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Automating Your UKG Payroll with Ascend: Efficiency and Cost Savings

Mar 14, 2025 | Implementation Services, Managed Payroll

Did you know payroll errors cost employers an average of $291 per mistake? Or that the average organization makes 15 corrections per pay period? 

Manual, outdated, and fragmented systems often result in missed deadlines, miscalculations, and frustrated teams. These issues can strain operations and hinder growth. By leveraging the power of the UKG payroll platform, businesses can pay their employees with ease.

Ready to revolutionize the way your payroll operates? Discover how Ascend can optimize your UKG payroll processes.

 

The High Cost of Manual Payroll Processes 

Running payroll manually isn’t just tedious—it’s expensive. Businesses often face hidden costs that extend far beyond the surface. Labor expenses, for instance, skyrocket as payroll teams spend hours manually inputting data, double-checking calculations, and fixing errors. 

Common Payroll Errors and Their Impact 

  • Miscalculating wages: Incorrect payments can lead to employee dissatisfaction, turnover, or even legal disputes.
  • Misclassifying employees: Mistakes in categorizing contractors versus full-time staff can trigger costly audits and fines.
  • Tax inaccuracies: Filing incorrect amounts or missing deadlines may result in penalties and interest charges.

Beyond the financial repercussions, manual payroll processes often derail productivity. HR and payroll teams waste valuable hours resolving issues that an automated system could prevent. These inefficiencies ripple across the organization, delaying reporting, limiting operational agility, and impacting employee trust.

When payroll becomes a drain on resources rather than a seamless operation, the consequences can hinder growth. It’s clear: an automated approach is no longer optional—it’s essential.

 

How Ascend Optimizes Your UKG Payroll

Manual payroll processes can be a thing of the past with Ascend’s expert implementation and managed payroll services. By leveraging the capabilities of UKG, Ascend ensures organizations maximize automation for accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.

 

Key Payroll Enhancements with Ascend

  • Seamless Data Integration: Ascend configures UKG’s automated imports and integrations, allowing employee data to flow directly into the system—reducing manual input and minimizing errors.
  • Optimized Payroll Calculations: With UKG’s powerful tools, Ascend helps ensure payroll calculations—including overtime, deductions, and benefits—are processed accurately and in compliance with the latest regulations.
  • Tax Filing and Compliance Support: Ascend configures UKG’s automated tax calculation and filing features to help organizations meet federal, state, and local requirements efficiently.

Real-Time Reporting and Insights: Through UKG’s advanced reporting tools, Ascend enables businesses to generate detailed payroll reports for better oversight and strategic decision-making.

 

Leveraging UKG’s Features for Automation

Ascend utilizes the advanced features of UKG platforms to streamline processes:

  • UKG Pro Payroll: Sophisticated tools handle everything from employee pay calculations to compliance checks.
  • UKG Ready Payroll: Designed for flexibility, it adapts to the unique needs of organizations, whether managing salaried, hourly, or contract workers.

Customizable Dashboards: Intuitive dashboards provide instant access to critical payroll data, enabling better oversight and control.

 

The Payroll Implementation Process 

The journey to payroll automation begins with a thorough assessment of your organization’s current payroll setup. Our experts will design a tailored implementation plan, configuring the system to align with your specific needs and compliance requirements.

Implementation is a collaborative process, with Ascend providing expert guidance and training to ensure your team is equipped to manage payroll effectively. For organizations seeking additional support, we offer optional Managed Payroll services, ensuring continued efficiency, compliance, and scalability beyond go-live.

By combining UKG’s powerful tools with Ascend’s expertise, organizations can eliminate payroll bottlenecks and focus on what matters most: supporting their workforce and driving business success.

Key Benefits of Ascend’s Automated UKG Payroll Services 

1. Increased Efficiency

Payroll tasks that once took hours—or even days—are completed in a fraction of the time. With UKG’s automation, Ascend can ensure seamless workflows, real-time updates, and streamlined reporting, significantly boosting organizational productivity. 

