Sisal’s payroll transformation with Strada for scalable people experiences

Interview with Sian Carson, Chief People Officer at Sisal by Michele Carbone

Sisal, a leading gaming and lottery operator in Italy and part of Flutter Entertainment, has been on a rapid growth trajectory. With operations expanding into Morocco, Turkey, and Albania, and the recent acquisition of Snai, Sisal faced a critical challenge: how to scale HR and payroll systems to match its evolving footprint.

Building a scalable payroll system to support local to global operations

Previously reliant on on-premise and insourced payroll solutions, payroll processes at Sisal were fragmented and heavily manual. Generating reports required multiple systems and significant effort, slowing decision-making and increasing compliance risk. The decision to implement Strada Global Payroll, integrated with Workday HCM, marked a pivotal step in creating a scalable HR infrastructure that supports compliance, governance, and efficiency.

“Strada gave us confidence. Their platform addressed local compliance and enabled integration across countries, creating a foundation for scale and simplicity.”

Sian Carson Chief People Officer

Why Strada? A strategic fit for growth and connectivity with international payroll providers

To address these challenges, Sisal implemented Strada Managed Payroll Services and Strada Pay, integrated with Workday HCM, creating a unified HR ecosystem that supports local compliance and global governance while enabling scalability and efficiency. Strada Pay gives Sisal the freedom and flexibility to run payroll the way they want, fully synchronized with Workday, a capability that proved critical during consecutive mergers when harmonizing payroll processes across brands became a top priority. Strada was selected for its ability to deliver local strength in Italy while providing seamless connectivity with international payroll providers, giving Sisal the governance, oversight, and reporting capabilities needed to manage complexity across multiple countries.

The project prioritized payroll first, recognizing critical January cut-offs. Italy went live in January 2025, followed by integration planning for Morocco, Albania, and Turkey scheduled for 2026. Migration to Flutter’s Workday tenant is also scheduled for 2026. This phased approach ensured payroll stability during a period of significant organizational change.

Impact: Efficiency, compliance and employee experience

• 100% payroll timeliness and accuracy for regularly scheduled on-cycle payrolls
• Tax reporting SLA compliance across all statutory filings
• First-pass accuracy improvements, reducing rework and errors
• Service tickets resolved within agreed timelines, improving employee experience

Transitioning from insourced payroll freed Sisal’s People Operations team to focus on value-added activities such as enhancing employee experience, optimizing processes, and driving automation.

How Sisal worked on collaboration between Strada and internal stakeholders to generate value-adding opportunities

Sisal worked closely with Strada and other partners to ensure flexibility and clear roles throughout the project. Internal stakeholders played a critical role in change management, compliance alignment, and harmonization of processes across brands. Their involvement ensured employees understood the impact of new processes and supported adoption.

Transitioning from insourced payroll to Strada freed Sisal’s People Operations team to focus on value-added activities such as enhancing employee experience, optimizing processes, and driving automation. The project also served as a catalyst for rethinking workflows, reducing manual effort, and improving compliance oversight.

Looking ahead: Managing the scale and complexity of future integrations

As Sisal moves toward integrating Snai and PokerStars under its regional umbrella, Strada remains a cornerstone of its strategy to manage scale and complexity. The partnership ensures Sisal can deliver a consistent, compliant, and efficient payroll experience across all markets while supporting Flutter’s global governance standards.

“It’s not just a technical project; it changes how employees interact with a core part of their relationship with the company.”

Sian Carson Chief People Officer

Advice for others on the same path

Sian’s advice to organizations embarking on similar transformations is clear:

“Start with a clear vision of where you want to be in three years. Understand interdependencies, mobilize your team, and choose partners who understand your context and can flex with you.”