You can't start a fire without a spark

Rapid change remains the name of the game, and its impact on life and work is huge. Although this evolution began before corona struck, the pandemic has forced the pace tremendously, both locally and globally. Only by fully embracing such change - mentally, operationally and structurally - are companies able to keep up and flourish. After all, change is also the beginning of growth.

As a leading payroll and HR provider in Europe, we keep a finger on the pulse. The secret lies in regular discussions with our customers and in-house experts, powerful commitment and strong teamwork by the SD Worx employees, large-scale research, over 75 years of experience plus our natural thirst for innovation.

2021 was a year of further rolling out our strategy, sculpting our offer and presence and taking yet another step towards realising our ambitions as the digital cross-border, customer-segment-oriented organisation with a full-service HR offer.

— Filip Dierckx, Chair of the Board of Directors of SD Worx

Customer first

So, we geared up years ago, armed with an intelligent long-term investment strategy. With a clear vision on which services and tools to offer, covering each step of the employee life cycle - for fixed, flex and hybrid workforce. With a sharpened focus on digitalisation. With a solid roadmap of how and where we should be present in Europe and beyond, in order to stay close to our customers when they spread their wings internationally. Persistent, yet at the same time building maximum flexibility within our organisation, allowing us to be ever ready to adjust and offer the most relevant solutions, software, data and expertise advice in this fluid world of work.

2021 was a year of further rolling out our strategy, sculpting our offer and presence and taking yet another step towards realising our ambitions as the digital cross-border, customer-segment-oriented organisation with a full-service HR offer. Because that's how we deliver our customers - from starter to multinational - a top service throughout the value chain. This includes our customers' employees as well. Within our recent partnership with Vlerick Business School, for example, we are building a digital ecosystem for HR, which will give an unseen boost to HR digitalisation. On this new world of work platform, employees will be able to access all sorts of 'life and work services', for example in the domains of mobility, wellbeing, benefits or competence management.

Strong and capable HR and payroll partners will be vital to tackle the biggest challenge for organisations today: attracting, retaining and motivating talent in a tight labour market.

— Kobe Verdonck, CEO of SD Worx

New reinforcements

On our journey to become Europe's number one player in the field of payroll and HR, we welcomed Aditro, launch! and Teal Partners in 2021, thus expanding our geographical scope and strengthening our offer in cloud HR and payroll software. Add to that the opening of our offices in Poland, Italy and Spain, and we have now a firm foothold in the Nordics, Central Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. On top of our European presence, we provide global solutions in 150 countries worldwide.

SD Worx is growing

Combined with an improved economy, which affects our customers directly and therefore our business as well, key indicators show a positive trend in 2021 in comparison with the year before.

Consolidated turnover

EUR 743.5 million

2020

EUR 858.1 million

2021

Normalized EBITDA

EUR 96.3 million

2020

EUR 115.6 million

2021

Employees

+4600

2020

+6000

2021

Employees served

+4,000,000

2020

+5,000,000

2021

Customers

+75,000

2020

+80,000

2021

SD Worx presence in countries

2020

2021

Together for talent

These are excellent annual results that exceed expectations, but now is not the time to rest on our laurels. Because strong and capable HR and payroll partners will be vital to tackle the biggest challenge for organisations today: attracting, retaining and motivating talent in a tight labour market. The responsiveness to change will be more than ever essential in this new, hybrid world of work. Employers and employees are therefore looking for flexible solutions and best practices in hybrid working. And when there are no fixed workplaces, handling and managing the surge in international employment will be a challenge as well.

The importance of the spark

SD Worx intends to be that strong and capable HR and payroll partner of choice. We realise there is still much work ahead, but setting the bar high in challenging times is easier when there is one clear focus: helping our customers. On top of that, we can rely on the energy and enthusiasm of an amazing team that goes full steam to steer as one towards that goal. Our utmost gratitude and appreciation to them all!

After all, each and every one of our stakeholders plays a vital role in fulfilling our promise: to spark success at the heart of our customers' businesses, allowing them and their employees to thrive. The more sparks the better, because we all know, you can't start a fire without a spark.