ELMO Cloud HR & Payroll

What ELMO Cloud HR & Payroll does

ELMO Software Limited is an Australia-headquartered SaaS provider of integrated HR, payroll, and rostering/time-and-attendance software, founded in 2002 and listed on the ASX under ticker ELO. The platform is built on a unified data foundation hosted across AWS Australia and Azure, with an OpenAPI Specification enabling integrations with Xero, MYOB, SEEK, Indeed, LinkedIn, Flare, Webexpenses, and 50+ accounting systems. Core modules include HR Core, Payroll (delivered through the Payroll Exchange integration layer connecting to best-of-breed AU/NZ payroll engines), Recruitment, Onboarding, Performance Management, and Learning Management, with add-on modules covering Insights (AI analytics), Survey, Wellbeing, Rostering/Time and Attendance, Expenses, Rewards and Recognition, Remuneration, Succession Management, Course Builder, and Course Library. The platform carries ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 42001:2023, SOC 2 alignment, and ACSC Essential Eight alignment certifications.

The company serves more than 2,000 ANZ organisations managing approximately 1.2 million users, with industry-tailored solutions across healthcare, aged care, education, construction, financial services, manufacturing, professional services, hospitality, not-for-profit, and retail. Its primary differentiation is the combination of deep ANZ regulatory compliance knowledge (Modern Awards, EBAs, STP Phase 2, Payday Super, SuperStream) built over 20+ years, AI capabilities embedded natively across modules, and the breadth of a single-platform offering versus siloed point solutions. A Forrester Total Economic Impact study commissioned by ELMO reports 129% ROI and A$1.2M in benefits over three years for a typical customer.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual subscription contracts priced on organisation size and module selection (no public pricing disclosed), supplemented by professional services for implementation, training, and customer success, and integrated wellbeing/EAP services. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales targeting mid-to-large ANZ organisations, a referral partner program, a Payroll Exchange partner network, and mobile app distribution via iOS and Android app stores. Leadership comprises CEO and Co-Founder Danny Lessem alongside Co-Founder Manuel Garber.

Name

ELMO Cloud HR & Payroll

Legal name

ELMO Software Limited

Website

https://elmosoftware.com.au

Company type

Public

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ELMO Software is an Australia-based SaaS provider of integrated cloud HR, payroll, and rostering/time-and-attendance software serving more than 2,000 mid-market and enterprise organisations and 1.2 million users across Australia and New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cloud HR & Payroll Software

NAICS

Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Core HR & HRIS (BPACAPAA)

Keywords

• Cloud HR software
• Payroll software
• Workforce management
• Rostering time attendance
• Learning management system

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions: Subscription-based access to ELMO's HR and Payroll platform modules including HR Core, Payroll, Recruitment, Onboarding, Performance Management, Learning Management, and additional modules like Insights, Survey, Wellbeing, Expenses, Rewards, Remuneration, and Succession Management. Pricing based on organisation size and modules selected.
2. Learning Content Library: Access to 400+ pre-built eLearning courses covering compliance, soft skills and video content, available as part of Learning Management module.
3. Professional Services: Implementation, Customer Success Management, Training & Development services including end-user training and company administrator training to support adoption.
4. Wellbeing/EAP Services: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services via Acadia Connection integration, providing professional counselling access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ELMO sells a unified, multi-tenant cloud SaaS HR, payroll, and workforce management platform purpose-built for Australian and New Zealand organisations. The platform covers the entire employee lifecycle from hire to retire across modules including HR Core, Payroll, Recruitment, Onboarding, Performance Management, Learning Management, plus add-on modules for analytics, surveys, wellbeing, rostering, expenses, rewards, remuneration, succession, and eLearning content. It generates subscription-based revenue with pricing tiered by organisation size and module selection, complemented by implementation, training, and customer success professional services.

