At scale, this becomes a structural inefficiency. Experian identified that each verification request takes an average of four-and-a-half minutes to process, with employees requiring verification around 1.4 times per year. Across large workforces, this creates a steady flow of low-value administrative work that distracts payroll teams from higher-impact activity. 

At the same time, these manual processes slow down outcomes for employees, particularly in high-stakes scenarios such as mortgage applications. 

Verification processes struggle to keep up with expectations 

The operational context has shifted. Employees now expect faster, digital-first experiences, while third parties require reliable, standardised data to make decisions quickly. Traditional payroll verification processes are not designed for this environment. 

The pressure points were clear: 

For organisations, this created both a productivity issue and a reputational risk, particularly where delays affected employee financial decisions. 

Replacing manual workflows with consent-driven automation 

Experian’s response was to redesign the verification process entirely through its Work Report™ solution. Instead of relying on payroll teams to respond to individual requests, the model enables third parties to access verified income and employment data directly from payroll systems provided the employee gives consent.  

This shifts verification from a reactive, manual process to an automated, real-time service. Payroll teams are removed from the transaction, eliminating the need to retrieve and share documents. 

A key technical challenge was standardisation. Payroll data varies significantly across employers, particularly when it comes to variable pay elements such as overtime, bonuses or shift allowances. To address this, Experian adapted its open banking categorisation engine to interpret payroll data, automatically identifying and classifying income types across different formats.  

This innovation allows third parties to make consistent, data-driven decisions without requiring follow-up queries, reducing friction across the process. 

Aligning delivery with security and compliance requirements 

Given the sensitivity of payroll data, governance was central to the design. The system was built around consent, ensuring that data is only shared when authorised by the employee. Access is controlled, traceable and aligned with GDPR and ISO 27001 standards.  

This addresses a key concern for payroll and HR teams: maintaining control over data while enabling more efficient processes. By limiting data sharing to what is necessary and ensuring transparency, the model balances efficiency with compliance. 

Integration was also critical. By working with major payroll providers, the solution was embedded into existing systems, reducing implementation complexity and supporting adoption at scale. 

Measurable impact on speed and workload 

The impact of this approach is visible in both operational efficiency and employee experience. Payroll teams experience a reduction in inbound queries, freeing capacity for more strategic work. At the same time, employees benefit from significantly faster outcomes. 

In one example, mortgage application-to-offer time was reduced to as little as twelve minutes, compared to a process that previously took weeks. This demonstrates how removing manual verification steps can transform end-to-end processes. 

The system also supports financial inclusion by providing verified income data for individuals without strong credit histories, enabling fairer access to financial services. 

Redesigning payroll processes around data access 

For payroll and reward leaders, the key lesson is that inefficiencies often sit at the edges of payroll processes, not within core delivery. 

Three practical insights emerge from this example: 

Experian’s approach shows that when payroll data is made accessible in a controlled, real-time way, it can unlock efficiencies far beyond the payroll function itself, reducing workload, improving employee outcomes and enabling faster decision-making across multiple industries.