Sawridge Group of Companies
The Sawridge Group of Companies was founded by the Sawridge Cree First Nation of Slave Lake, Alberta. With an impressive 40 years in the hospitality sector and different real estate holdings, land developments, retail service businesses, and hotels—Sawridge is guided by a respect for the environment and a commitment to delivering exceptional value to their customers.
Avanti’s integrated solution shares scheduling changes and employee turnover in real-time—a game changer for this hospitality group.
Goals
Centralized payroll and HR for multiple properties
Sawridge Group of Companies is responsible for paying hundreds of employees in multiple locations accurately and on time. Working with three separate systems, the organization needed an efficient solution to centralize Payroll and HR and securely house employee data.
More control
Sawridge needed more administrative control over its software. As a First Nations-owned company, with businesses in the First Nation, the tax treatment for First Nations employees working on reserves is different. Sawridge needed a configurable system that would allow them to make changes and customize processes that better fit their business needs.
Helpful support
Before Avanti, Sawridge felt like just another number. Their previous provider’s service reps were unresponsive and any changes that needed to happen would have to wait a full payroll cycle before being applied. It was frustrating, to say the least.
The Solution
Saving with a single source of truth
Avanti eliminated the Sawridge Group of Companies’ need for three separate systems. Cost-wise Avanti was less expensive than their previous solution, and Avanti’s integrated solution has streamlined their processes. Automated calculations and reduced manual tasks have also saved Sawridge $60,000 annually. And without the extra fees charged by their previous provider, they’ve saved an additional $25,000.
Flexible, configurable control
With Avanti’s in-house system, Sawridge now experiences a whole new level of control and freedom. It’s easy for managers to log in and see exactly how much they’ve spent on payroll. Reporting is faster and their data is accessible. Commenting on the transformation, Sawridge CFO, Eresha Fernando said: “We finally feel like we’re managing our payroll, whereas our old payroll system felt like it was managing us.”
Canadian expertise & support
The days of feeling like another number are long behind this organization. Commenting on Avanti’s Client Care, Eresha said: “If I called Avanti right now, I would definitely get somebody to help me solve my problems. They’re always there for us. We always get a prompt response.”
