Remote work and international hiring have made cross-border payments and international payroll more strategic and more complicated. With access to a wider pool of skilled professionals worldwide, organizations are looking for efficient and reliable ways to pay employees and contractors across borders.
Whether coordinating compensation for teams in two countries or 25, today’s global payroll leaders face a daunting range of challenges, such as navigating a shifting regulatory landscape and ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, in their local currency.
Here’s a breakdown of the most pressing global payroll challenges and how Convera’s global payments solution can help streamline international payroll.
Key payroll challenges and solutions
1. Paying on time, every time
No matter where they’re located, your employees expect to be paid on time. Delays erode trust and engagement, especially when they affect essential payments like rent, utilities, or healthcare.
Payment delays are more than just a technical problem; they’re a workforce morale issue, especially in today’s competitive talent market.
With extensive global banking relationships and real-time tracking tools, Convera helps ensure your team gets paid on time, every time. From New York to Nairobi, the platform supports reliable, repeatable payment flows with transparent timing.
“Empowering customers to send payments from an in-country account gives us an added advantage over other providers,” says Howard Young, Senior Director – GTM Channel and Global Employee Services, Convera. “Our banking network and licenses mean that customers have a lot of choice, which is a key element in what differentiates Convera in the global payroll space.”
2. Managing cross-border funding
Paying employees around the world requires having the right funding strategy in place. Funding payroll in multiple jurisdictions means managing cash flow, forecasting needs, and transferring funds to local banks or partners.
Mistimed funding can result in delayed payments, frustrated employees, and downstream operational issues.
Convera provides a streamlined cross-border payments infrastructure, allowing you to pre-fund payroll accounts efficiently and with visibility. In-depth insights and scheduling features can help ensure you have the right funds, in the right place, at the right time.
3. Understanding currency complexities
Managing multiple currencies is another top concern for global payroll leaders. Employees expect to be paid in their local currency, and doing so not only ensures compliance in many countries but also promotes better morale and retention.
However, dealing with currency fluctuations, multiple exchange rates, and the cost of foreign exchange can be a drain on finance teams and budgets.
Convera enables payments in more than 140 currencies across 200 countries and territories, so you can easily pay employees in their local currency. Convera’s payment platform offers competitive foreign exchange (FX) rates and shorter disbursement lead times, allowing you to process multiple payments in multiple currencies through a single file upload.
4. Ensuring data security and privacy
Payroll data is highly sensitive, and with global operations, companies must comply with a patchwork of privacy and data protection laws, such as GDPR in Europe, POPIA in South Africa, and others worldwide. Handling employee information across borders requires strict data governance and the right technology safeguards.
A breach in payroll data not only jeopardizes personal information but can also trigger fines, lawsuits, and reputational damage.
With enterprise-grade encryption, secure file transfers, and robust data protection policies that meet or exceed international standards, Convera prioritizes security and compliance so cross-border payment providers can manage operations knowing that employee data is protected end-to-end.
5. Enabling automation and streamlining systems integration
Many payroll teams rely on disparate systems that don’t talk to each other — from HRIS platforms and time-tracking tools to accounting software and banking systems. This lack of integration creates inefficiencies, duplication of effort, and greater room for error.
Scaling global payroll means integrating across systems for a more automated, seamless experience.
Convera’s solutions integrate with many major ERP and payroll systems, creating a unified workflow that saves time and reduces manual intervention. With APIs and custom integration options, organizations can build flexible, scalable payroll tech stacks that support growth.
6. Dealing with rising costs
Between labor, foreign exchange, compliance, and administration, global payroll costs can spiral quickly. Companies must find ways to control expenses while still ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Legacy systems and manual processes make this harder, adding inefficiency and overheads.
By centralizing and streamlining global payments, Convera helps reduce the hidden costs of payroll. You can benefit from economies of scale, better FX rates, and more predictable fees, freeing up budget to strategically reinvest elsewhere.
7. Navigating complex regulations
Compliance is one of the biggest and most persistent challenges in global payroll. Every country has unique laws related to employment, tax withholding, reporting, benefits, and remittance timelines. Payroll teams must stay updated on labor regulations that vary not just from one country to another, but sometimes by region or sector within the same country.
In fact, in a recent industry survey, global payroll leaders said ensuring local compliance is their top challenge.
Even a small misstep — like misclassifying a contractor or missing a filing deadline — can lead to fines, legal exposure, or damage to your company’s reputation.
Convera works with organizations to ensure their global payments processes align with local compliance requirements. With built-in checks and support for country-specific regulations, you can reduce risk and improve accuracy without becoming a legal expert in every market.
8. Managing multiple vendors
Many global payroll operations rely on third-party vendors — including local payroll providers, banks, and compliance consultants. Coordinating all these partners is time-consuming and introduces potential points of failure.
Convera simplifies vendor management by acting as a trusted global payments partner that scales with your organization. With centralized control and consolidated reporting, you get better oversight and fewer headaches.
Treating global payroll as a strategic advantage
The global payroll market, valued at $6.78 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $13.13 billion by 2033. Global payroll is no longer just an operational function — it’s a strategic advantage. The ability to efficiently pay employees across borders, in local currency, on time and in full compliance, plays a direct role in your organization’s ability to attract talent, expand into new markets, and manage risk.
Convera empowers global payroll leaders with the tools, technology, and trusted support to streamline cross-border payments and unlock operational value.
Get in touch with our experts to streamline your international payroll.
