Cleantech meets smart HR solutions: how scale-up Battolyser Systems is ready for growth with Personio

About Battolyser Systems

Battolyser Systems is a growing cleantech scale-up based in the Netherlands and an innovative producer of electrolyzers that enable 100% green hydrogen at the lowest Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH). The Battolyser® is the world’s first electrolyzer capable of responding directly to fluctuating renewable energy production.

The Challenge

Big Plans

“With our Battolyser products, we are transforming the energy market. These products are based on advanced technologies that store electricity and generate hydrogen from renewable sources. This provides a groundbreaking solution for challenges in energy storage and distribution. With a growing team, we are ready to lead the transition to a sustainable energy future. Internationally, we are recognized as pioneers in the emerging green hydrogen industry,” says Maike Beekman, Director of People & Culture at Battolyser Systems. Currently, Battolyser Systems employs around one hundred people, representing more than twenty different nationalities. The number of employees is expected to continue growing. This organizational growth places new demands on the digitalization of the HR department, necessitating change.

Further Digitalization of HR

Beekman outlines the situation before the switch to Personio: “All personnel files were stored on the HR drive, organized by employee start date. We were also using Nmbrs, but that is primarily a payroll system. Our personnel data was not easily accessible, and we relied heavily on Excel. For example, how is our headcount distributed, and what is the ratio between employees on payroll and contractors? This type of information helps management steer operations and develop financial plans, and it’s also important for our shareholders. Additionally, tracking things like vacation and sick leave or parental leave is critical. You want all of this in one digital HR system. We also aimed to create efficiencies through tailored automated workflows, such as for onboarding new employees.”

The Solution

A Partner with System Expertise

Beekman’s predecessor had selected the HR system Personio. However, the system was not yet in use when Beekman joined Battolyser Systems. She decided to seek assistance with its implementation. “Personio is user-friendly, and there are various demos that help you manage the implementation yourself. Well-organized, but it requires time to fully engage with those demos. My belief is that an HR system should offer optimal support. With a partner who truly understands the system, you can move faster and achieve better results. So, we asked Personio if they had a partner who could assist us, which led us to worldofwork™. Thanks to my experience with other organizations, I had a clear vision for using Personio, and worldofwork™ helped make that a reality. Through our collaboration, we can now use the HR software more effectively. In fact, Personio should always offer the option of such an implementation partner.”

The Approach

Great Collaboration

worldofwork™ supported Battolyser Systems in consolidating HR data for both in-house staff and external contractors within Personio. This process was carried out in close collaboration with the scale-up's HR team. A technical specialist from worldofwork™ set up the system and populated it with collected data, including personal information, contract terms, sick and vacation leave, parental leave, work permits, visas, and the 30% tax ruling for foreign employees. Reporting lines were also established in Personio, mapping out who belongs to which team and who manages whom. A consultant from worldofwork™, who had been involved with the project from the start, took on the role of project leader. Beekman shared: “We made clear agreements on the approach and division of roles and took joint responsibility for achieving the outcome. The consultant from worldofwork™ kept a close eye on this process. This is the kind of service you look for—true partnership. After the kick-off, we went live with Personio in under two months, first for HR and then for the entire organization. I found the collaboration truly great.”

The Result

Better Overview

With all employee information properly organized in the system, Battolyser Systems’ HR department now enjoys a much clearer and simpler overview: who works where, under what conditions, and the status of each employee. “We can see at a glance when a contract or visa is about to expire or what the balance of vacation days is. This prevents any surprises. And if someone joins or leaves, the reporting lines provide an up-to-date picture of our organizational structure,” Beekman explains. Managers and employees also have access to personnel files, allowing them to quickly and easily view relevant information such as sick leave and vacation days. The next step is integrating payroll administration with Nmbrs, so changes in one system automatically sync with Personio and vice versa. worldofwork™ can support Battolyser Systems with this integration as well.

Scalable HR Foundation

Also part of phase two of the project with Personio is the automation of workflows. “A workflow, for instance, outlines the steps needed when hiring a new employee. You simply add someone to Personio, and it automatically triggers the onboarding process. This ensures that nothing is overlooked and that HR process knowledge is retained. With the gathered employee data, we will soon be able to apply HR analytics for better insights and management using dashboards and reports.” With Personio and the assistance of worldofwork™, Battolyser Systems is now well-prepared for the future. Beekman concludes: “Together, we have established a scalable HR foundation that will support our growth for years to come.”