BDR Thermea sets the foundation for global payroll transformation with Workday and Strada

An interview with Anton Ketelaars, Global HR Leader Processes & Solutions, BDR Thermea Group

BDR Thermea Group, a leading manufacturer of smart heating and hot water solutions, is entering a new phase of growth as part of its 2030 strategy. With operations across multiple countries and a rapidly evolving business landscape, the organization is focused on transforming its operating model to support future scale.

Watch the interview with Anton Ketelaars BDR Thermea on the global payroll transformation with Workday

At the core of this transformation is HR, and specifically, the need to build a modern, global payroll foundation that supports consistency, efficiency, and long-term growth. To enable this, BDR Thermea is expanding its Workday journey and partnering with Strada to design and implement a global payroll transformation.

Supporting a 2030 strategy with a global HR and payroll foundation

As BDR Thermea evolves its organization to align with its long-term strategy, HR is playing a critical role in enabling that change.

Over the past three years, the company has rolled out Workday as its global HCM platform. However, payroll remained distributed across different systems and vendors, creating an opportunity to move toward a more unified approach. This shift is not just about technology; it's about creating a scalable, future-ready HR and payroll operating model that can support transformation across the business.

“We have a 2030 strategy as a company, and a big part of that is transforming how we operate. For HR, among other activities, that means changing our setup and implementing a global payroll solution that supports that transformation.”

Anton Ketelaars Global HR Leader Processes & Solutions, BDR Thermea Group

From a distributed multi-country payroll landscape to a unified global model

With Workday already in place as a global HR platform, BDR Thermea is now focusing on transforming payroll to align with that foundation. The current payroll landscape spans multiple countries and systems, reflecting the company’s growth over time and creating an opportunity to:

• standardize payroll processes across regions
• improve data consistency and integration with Workday
• strengthen governance and compliance
• create a more scalable payroll operating model

Partnering with Strada allows BDR Thermea to design a payroll approach that balances global consistency with local requirements, while aligning closely with its broader HR transformation.

Launching a phased global payroll transformation

BDR Thermea’s payroll transformation is being delivered through a phased, multi-country rollout, starting in 2026. The initial phase will focus on three countries, Turkey, Belgium and Netherlands.

This will serve as the foundation for a broader rollout across approximately 15 countries over the next two and a half years. This phased approach enables the organization to:

• build and refine a global payroll model
• ensure alignment with local compliance requirements
• reduce risk through controlled deployments
• apply learnings across subsequent countries

In parallel, the organization continues to expand its Workday footprint, ensuring tight alignment between HR and payroll as the transformation progresses.

Building a partnership for payroll and Workday integration focused on long-term success

A key factor in BDR Thermea’s approach is its focus on building the right partnership not just selecting a solution. From the early stages of engagement, Strada stood out for its consultative approach and its ability to align with BDR Thermea’s transformation goals.

“What I really value in our conversations with Strada is that they approach this from a customer perspective, not just from selling a solution. It feels like we are building a real partnership that can support our transformation and make this a success in the coming years.”

Anton Ketelaars Global HR Leader Processes & Solutions, BDR Thermea Group

This partnership is designed to support:

• The design of a global payroll model
• Integration with Workday
• Alignment with local regulatory requirements
• Long-term scalability and continuous improvement

Laying the groundwork for a unified HR and payroll future

As BDR Thermea begins its global payroll transformation, the organization is focused on building a strong foundation aligned with its Workday HCM platform, standardizing processes across countries, improving visibility and data consistency, and supporting compliance across diverse regional environments. While still at an early stage, this phased approach, combined with its partnership with Strada, positions BDR Thermea to scale more effectively, improve operational efficiency, strengthen governance, and deliver a more connected employee experience, as the program continues to evolve alongside the business.