Product overview

ELMO Software is an all-in-one AI-powered HR and payroll platform built for the ANZ mid-market. The unified platform connects HR Core, Payroll (via Payroll Exchange), Recruitment, Onboarding, Performance Management, and Learning Management on a single data foundation. AI capabilities are layered across modules via Insights (natural language analytics), Workforce Design (capability frameworks), and generative AI in Recruitment (job ads, screening, interview guides). Additional modules include Survey, Wellbeing (EAP), Rostering/Time & Attendance, Expenses, Rewards & Recognition, Remuneration, Succession Management, Course Builder, and Course Library. The platform integrates natively with Xero, MYOB, SEEK, Indeed, LinkedIn, Flare, and Webexpenses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ELMO HR Core: Centralise your employee data and automate your people management. HR Core brings together survey capabilities and analytics to inform workforce decisions in real time.
• ELMO Payroll
• ELMO Recruitment
• ELMO Onboarding
• ELMO Performance
• ELMO Learning
• ELMO Insights
• ELMO Survey
• ELMO Wellbeing
• ELMO Rostering / Time and Attendance
• ELMO Expenses
• ELMO Rewards & Recognition
• ELMO Remuneration
• ELMO Succession Management
• ELMO Course Builder
• ELMO Course Library

Products and services

• HR Core Centralised employee system of record with self-service capabilities, position management, org charts, compliance tools, and custom reporting dashboards for workforce planning. Sold to ANZ organisations as the foundational core of the ELMO platform.
• Payroll Cloud-based payroll with automated award interpretation, STP Phase 2 compliance, two-way data sync with HR Core, and integration with best-of-breed payroll partners via Payroll Exchange. For ANZ organisations running in-house payroll.
• Recruitment End-to-end hiring platform with AI-assisted job ad creation, multi-job board posting, candidate management, AI screening, and digital contract generation. For ANZ employers seeking to streamline hiring.
• Onboarding Digital onboarding with automated workflows, pre-onboarding tasks, configurable forms, branded portals, and compliance tracking from offer acceptance through day one. For employers standardising new-hire experiences.
• Performance Management Goal-setting, performance review, and 360-degree feedback platform with automated review cycles, OKR tracking, and integration to remuneration and succession modules. For organisations running structured performance cycles.
• Learning Management LMS with automated compliance training, 400+ course library, personalised learning paths, and integration with Course Builder for custom content. For organisations needing compliance and capability development tracking.
• ELMO Insights AI-powered HR analytics with natural language query capabilities allowing real-time workforce insights, live dashboards, and custom reporting without SQL or data science expertise. For HR and business leaders wanting self-serve workforce analytics.
• ELMO Survey Employee survey platform for engagement, onboarding, exit, and pulse surveys with anonymity controls, benchmarking, and automated analytics. For HR teams measuring employee sentiment.
• ELMO Wellbeing Workplace wellbeing program with EAP counselling services via Acacia Connection, 24/7 support across multiple channels, and monthly reporting on usage and benchmarking. For employers seeking integrated wellbeing and EAP support.
• Rostering / Time and Attendance Shift scheduling and time tracking with award interpretation, compliance engine, real-time cost visibility, and two-way integration with payroll. For shift-based and frontline workforces.
• ELMO Expenses Mobile expense management with OCR receipt capture, policy automation, corporate card matching, and integration with 50+ accounting systems. For employees and finance teams managing business expenses.
• Rewards and Recognition Employee recognition platform with peer-to-peer recommendations, badges aligned to organisational values, milestone trophies, and configurable award workflows. For HR teams running recognition programs.
• Remuneration Salary review and pay equity management with rules-based controls, gender pay gap reporting, scenario modelling, and automated letter production. For HR and reward teams running pay reviews.
• Succession Management Succession planning with role criticality assessment, readiness ratings, 9-box grids, talent pools, and development tracking for business continuity. For HR and talent teams planning leadership pipelines.
• Course Builder Rapid eLearning authoring tool with drag-and-drop templates, SCORM compliance, multimedia support, quizzes, and real-time preview and publishing. For L&D teams building custom eLearning content.
• Course Library Pre-built eLearning library of 400+ courses covering compliance, soft skills, video content, with monthly updates and SCORM compliance. For organisations needing off-the-shelf compliance and soft-skills training content.
• Workforce Design AI-powered capability framework builder that identifies skills gaps, benchmarks current capabilities through manager assessments, and develops personalised learning plans. For HR and L&D teams building workforce capability.
• Payroll Exchange Integration layer supporting data exchange between ELMO HRIS and leading Australian/New Zealand payroll engines for flexible payroll solution deployment. For ANZ organisations that prefer best-of-breed payroll engines paired with ELMO HRIS.
• ELMO HR Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android providing access to HR tasks, payroll, learning, rostering, and expense management on the go. For end-users of ELMO's HR and payroll platform, including deskless workers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 129% ROI over 3 years for a typical customer
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments14 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability13 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationXero is a world-leading online accounting software built for small business. ELMO integrates with Xero for seamless financial data synchronisation.
• SEEKcoreTechnology or IntegrationSEEK is Australia and New Zealand's most visited employment site. ELMO integrates for job posting and candidate sourcing.
• IndeedcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndeed is the leading job board aggregator for job seekers and employers. ELMO enables job posting to Indeed from the recruitment module.
• LinkedIncoreTechnology or IntegrationELMO integrates with LinkedIn's Limited Listings product for professional job advertising and candidate sourcing.
• Flare Employee BenefitscoreTechnology or IntegrationEmployee Benefits platform for modern workplaces. ELMO integration provides seamless access to employee benefits within the HR platform.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationCustomer data hosted in secure, accredited AWS data centres in Australia. ELMO completed AWS Foundational Technical Review (FTR) validating software against AWS Well-Architected best practices.
• Microsoft AzurecoreTechnology or IntegrationELMO partners with Azure for cloud infrastructure. Trusted cloud provider offering robust security measures and compliance certifications.
• Acadia Employee Assistance Program (Acacia Connection)coreTechnology or IntegrationEAP service providing professional counselling access to employees via ELMO Wellbeing dashboard. 24/7 support including face-to-face sessions, phone consultations, video calls and live chat.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Employment Hero: Australian-founded HR, payroll and benefits SaaS platform targeting the same ANZ SMB and mid-market with overlapping product breadth (HR, payroll, onboarding, engagement). Employment Hero is ELMO's most direct head-to-head competitor in Australia and New Zealand.

