ADP iHCM simplifies payroll for EXL in the UK

ADP has provided a good service on a consistent and ongoing basis, so I’ve never considered changing provider.

Ian Wall, Vice President, UK & Ireland HR
EXL

Payroll that simply works for EXL in the UK

Founded in 2003, EXL Service (UK) Limited (EXL) is a data analytics, AI and  business services organisation supporting clients with business-to-business  (B2B) services across sectors including insurance, utilities and banking. With a  workforce of about 60,000 people globally and around 300 people in the UK,  they help business unlock the full potential of their data to drive better  decisions, stronger customer experiences and profitable growth. 

Ian Wall, Vice President at EXL leads HR across the UK and Ireland, covering  employee relations, learning and development, business partnering and payroll. 

EXL’s payroll needs to be accurate, dependable and ready for business as usual.  As Ian puts it, “When payroll is right it’s almost invisible. When it isn’t, the  impact is immediate.” 

Payroll is a hygiene factor — until it isn’t

Payroll doesn’t often win praise. People expect to be paid correctly and on time.  But when payroll problems happen, they can drive higher volumes of queries,  reduce trust and create pressure across HR, finance and leadership teams. 

Ian describes payroll as “Mission critical … even minor delays can cause anxiety.” He points to an example in Ireland where some staff did not receive pay until  later in the day, creating uncertainty for people watching their bank accounts.

That’s why EXL values the confidence that comes from stable payroll delivery.

A long-standing relationship with ADP in  the UK

EXL has worked with ADP since 2015. Although Ian wasn’t involved in the  original selection, the reason for continuing the partnership has been simple —  ADP deliver consistent service, time and time again.

Ian says, “ADP has delivered a reliable experience that removed the need to  consider switching payroll providers.”

He also pointed out that EXL is a loyal organisation that rarely switches  suppliers. Payroll, healthcare, pensions and life insurance providers have all  remained stable for seven years — and ADP forms part of that trusted set.

A smooth move from ADP  Freedom to ADP iHCM

Change is never simple and payroll is no exception. When ADP retired ADP Freedom, EXL moved to ADP iHCM. 

For any organisation, a platform change can feel high risk when it coincides with payroll deadlines and year-end  requirements.

Ian was involved in the transition and describes a clear  implementation approach, “ADP set out what was  changing, why it was changing and how the project  would be delivered” he explains. The move was planned  well in advance and timed to align to the UK tax year,  supporting continuity from one tax year end to the next. 

Switching to iHCM also meant EXL gained a more  modern, data driven payroll system. With clearer  visibility, easier access to reports and a mobile app that  supports employees on the move, iHCM aligns with EXL’s focus on accuracy and accessibility. It gives teams  the information they need, when they need it — 
without relying on manual processes or waiting for reports.

And the biggest success measure was also the simplest  one: the first payroll run in the new platform was  delivered correctly and on time.

Confidence, comfort and  minimal effort for HR  leadership

For Ian personally, one of the clearest indicators of  stability is the time required to oversee payroll.  

He estimates he spends around five minutes a month  on payroll, having confidence that the process will run  as expected. Ian says, “It still works. It does what it should.”

He also noted that the ADP mobile app is useful and  that payslips are clear and transparent.

While the payroll team sits outside HR, Ian says no  dissatisfaction has been raised with him, reinforcing  the view that payroll is working as it should.

Opportunities for more  proactive compliance insight

For a business built on data accuracy, even small  payroll errors can create big risks. That’s why  compliance is a major priority for EXL, particularly  given the complexity of payroll legislation. That’s  why Ian sees an opportunity for ADP to play an even  more proactive role. 

He explained that ADP already holds the data  needed to spot potential issues early and believes  the platform could add further value by  automatically flagging anomalies before they  become problems. That might mean identifying  National Insurance exemptions for migrant workers,  highlighting when pension annual allowance  thresholds are close to being exceeded, or other  scenarios where earlier warning flags would help  teams investigate and resolve issues sooner. 

A recent National Insurance case identified by HMRC highlighted this need. EXL is now working  with ADP to calculate the shortfall, and Ian sees this as an area where proactive insight could make a  meaningful difference.

A trusted payroll partner for the long term

Overall, EXL’s view of ADP is grounded in consistency and confidence. For  payroll, the goal is straightforward — pay people accurately and on time,  with a level of service that does not create noise or distraction.

When asked what ADP has meant personally, Ian summarised it simply: “Comfort, confidence, relaxed — those kinds of things.”

And when asked whether he would recommend ADP to peers looking for a  similar solution, his answer was confident: “Yes.”

For a business built on data accuracy and trust, having a payroll partner that delivers the same reliable services, time and time again, is essential. And  that’s exactly what ADP provides. 

“You gave us a  plan and delivered it. My expectation was a seamless,  low-effort  transition — and that’s what  we got.”

— Ian Wall, Vice President, EXL Service  (UK) Limited