementation resulted in a fully integrated HR and payroll ecosystem that significantly improved efficiency, accuracy, and data visibility across the organization. Manual processes and rework were reduced through automation, and reliable, centralized data strengthened reporting and decision-making. HR gained greater self-sufficiency and responsiveness through direct system ownership, while employees benefited from an improved self-service experience.

The phased global rollout, combined with structured change management, enabled strong readiness and adoption across regions. The project was completed on time and within budget through proactive planning and close collaboration between Jack Link’s and HRchitect.

The Results

Jack Link’s expressed strong satisfaction with both the implementation and change management support, awarding HRchitect a five-star satisfaction rating on Raven Intelligence. Jack Link’s highlighted the positive impact on supervisor and team member readiness, specifically noting:

“HRchitect demonstrated professionalism, knowledge, and flexibility. They went above and beyond in every aspect, exceeded my expectations, and made our go-live a success.” – Director, Jack Link’s

Through this comprehensive transformation, Jack Link’s modernized its HR operations, strengthened global consistency, and positioned the organization for sustained operational excellence and continued growth.