2. Reduced Errors

Manual payroll processes are prone to mistakes that can cost businesses both financially and reputationally. By automating calculations, data entry, and compliance checks, UKG helps reduce errors significantly.

3. Improved Compliance

Staying compliant with ever-changing tax laws and regulations can be overwhelming. Ascend’s automation ensures accurate tax calculations, timely filings, and adherence to local, state, and federal regulations. Built-in compliance checks and updates from UKG Ready Payroll ensure businesses avoid penalties and audits. This peace of mind allows organizations to operate confidently while mitigating risks.

4. Cost Savings

Automating payroll delivers measurable cost savings by reducing labor, error correction, and compliance costs. Businesses transitioning from manual processes to UKG payroll services see a sizable reduction in payroll management expenses through decreased administrative workload and minimized compliance penalties.

At the end of the day, automating payroll is more than a technological upgrade—it’s a transformation that drives efficiency, accuracy, and financial benefits.

 

Ascend’s Expertise and UKG Knowledge 

When it comes to unlocking the full potential of UKG platforms, Ascend stands out as a trusted partner. With a team of over 110 certified consultants and years of hands-on experience, Ascend combines technical expertise with an in-depth understanding of UKG systems to deliver tailored solutions that maximize payroll automation and efficiency. 

Deep Knowledge of UKG Systems

Ascend specializes exclusively in the UKG ecosystem, offering comprehensive services across UKG Pro Payroll, UKG Ready Payroll, and workforce management tools. This exclusive focus allows Ascend to provide unmatched insight into the advanced automation features of UKG platforms, helping businesses achieve seamless payroll operations. 

Expert Configuration and Implementation

The key to successful automation lies in proper configuration. Ascend’s consultants take a hands-on approach to ensure every aspect of your UKG payroll system is optimized to meet your unique needs. From setting up workflows and automating complex calculations to integrating with existing systems, Ascend customizes UKG platforms to deliver powerful automation and robust performance. 

Proven Track Record

Ascend’s expertise has driven success for mid-market and enterprise organizations across industries. Whether transitioning to automated payroll or enhancing existing processes, Ascend’s clients benefit from:

  • Flawless Implementations: Every UKG system is configured with precision to avoid delays, errors, or disruptions.
  • Ongoing Optimization: Ascend provides continuous support to refine systems as businesses grow or regulations change.
  • Practical Guidance: Expert advice ensures businesses can fully leverage UKG’s automation capabilities, from tax compliance to real-time reporting.

By partnering with Ascend, organizations gain a team of experts dedicated to simplifying payroll, improving accuracy, and saving time. Ascend isn’t just a service provider—it’s a strategic partner committed to your success with UKG.

 

Transform Payroll into a Competitive Advantage 

Automating payroll is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for businesses aiming to stay competitive, efficient, and compliant. With Ascend’s Managed Payroll Services, organizations unlock unparalleled benefits: significant time savings, reduced costs, fewer errors, and enhanced compliance with tax laws and regulations.

By leveraging the powerful features of UKG Pro Payroll, UKG Ready Payroll, and Ascend’s Managed Payroll Services, businesses can transform payroll from a cumbersome process into a seamless, efficient operation. Ascend’s expertise ensures your system is not only optimized for your unique needs but also continually refined for maximum impact.

Don’t let payroll hold your organization back. Contact Ascend today to learn how we can help you save time, reduce risks, and drive long-term success.

Author

  • Kay Albach

    Over the past 20 years, Kay has been a highly qualified and top-performing payroll executive specializing in payroll management. She is credentialed as a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) and Human Resource Project Manager (HRPM). In all of her payroll professional roles, Kay has been a trusted partner to manage a business’ vital payroll functions so that executives, employees, HR, accounting and IT team members can focus on their respective responsibilities without the need to worry about payroll compliance at the local, state and federal level, tax obligations, and quite simply accurately paying the workforce consistently on time and error free. Kay has led several award-winning customer service teams. She has a positive outlook and prides herself on building strong, long-lasting relationships with every client. Kay makes it a point with each project she manages that they understand “The Why.” Change, progress and success never really take place organizationally until “The Why” is understood.

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