4 min demo

Anabas Transforms HR Efficiency with Access PeopleHR

When Gemma Rigby joined Anabas as HR Director, she faced a challenge familiar to many growing businesses: too much time spent on manual administration and not enough on people.

“Much of our day-to-day was tied up in manual tasks; absence tracking, data updates, reporting, which created inefficiencies for both the business and the HR team.” Anabas, operating across the UK, is a corporate office facilities management specialist that prides itself on delivering exceptional workplace experiences. But behind the scenes, HR processes were slowing things down. Duplication, limited automation, and minimal self-service meant Gemma’s team was firefighting admin instead of focusing on culture and engagement.

Posted 05/12/2025

The Turning Point

By 2019, Anabas had been using Access PeopleHR for some time, but as the business grew, so did its needs. Gemma knew they needed more than just an HR system; they needed a platform that could scale, automate, and empower.

“Success meant having a single, reliable source of employee data, with streamlined processes that managers and employees could manage themselves.”

The decision was made: upgrade to Access PeopleHR Evo and embrace a fully integrated HR ecosystem.

From Smooth Migration to Immediate Impact

The move to Access PeopleHR Evo wasn’t just seamless; it set the stage for transformation. Training arranged through flexi points gave the team confidence from day one, while ongoing support from Access’s customer success team made the process collaborative and stress-free.

“Our Account Manager and Customer Success Manager have been brilliant – consistently supportive and proactive in helping us get the most out of the system.” Gemma explained.

And then came the results. Onboarding, once a manual and time-consuming process, was revolutionised by Ripple workflow. New starters could now complete much of the process themselves, even before their first day, creating a smoother experience and saving hours of admin.

Probation management also saw a dramatic improvement, with automated tracking replacing endless chasing. The introduction of the HR Assistant in PeopleHR Evo took things even further, giving employees instant access to answers and cutting transactional queries, freeing HR to focus on strategy.

“It empowers our people by giving them instant access to the information they need, and it has led to a huge reduction in the volume of transactional queries coming into the HR team.”

An Integration That Changed Everything

Payroll was another game changer for Anabas. Running three separate payrolls used to mean manual handovers and risk of error. Now, integration with Access Paycircle automates the process, improves compliance, and gives employees secure access to their documents, even after leaving the business.

Recruitment and screening also saw a transformation. With Access Screening and Konfir integration, employment verification that once took weeks now happens instantly, speeding up onboarding and improving candidate experience.

“Having everything; HR, payroll, learning, and screening, working together within one platform has been a game changer.”

Beyond Efficiency: Building a People-First HR Strategy

 For Gemma, the benefits go beyond efficiency. Employees now enjoy a seamless, self-service experience, while HR can focus on people and culture rather than paperwork. Learning has become more engaging with Microlearn and eLearning, turning compliance training into something employees actually want to complete.

The ROI is clear: less admin, fewer errors, faster processes, and a stronger employer brand. And as Anabas continues to grow, Gemma is confident the Access ecosystem will scale with them.

“Access has helped us become a more efficient, data-driven, and people-focused organisation.”

Anabas’s journey with Access PeopleHR shows how the right HR technology can transform not just processes, but the entire employee experience. By moving from manual, disconnected systems to an integrated, automated platform, Gemma and her team have reclaimed time, improved accuracy, and empowered employees with self-service tools. The result? A more efficient, data-driven, and people-focused organisation ready to scale with confidence.

Discover how Access PeopleHR can streamline your HR operations and free your team to focus on what matters most, your people. Watch our 4-minute demo now and see how easy it is to transform your HR process.