Rapidly Expanding Online Grocer Achieves Wide Range of Business Gains with Ultimate Software’s UltiPro

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Peapod Connects Employees, Achieves Business Gains with Ultimate's Cloud Solution for HCM

WESTON, Fla.--()--Ultimate Software (Nasdaq: ULTI), a leading cloud provider of people management solutions, announced today that Peapod, the leading online grocery and delivery service in the U.S., is connecting its dispersed workforce, supporting expansion with cloud technology, and benefiting from collaborative support services since leveraging UltiPro.

Chicago-based Peapod has grown from a small, family-run shopping and delivery service to the leading Internet grocer in the U.S. — delivering more than 23 million orders in dozens of metro, suburban, and community locations, which include Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Connecticut, New York City, Milwaukee, and Washington, DC.

Prior to UltiPro, Peapod had been using a payroll service bureau to handle its HR, payroll, and time requirements, but executives were looking for a full suite of HCM functionality as well as the range of business benefits that come with cloud technology.

“After evaluating several vendors, we found Ultimate Software offered the solutions we needed for our business as well as innovative functionality that we hadn’t even considered,” said Tom Bentley, benefits and HRIS administrator at Peapod. “UltiPro definitely was the right fit for our business.”

Peapod selected UltiPro Workplace in September 2011 and immediately saw high adoption of the technology among its people.

“Probably one of the bigger wins for us with UltiPro is that our 1,200 employees now have 24-7 access to their personal information — available whenever they want to see it and on any kind of device. They like having more control and instant access to their information,” said Bentley. “Plus, UltiPro has enabled us to go paperless, and with the exponential growth we’ve been experiencing, this benefit has been crucial for our business. We used to process so much paperwork and maintain mountains of files. Now employees are happy managing their own information because UltiPro is so easy to use.”

With thousands of employees in dispersed locations, Peapod is better able to keep its people connected and engaged through Ultimate’s cloud technology. UltiPro has eliminated administrative burdens because employees can access their own pay, benefits, and HR details; enabled managers to quickly access critical business intelligence; and helped Peapod’s HR teams stay on top of key metrics and business trends with real-time access to reports and analytics across any component of HCM.

“We really like that we can access UltiPro from wherever we are, information is at your fingertips, and there’s so much functionality to support our productivity. For example, our executives can see performance trends across our workforce, and this level of visibility has helped with our process for salary planning. UltiPro Time Management also has been fantastic, especially with configuring the special rules that apply when processing the complex payroll that comes with union contracts. And we know we’re only scratching the surface of what the solution can do. I’m always excited to see what Ultimate will be offering next in UltiPro,” said Bentley.

When looking for an HCM solution, Peapod also wanted to partner with an HCM provider that would be constantly improving its products. Ultimate Software takes its business connections with customers a step further. Rather than just routinely updating its technology, Ultimate engages its customers in the innovation process by encouraging the sharing of information and providing direct feedback on UltiPro. Many of the improvements in UltiPro are based on customer feedback, which is actively and consistently welcomed, and as a result, Ultimate Software can better understand which features will provide the greatest value and business benefits.

“UltiPro is always evolving. Ultimate’s folks are very ready to listen to our ideas, and we’ve seen several of our ideas incorporated into the roadmap. It’s really important knowing that Ultimate actually listens to us and that we have a truly collaborative partnership,” said Bentley. “Plus, Ultimate’s customer service is extremely responsive in answering our questions or helping address some of the unique complexities related to our business. Considering the dynamic expansion we’ve had, we like knowing that UltiPro is in place for our future.”

“Ultimate Software’s partnership philosophy with customers is about encouraging participation, communication, and mutual ownership among the unique and diverse people who use our technology,” said Chris Phenicie, chief sales officer of UltiPro Workplace at Ultimate Software. “We’re thrilled when an innovative, growing business like Peapod is embracing the full power of our cloud technology to support its employees, HR teams, and executives and then seeing significant results across its business.”

About Ultimate Software

Ultimate is a leading cloud provider of people management solutions, with more than 10 million people records in the cloud. Built on the belief that people are the most important ingredient of any business, Ultimate's award-winning UltiPro delivers HR, payroll, time, and talent management solutions that seamlessly connect people with the information and resources they need to work more effectively. Founded in 1990, the company is headquartered in Weston, Florida, and has more than 1,700 professionals focused on developing the highest quality solutions and services. In 2013, Ultimate was ranked #9 on FORTUNE'S list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” and Minyanville Media Inc. named Ultimate among the top 10 most ethical businesses in the U.S. In its Cloud Buyer’s Bill of Rights Certification, Constellation Research awarded Ultimate its highest level of certification. Ultimate has more than 2,500 customers with employees in 144 countries, including Adobe Systems Incorporated, Culligan International, Major League Baseball, Pep Boys, and Texas Roadhouse. More information on Ultimate’s products and services for people management can be found at www.ultimatesoftware.com.

UltiPro is a registered trademark of The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

Follow Ultimate Software on Twitter: www.twitter.com/UltimateHCM

Follow Ultimate Software on LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/UltimateHCM

Contacts

Ultimate Software, Weston
Public Relations Contact: Darlene Marcroft, 954-331-7444
darlene_marcroft@ultimatesoftware.com
or
For Sales Information:
Ultimate Software, 800-432-1729
Website: www.ultimatesoftware.com

Release Summary

Peapod, the leading online grocery and delivery service in the U.S., is connecting its dispersed workforce and supporting business expansion since leveraging Ultimate Software’s UltiPro.

Contacts

Ultimate Software, Weston
Public Relations Contact: Darlene Marcroft, 954-331-7444
darlene_marcroft@ultimatesoftware.com
or
For Sales Information:
Ultimate Software, 800-432-1729
Website: www.ultimatesoftware.com