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PayStream transformed its referencing response process with Konfir Respond, moving from a manual, email-heavy workflow to a fully automated and secure system. The result: faster turnaround times, reduced admin overhead and a better experience for the businesses and employees/alumni requesting references, as well as PayStream’s HR team.
As the UK’s largest umbrella employer, PayStream receives hundreds of employment and income reference requests each month. These come from a broad range of third parties, including tenant referencing agencies, financial services providers, background screening companies and prospective employers. Each requester needs fast and reliable confirmation of employment details for current or former umbrella employees and contractors.
Historically, these requests were handled manually by the HR team. Every reference required extracting data from internal systems, responding to emails and formatting the information into letters or uploading it to third-party portals. While this process was effective, it was time-consuming, repetitive and inconsistent across different requester types.
As volumes increased, this manual model began to stretch internal resources. The team recognised the need for a more scalable, secure and consistent approach that could reduce admin load without sacrificing accuracy, compliance or the professionalism of the PayStream experience.
Respond offered PayStream a faster, safer and more efficient way to handle employment references, without adding complexity.
By automating the process, PayStream was able to reduce risk, improve turnaround times and ease pressure on the HR team. Respond also ensures that only the necessary information is returned to third parties, in line with GDPR data minimisation principles. This means PayStream can be confident that no unnecessary or excessive data is ever shared.
The referencing process is now consistent, secure and easy to manage, giving PayStream full confidence and control from request to response.
PayStream introduced Respond to streamline and secure its referencing workflow from end to end.
Now, when a reference is requested, the requester is directed to a PayStream-branded landing page hosted by Konfir. There, they submit their request and the relevant individual, whether a current or former employee, receives a prompt to grant permission for their information to be shared. This ensures full compliance and transparency from the outset.
Once permission is granted, Respond automatically verifies employment details against trusted internal records, formats the reference, and delivers it securely to the requester - all within seconds.
The process eliminates inbox management, removes manual data entry, and ensures consistency across every response. Since launching Respond, 75% of applicants complete the reference journey without any need for follow-up, demonstrating both user trust and workflow efficiency.
The implementation of Respond had an immediate and measurable impact across HR operations:
Respond has enabled PayStream to scale its HR operations without scaling headcount. What was once a repetitive, manual task is now automated and audit-ready, improving both security and efficiency.
The solution has also elevated the requester experience. Whether it’s a former employee, a lender, or other third party requesting verification, the process is now fast, professional, and consistent.
Konfir produces all references for us, meaning we don't have to do it in-house - it's a much faster process. There used to be two people on the team, and we’ve now cut it down to one. In terms of head count, it's been a massive help
With Respond, PayStream turned referencing from a manual pain point into an automated advantage.
The team now benefits from faster turnaround times, stronger data controls, and a streamlined process that’s easy to manage and scale. And with less time spent on admin, HR can focus on what matters most, supporting their people and growing the business.
