Transforming payroll for Digital Realty

Digital Realty is the world’s largest cloud and carrier-neutral data center platform - giving customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them through a global footprint of 300+ facilities in 55+ metros across 30+ countries on six continents.

As Digital Realty continued to expand across EMEA, its payroll operations evolved to support employees across 15 countries through a network of 11 payroll providers. In 2025, the organisation identified an opportunity to further enhance consistency, visibility and operational efficiency by bringing payroll delivery together under a more integrated regional model.

To support its next phase of growth, Digital Realty sought to simplify payroll management through a single global platform. The move would help create a more standardised and scalable approach across the region, while enhancing visibility, consistency and the employee experience.

Digital Realty partnered with PwC to design and implement a unified payroll model across EMEA.  

From the outset, the programme was built on shared ownership, joint decision-making and deep collaboration. PwC drew on its global payroll and operating‑model expertise to design the target payroll operating model, working closely with Digital Realty’s HR, payroll and technology teams to enable alignment with business priorities and local market requirements.

To manage the complexity of operating across multiple countries, PwC and Digital Realty conducted detailed country-level analysis to align data, processes and controls. Integrations between HR, payroll and finance systems were built from the ground up, with both teams contributing expertise throughout. In addition, the project scope expanded during delivery, enabling additional countries and complexity to be delivered within the same original timeframe.

Despite an expanding scope - including additional EMEA countries and rollout into eight additional Asia Pacific countries - the programme maintained momentum through agile delivery, transparent communication and shared accountability. This collaborative approach ensured challenges were addressed quickly and collectively, keeping delivery on track while maintaining quality and consistency. 

The transformation consolidated 11 providers into a single provider, introducing standardised processes and implementing PwC’s Global Payroll Portal (GPP), integrated with Oracle HCM and finance systems. Automation replaced manual processes, enabling more consistent and efficient payroll delivery. 

The new payroll model is delivering measurable benefits across cost, efficiency and employee experience. 

Digital Realty expects to see a substantive reduction in run and operate costs over a five-year period, alongside a 30% reduction in payroll-related support cases. Employee experience has improved through greater transparency and self-service, with payroll NPS continuing to rise. 

Digital Realty now has a standardised payroll platform across EMEA, with expansion into Asia Pacific underway. The new model improves accuracy, strengthens controls and provides a foundation for continued automation and future growth.