Emeria Swiss Holding SA: from decentralized HR processes to an integrated HR solution with Abacus

 «We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Fidigit to advance the priorities of our HR roadmap in the years ahead.» 

Emeria Swiss Holding SA is a leading group in the fields of property management, real estate accounting and real estate brokerage in Switzerland. Active in both French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland, the company operates across both regions.

For many years, HR processes were managed in a decentralized manner, using various tools and without a single integrated solution. However, the company's strong growth and the evolution of its organization gradually highlighted the limitations of this approach.

Management quickly recognized the need to implement a centralized solution capable of managing all HR processes while meeting the company's specific requirements and supporting its future growth.

The beginning of the collaboration with Fidigit and the digitalization of HR processes

Beatrice Kohler, Head of Human Resources & Marketing at Emeria Switzerland Group

In this interview, Beatrice Kohler, Head of Human Resources & Marketing at the Emeria Switzerland Group, shares her experience with the implementation of the Abacus solution for Human Resources Management.

Beatrice Kohler discusses the reasons behind this decision, how employees welcomed the solution, and the many benefits the company continues to enjoy today. She also concludes by sharing her advice for organizations that are still hesitant to digitalize their HR and administrative processes.

1. Before working with Fidigit and implementing Abacus for Human Resources management, what were the main challenges faced by your HR teams?

Beatrice Kohler: Our company grew through the acquisition of various SMEs. As a result, many processes were still managed in a fragmented way, using multiple tools and involving a large number of manual tasks. This was particularly true for payroll, absence requests, time management and several HR processes. It required significant administrative effort, led to duplicate data entry and limited visibility for management, managers and employees alike.

2. What convinced you that it was time to transform your HR processes?

Beatrice Kohler: Together with Emeria's executive management, we wanted to modernize our HR function and dedicate more time to value added activities rather than administrative tasks. It was important to have an integrated solution capable of simplifying processes, improving data reliability and providing a better user experience for both employees and managers.

3. Why did you choose to work with Fidigit and implement the Abacus solution?

Beatrice Kohler: We were looking for a comprehensive, scalable solution that was perfectly suited to the Swiss market. It was in this context that we discovered Fidigit and learned about the Abacus ERP solution it provides as a partner of Abacus Research AG.

From the very beginning, we particularly appreciated their excellent knowledge of Abacus, their availability and their ability to understand our business needs.

The Fidigit team did not limit itself to the role of a technical integrator. Throughout the project, they supported us as a true partner, proposing solutions tailored to our organization and actively contributing to the successful implementation.

Additionally, just like Emeria, Fidigit is present in both French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland, which allowed us to involve our entire HR team across both regions.

4. What were the biggest challenges encountered during the implementation of the project?

Beatrice Kohler: The main challenge was delivering such an ambitious project within a very tight schedule of only four months from kickoff to go live, particularly for the first phase, which included critical processes such as payroll, time and absence management, and expense claims.

We had important deadlines to meet while ensuring business continuity.

The success of the project also depended on the involvement of numerous internal stakeholders. Naturally, the HR teams were heavily engaged, but the Finance and IT teams also played an essential role. We had to coordinate everyone's availability, make decisions quickly and maintain a high level of commitment throughout the project while continuing our day to day operations.

The project's success was based on strong coordination among internal teams as well as close collaboration with Fidigit. Their structured approach and expertise enabled us to overcome the project's challenges and ensure a successful implementation within the planned timeframe.

5. How did managers react to this new way of working?

Beatrice Kohler: The response was very positive. Managers quickly appreciated the modernization of the tools and the simplification of processes. Having a single platform to manage all HR processes through self service represents a real benefit in their day to day work.

6. What were the first reactions from employees after the solution was implemented?

Beatrice Kohler: The feedback was also very positive from employees. From the beginning, they particularly appreciated how easy the solution was to use. Employees can now independently handle tasks such as absence requests, expense claims, consultation of personal information and annual performance reviews. This self service approach, combined with a simple and intuitive user experience, makes everyday work significantly easier.

7. What are the main benefits you are seeing today from using Abacus?

Beatrice Kohler: The benefits are numerous. Thanks to the automation of HR processes, we have significantly reduced administrative work and duplicate data entry. Data is more reliable, approvals are processed more quickly, and traceability has improved.

We have also seen substantial time savings for both HR teams and managers, who can now access the information they need much more easily. Finally, centralizing multiple processes within a single platform improves data quality and makes HR management, KPI monitoring and workforce analysis much easier.

8. If you had to mention one particularly significant change since the solution was implemented, what would it be?

Beatrice Kohler: I would say the complete digitalization of our HR processes. Today, absence requests, expense claims, approvals, the recording of billable services provided to our clients, annual performance reviews and time tracking are all managed directly within a single environment through clear and transparent workflows. This represents a real cultural shift, providing greater autonomy to both managers and employees.

9. In your opinion, why can companies no longer manage HR the way they did ten years ago?

Beatrice Kohler: Expectations have changed dramatically. Employees expect simple, accessible and digital tools that are comparable to those they use in their everyday lives. Managers need reliable information available in real time in order to make informed decisions.

At the same time, regulatory requirements and reporting needs continue to increase. HR departments therefore need modern tools that allow them to work more efficiently and focus on their true role: supporting employees and contributing to the company's strategic objectives.

10. Finally, what advice would you give to companies that are still hesitating to start their HR transformation?

Beatrice Kohler: I would tell them not to view an HR digitalization project as merely an IT project, but rather as a strategic investment that transforms both the HR function and the organization as a whole. It is essential to involve users from the very beginning, define clear objectives and work with a trusted partner.

Transformation requires strong commitment, but the benefits quickly become visible, both in terms of efficiency and in terms of service quality and employee satisfaction.

Are you considering digitalizing your HR processes?

As an Abacus Platin Partner, Fidigit supports you at every stage of your digital transformation journey.

Together, we identify the solutions that best fit your needs in order to optimize your processes, enhance the employee experience and support the growth of your organization.

Contact us for a no obligation consultation and discover the opportunities offered by Abacus.

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