SeamlessHR, Gates Foundation champion embedded finance as key to improving workforce productivity

SeamlessHR, a leading HR technology firm in Africa, has called on Kenyan organisations to embrace technology-enabled solutions—particularly embedded finance tools—as a strategic lever to enhance workforce productivity, streamline operations, and support employee well-being.

The message was at the centre of a high-level executive roundtable hosted by SeamlessHR on June 3, 2025 in Nairobi.

Themed “Scaling Business Performance: Strengthening Operational Sustainability and Workforce Productivity,” the event brought together senior executives from sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, private security, and outsourcing to discuss the role of technology in navigating today’s business challenges.

A key focus of the event was embedded finance—a model that integrates financial services like salary advances, savings, and loans into HR platforms. This approach allows employers to offer financial services directly through existing systems, replacing traditional, often manual, processes that typically involve third-party financial institutions.

Speaking at the event, Kris Senanu, Founder and Chairman of Blackrock Capital, highlighted the growing importance of technology in business operations. “The companies that lead tomorrow will be those investing in agile, integrated solutions today,” he said.

Lynn Eisenhart, Deputy Director at the Gates Foundation’s Strategic Investment Fund, noted the relevance of embedded finance in improving access to financial services, especially for lower-income earners.

“Our partnership with SeamlessHR is helping extend financial services to blue-collar workers, whom we refer to as Business Critical Workers,” she said, adding that the foundation plans to channel significant investments into the continent in line with its long-term development vision.

Traditionally, employees seeking salary advances or emergency funds have faced slow, cumbersome processes—often involving high-interest lenders. SeamlessHR’s embedded finance model integrates these services within HR platforms, making them more accessible and transparent.

Victor Komu, Human Resources Director at Gardaworld Africa, shared practical outcomes from implementing the solution: “For low-margin, labour-intensive businesses, employee financial stress can directly impact attendance and productivity. With embedded finance, we've seen reduced absenteeism, better workforce stability, and improved morale.”

SeamlessHR’s Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Deji Lana, cited data supporting the approach. “A Harvard study shows that companies offering earned wage access reduced employee attrition by 23%. Many contract and blue-collar workers still lack access to conventional financial services. Integrating finance tools into payroll helps close that gap.”

A panel discussion featuring representatives from SeamlessHR, the Gates Foundation, Gardaworld Africa, and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers examined how digitised HR and finance processes can support workforce inclusion and business resilience.

The event concluded with a shared call to reimagine how financial services are delivered to employees, not as a perk, but as a productivity and retention strategy. With companies across Africa already using SeamlessHR’s platform, embedded finance is increasingly seen as a tool for inclusive and efficient workforce management.