Creative agency BrandFuel is streamlining its people processes with the help of online software solution Cezanne HR

BrandFuel is a privately owned creative agency, which creates ‘C’­ level events, brand communications and digital strategies for clients such as Google, Twitter and Facebook, Michelin star restaurants, hotel groups, banks and charities—and their work is regularly recognised for creative excellence. The business realised it had outgrown its existing HR software package and started to look for a new solution.

“We needed something better, faster and more user ­friendly,” said Training and Internal Operations Manager Fi Weir. “We had a demo of Cezanne HR and it just ticked all the boxes. It was within our budget and offered a phenomenal amount for the price we were paying.”

BrandFuel were able to get up and running with the system in less than six weeks, thanks to help from Cezanne HR with uploading all the employee data and providing training for a core pilot team. “We got one person from each area of the business involved at the very start,” explained Fi. “It meant there was a ‘fan’ of the system in each team, who could help get others on board – and they also had some great ideas about how the system could help them.”

One of the first benefits from the introduction of Cezanne HR has been improved accuracy of data. As part of their familiarisation with the system, employees were asked to log in and check and update their own personal information. “The system launch coincided with the start of our business year and it was great to start off knowing that we had correct live data for everyone,” said Fi.

In addition to the core system, BrandFuel has also signed up for the absence management module, which is already proving its worth. The system has brought consistency to the way sickness absence is recorded, is allowing the business to spot trends in absence in particular areas and has also given managers a valuable overview of planned annual leave. “If managers are building a project team it’s really helpful for them to be able to see when everyone is off so that they can plan resources accordingly,” says Fi.

Early feedback from employees has been good and the business is now planning ahead to introduce the performance management module later this year. Fi herself is starting to see the HR admin load decrease, as managers are now able to access salary, sickness and holiday information about their own teams without having to go through her.

“It’s gone down well from day one and people really seem to like it,” she says. “The support has also been superb and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how what I thought was going to be a monumental task, was made very easy. I’ve been genuinely delighted by our move to Cezanne HR.”