Smartcar, the leading API platform for mobility businesses, enables companies like Uber and Lyft connect their apps and services with smart vehicles to verify mileage, share virtual keys, track locations, and more.

As a startup based in California, Smartcar initially relied on Gusto as its human resources information system but started seeing cracks as it expanded operations to other states. “Gusto wasn’t working anymore. It's just too basic,” said Mathilde Patmon, Director of People. “We're now getting bigger. It's more complicated.” 

A major sticking point? Gusto’s bare-bones approach to HR services. Mathilde recalled, “Gusto, I had to do everything myself.” While the platform worked hard to provide access to information, the lack of customization, automation, and integrations meant time spent researching local laws, analyzing template report data, and building internal policies and materials from scratch. 

Smartcar also needed to purchase additional HR tools to create and distribute locally compliant labor posters, workplace trainings, and employee handbooks. Costs were beginning to add up. 

What’s more, Smartcar needed a solution to support international hires, which, at the time, Gusto couldn’t provide. Smartcar would’ve had to purchase a separate EOR as it began searching for talent abroad.

Smartcar wanted a PEO solution that could handle the burden of time-consuming HR administration. “I’d rather the HR team focus on the internal operations of the business and culture,” said Mathilde. Another critical factor? The PEO needed to play well with Guideline, Smartcar’s trusted and scalable 401(k) provider.

By switching to Rippling, Smartcar saved valuable time on routine HR tasks through extensive integrations and automations, freeing up the people operations team to focus on strategic initiatives. 

By transitioning to Rippling, Smartcar gained access to over 600 pre-built app integrations covering everything from finance and legal to expense management to accounting. “It really came down to all the integrations and the automations that Rippling had. Because that does take a lot of time.” 

Rippling also satisfied another important Smartcar concern: maintaining a Guideline 401(k) partnership that works best for its growing team. Other solutions would’ve required Smartcar to change 401(k) providers, but Rippling integrates natively with Guideline. 

Sticking with Guideline mattered to Smartcar due to the provider’s high levels of employee adoption and satisfaction. “It’s so easy to use,” Mathilde explained. Smartcar employees can manage their contributions directly through SSO from their Rippling dashboard or with Guideline’s award-winning mobile app.¹ “You can log in and change your contributions whenever you feel like it.” The 360-degree integration also saves Smartcar’s HR team time. Changes made in either Guideline or Rippling automatically reflect across both platforms, removing the need for manual updates.

Before Rippling, creating a company handbook required a minimum of three months and a $5,000 investment in legal review. Using HR Helpdesk, another native Rippling integration, the process takes only a day. “If we want, we could technically build the handbook on December 31st, so it's ready for January 1st of the following year,” said Mathilde.
Additionally, Rippling’s integrations with Google Workspace and Slack allowed Smartcar to automate processes that previously required manual intervention or a patchwork of tools. “We just hired a Director of Finance today, and she's automatically added to the Google Workspace groups, the emails, and even Slack channels. We didn’t have to do any of it manually, which has been great,” said Mathilde.

Rippling streamlined  Smartcar’s performance review process with an easy-to-build custom report that uses the company’s employee data to ensure equitable compensation. The company reviews employees every six months, taking into account years of experience versus compensation as a measure of equity. 

Synthesizing employee data and preparing reports for this process used to take Smartcar at least a week. Now, Mathilde can complete the exercise in less than a day. “All I do is pull a report every comp cycle, put it in a spreadsheet and cross-check.”

Rippling’s PEO services gave Smartcar a unified, all-in-one platform for payroll administration, benefits management, compliance, and spend management. Powerful automations either eliminated or drastically reduced the busy work associated with processes like onboarding. 

Mathilde also appreciated Rippling’s built-in HR support. “Rippling has advisors that can help us.” Instead of independently researching state and federal laws or cobbling together processes across multiple tools and apps, Smartcar can rely on bespoke HR advice from experts.

It really came down to all the integrations and the automations that Rippling had.

Mathilde Patmon

Director of People

• Reduced HR busywork: Rippling’s selection of more than 600 integrations give Smartcar the tools to grow without sacrificing important relationships like Guideline. 
• Streamlined processes: Rippling gives Smartcar’s people operations professionals the time to focus on strategy by automating processes like onboarding. 
• Enhanced reporting: Rippling’s powerful reporting and analytics features make it easy for Smartcar to access and synthesize important data. 

Rippling is a client of Guideline. Guideline pays a fee for each 401(k) client integrated with Rippling as outlined in our written arrangement with Rippling. We'll provide additional disclosures prior to opening an account with Guideline.

¹ 2024 Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Winner in the Mid-Size business category.