Streamlining payroll and HR processes for SMEs with Peko’s smart workflows

Peko’s smart automation helps SMEs move from manual HR and payroll chaos to more predictable and streamlined processes that owners and employees can trust.

Why payroll and HR are so painful for SMEs

For most small and medium businesses, payroll and HR are handled in spreadsheets, shared folders, and endless email threads. This leads to:

• Late or incorrect salary payments
• Confusion over leave, benefits, and entitlements
• Stressful month‑end closes and compliance risks

Peko is designed as an all‑in‑one business OS for SMEs, giving founders and finance teams a single place to manage people data, pay runs, and approvals instead of stitching together multiple systems. 

One connected system for people, pay, and policies

The biggest blocker to smooth HR and payroll is fragmented data: HR keeps contracts, finance runs payroll, and managers track leave in separate tools. Peko brings these together.

• Central employee profiles with role, salary, bank details, and approvals in one workspace.
• Payroll, expenses, and corporate card usage linked to the same people records.
• Policy‑based settings so rules (working hours, overtime, allowances, per diems) are embedded in the system instead of hidden in documents. 

This foundation means every automation Peko runs is based on configured and maintained information.

Simplifying payroll from input to payslip

Instead of rebuilding payroll from scratch every month, Peko focuses on repeatable workflows.

• Template‑driven pay runs: Once base salaries, allowances, and deductions are set, payroll data and pay-run inputs may be prepared through configured workflows only updating changes like new joiners, leavers, or promotions.
• Integrated time and attendance: Approved overtime and leave can be fed into payroll calculations, reducing manual edits and errors.
• Streamlined calculations: Taxes, benefits, end‑of‑service accruals, and employer contributions are calculated based on configured rules and applicable inputs.

For founders, this turns payroll from a manual, time-intensive task into a predictable, review‑and‑approve routine.

Supporting local compliance and WPS‑style workflows

In markets like the UAE, payroll must align with frameworks such as the Wage Protection System (WPS). A strong automation layer can help support compliance processes.

• Standard file exports and reports that can be used with banks, regulators, or payroll partners.
• Clear cut‑off dates and approval flows so salaries are processed on time and in accordance with configured payroll timelines.
• Digital trails showing who approved what and when, making audits and labour inspections easier to manage. 

By embedding these steps into everyday workflows, Peko helps SMEs treat compliance as a structured operational outcome, not a separate project.

Giving HR and finance teams back their time

Automation is not just about speed—it is about freeing skilled people from low‑value admin.

• HR teams spend less time chasing documents and more time on onboarding, culture, and performance.
• Finance teams focus on analysing payroll costs, headcount, and scenarios instead of rebuilding spreadsheets.
• Managers get self‑service visibility into team leave, attendance, and budgets without emailing HR for every answer. 

The result is a leaner back office that supports growth more efficiently as organisations scale.