How Tobii Dynavox leveraged Workday for global growth with Strada

Tobii Dynavox, part of Dynavox Group AB (publ), is the global leader in assistive communication. Headquartered in Stockholm and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (DYVOX), the company helps people with disabilities like ALS, autism, and cerebral palsy communicate and live independently. With over 900 employees in 65+ countries, their solutions include eye gaze, touch screen, and AI-based speech synthesis, offering personalized voice identities in 30+ languages and benefiting hundreds of thousands worldwide.

Solutions provided

Strada Solution: Deployment, Cloud Optimization (AMS), Aligned Resources

Partner Solution: Phase 1: Workday HCM, Core Compensation, Absence, Recruiting, Time Tracking, Expenses, U.S. Benefits, and U.S. Payroll. Phase 2: Advanced Compensation, Talent, Learning

Need for a unified approach

Tobii Dynavox has experienced rapid growth through mergers and acquisitions, integrating companies across multiple countries—each with its own platforms and systems. At one point, the organization was managing approximately ten separate HR and payroll systems across four continents, with no integration between them. Routine tasks, such as compiling a headcount report, could take days or even weeks, and new hires had to be manually entered into multiple systems, including HR, expense, and payroll systems.

To support this growth, Tobii Dynavox recognized the need for a flexible and unified HR and payroll solution. Historically, the company operated as two distinct business units, with one set of HR systems in Europe and another in the United States. As the company scaled, this fragmented structure became increasingly inefficient and unsustainable.

Looking ahead, Tobii Dynavox is focused on globalizing and standardizing its operations. The company has set an ambitious goal to grow by 20% annually over the next five years, following a dual strategy of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Central to this plan is the use of technology to automate processes, reduce manual workload, and minimize errors—ensuring the organization can scale effectively and operate with greater efficiency over the long term.

Comprehensive solution deployment and unified HR platform

Tobii Dynavox partnered with Strada to deploy a comprehensive suite of Workday modules, including HCM, Compensation, Absence, Recruiting, Time Tracking, Expenses, U.S. Payroll, and U.S. Benefits as the first phase, and only a few months later Advanced Compensation, Learning and Talent. The project scope was ambitious: a rapid, multi-continent rollout designed to keep pace with the company’s fast-evolving global business.

Leveraging the Workday Launch methodology to accelerate time to value, Strada successfully led Tobii Dynavox through two rapid deployment projects, culminating in an impressive go-live in just eight months. To support this accelerated timeline and drive effective decision-making, Strada encouraged the use of Workday Education for targeted training courses, enabling internal teams to quickly gain proficiency with the platform. In parallel, Tobii Dynavox utilized Workday Community, an interactive forum where users connect, collaborate, and learn from peers in similar industries.

Post go-live, Strada provided hands-on support during the company’s initial payroll cycles, ensuring a smooth transition and accurate, timely employee payments. Impressed by the partnership, Tobii Dynavox opted to retain Strada for Application Management and Optimization Services to ensure continued success and system evolution.

The transformation was championed by Mikael Bäckström, Chief People & Sustainability Officer, with strong support from Anna Ahlenius, HRIS Manager. Executive sponsorship was a critical success factor, with full backing from the executive management team, including the CEO. Recently, leadership approved a five-year Workday roadmap, signalling their commitment to scaling and optimizing HR operations globally.

I’m incredibly proud of what the team has achieved under Anna’s leadership. Their commitment and expertise have been key to our successful transition to a unified HR experience through the Workday platform. This milestone not only enhances our HR and payroll operations but also sets the stage for greater efficiency and future growth. Our collaboration with Strada has been instrumental—providing valuable insights and steadfast support that helped us navigate the complexities of this transformation. Together, we’re shaping a stronger, more agile organization equipped to meet the evolving needs of millions around the world.

Mikael Bäckström
Chief People & Sustainability Officer, Tobii Dynavox

Achieving transformation and measurable success

Tobii Dynavox successfully met its ambitious transformation goal, achieving Workday go-live in under one year. By eliminating ten legacy systems, the company consolidated HR and payroll operations into a single, reliable platform—Workday, now serving as the system of record across the organization.

One of the most significant improvements has been in hiring efficiency. What once took several days across disconnected systems can now be completed within the hour using Workday’s integrated platform. This streamlined process ensures a seamless experience for new joiners, with data automatically flowing into downstream systems for onboarding and payroll.

Tobii Dynavox’s Workday implementation has delivered measurable business impact:

• Achieved a 90% reduction in HR data entry errors within the first six months post-Workday implementation.
• Automated 75% of previously manual HR and payroll tasks within the first year of implementation.
• Reduced the average time to generate standard HR reports by 80%, enabling real-time access to workforce insights.

By fully leveraging Workday’s capabilities, the company has automated key HR functions, enhanced talent management, and significantly improved data accuracy and accessibility.
The rollout’s success was enabled by strategic support from Strada, combined with the use of Workday Education and the Workday Community. While the team noted that earlier engagement with these resources could have further expedited adoption, they proved essential during Phase II, contributing to a smooth, well-coordinated deployment.

Tobii Dynavox’s transformation journey continues in partnership with Strada, with a focus on refining business processes, onboarding is one such example. Efforts are underway to reduce complexity and empower hiring managers with tools that enhance efficiency and autonomy.

In parallel, the HR team is developing an M&A playbook that outlines critical processes and integration dependencies—ensuring consistency and agility in future acquisitions. The onboarding of Link Assistive, the company’s most recent acquisition, was the smoothest to date, reflecting lessons learned and operational maturity.

Looking Ahead

Led by Anna Ahlenius, HRIS Manager, Tobii Dynavox is committed to measuring success and ROI year over year. This data-informed approach enables continuous improvement and helps identify scalable practices that align with the company’s strategic growth targets.

Implementing Workday has brought transformative improvements to our organization. By replacing multiple fragmented HR and payroll systems with a single, unified, and fully integrated platform, we’ve not only streamlined our operations but also significantly improved data accuracy, consistency, and accessibility. This consolidation has eliminated redundancies, reduced administrative workload, and empowered our teams to focus more on strategic, value-driving initiatives. The success of our deployment and adoption was made possible through the support from Strada, complimented by the robust resources from Workday Education and the Workday Community. As we continue to build on this foundation, we’re excited to further leverage these tools and partnerships to drive scalability and operational excellence in support of Tobii Dynavox’s continued growth.

Anna Ahlenius
HRIS Manager, Tobii Dynavox

Tip for other customers:

Secure a strong and engaged executive sponsor to champion the change from the top down. Their support is crucial for driving successful transformation and ensuring organizational alignment.