How O-I UK modernised payroll and time tracking to improve accuracy and productivity

Finding one supplier to handle all three functions proved difficult. A single-source platform risked compromising specialisation, so O-I UK chose a best-of-breed approach, combining Northgate HR for HR and payroll with Crown Workforce Management for time and attendance.

“We’d looked at several T&A suppliers but Crown WFM came out on top and the fact that it partnered with Northgate meant that any concerns we had about software integration evaporated,” says Burgess.

Crown Manager offered the configurability O-I UK needed to reflect its complex working patterns. 

“What we liked about the Crown solution was that the user interface was so accessible. Once we decided which rules we wanted, we were quickly able to configure Crown Manager to meet our requirements.”
- Kath Burgess, HR Manager

Following basic training, O-I UK’s HR team could manage the software independently without requiring external experts. The system now allows:

• Real-time tracking of attendance and job roles
• Automatic calculation of payments for role changes (such as acting supervisors)
• Seamless data transfer to payroll for accurate wage processing

With Crown Manager in place, O-I UK achieved significant time savings and error reduction in payroll processing. Manual calculations and paper trails were replaced by streamlined digital workflows, improving accuracy and consistency across shifts and departments. The HR team has seen a
measurable return on investment equivalent to two administrative roles per year.

Crown’s support also encouraged continuous improvement. A test system was implemented, allowing
O-I UK to trial new rules safely before live deployment, empowering HR to manage system
development in-house.

“It used to take two days to run two payroll systems, plus an hour per day to do daily administration. This has been reduced to a day’s administration on the system. “My job now includes an element of IT that it didn’t before and I have become adept at setting up new rules to meet the company’s developing needs”
- Kath Burgess, HR Manager

O-I UK plans to expand its use of Crown Manager to include attendance monitoring and the disciplinary rules facility, helping drive cultural and compliance improvements.

With its integrated system now aligned to upcoming legislation such as the Working Time Directive, the HR team is well-positioned to continue modernising and supporting business growth.