Regional players

• MYOB: Long-standing ANZ accounting and payroll platform with deep SME penetration. MYOB overlaps with ELMO on payroll processing and HR-adjacent workflows for the lower-end of the mid-market, and integrates with ELMO as a partner.
• Xero: ANZ-founded cloud accounting platform with Xero Payroll serving small businesses. While primarily accounting-focused, Xero Payroll overlaps with ELMO Payroll and competes indirectly for the wallet share of ANZ SMB employers.

Emerging players

• BambooHR: US-founded mid-market HRIS with employee self-service, onboarding, performance and reporting. BambooHR is expanding globally and competes with ELMO for the same mid-market segment with similar employee-lifecycle positioning.
• Rippling: US-based unified workforce management platform spanning HR, payroll, IT and finance. Rippling is rapidly internationalising and targets the same mid-market buyers ELMO pursues, with similar AI-led product strategy and unified-data architecture.

Broad incumbents

• Workday: Global enterprise HCM and financial management leader. Workday competes with ELMO at the upper end of the mid-market and large enterprise with Workday Human Capital Management, Illuminate AI suite, and Workday Payroll.
• ADP: Global payroll and HCM giant with RUN, Workforce Now and Vantage HCM serving SMB through enterprise. ADP competes with ELMO across payroll and HR, and is also a Payroll Exchange partner via integrations.
• SAP SuccessFactors: Enterprise HCM suite from SAP covering core HR, payroll, talent and learning. SuccessFactors competes with ELMO in multinationals and large ANZ enterprises requiring global, integrated HCM.
• Dayforce (Ceridian): Global HCM platform combining payroll, workforce management, benefits and talent. Dayforce competes with ELMO Payroll and Rostering/Time & Attendance, particularly in mid-market and enterprise segments.
• Paylocity: US-listed mid-market HR, payroll, benefits and talent SaaS provider. Paylocity is a useful comparable for ELMO on business model, customer segment and product breadth, though currently US-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elmo-software
• Xx.com/ELMO_Software
• Facebookfacebook.com/ELMOSoftware

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ELMO Cloud HR & Payroll