Employment Hero launches real-time Payday Super pilot

Employment Hero has processed Australia's first real-time superannuation payment made directly from within a payroll platform, as businesses begin preparing for the shift to Payday Super in 2026.

The company said the inaugural transaction was processed on the New Payments Platform using HeroClear, its new embedded super-clearing and validation product. HeroClear has been built in partnership with payments provider Zepto and SuperStream messaging provider OZEDI.

The launch comes less than a month after Parliament passed Payday Super legislation. The new regime will require employers to pay superannuation at the same time as wages by mid-2026, which places pressure on funds, clearing houses and banks that still rely on older systems.

HeroClear processes superannuation payments from inside Employment Hero's payroll software. It sits within the existing workflow. It sends contributions using the New Payments Platform and manages validation through OZEDI's SuperStream messaging.

Employment Hero said the system automates clearing steps that previously sat outside payroll. It issues immediate confirmations, flags errors in real time and produces a single audit trail for each payment.

Unlike stand-alone clearing houses, HeroClear sits inside the payroll run. It calculates contributions, checks fund details and initiates payment from the same interface. It also tracks transactions end-to-end without separate file uploads or the use of external portals.

Rob Dunn, General Manager, Benefits and Superannuation at Employment Hero, said the first live payment highlights a shift in how employers will handle superannuation under the new rules.

"We're incredibly proud to deliver this Australian first and show what modern, embedded super infrastructure makes possible. Fully embedding clearing into payroll is one of the most effective ways to reduce the time and cost of managing super payments. It's a clear signal we're supporting employers through one of the most significant payroll changes in decades."

Employment Hero Payroll currently processes about AUD $120 billion in wages and superannuation contributions each year for more than 350,000 businesses. The company expects HeroClear to handle a growing share of that volume as the beta phase expands.

Regulatory deadline

The introduction of Payday Super will reduce the gap between wage and super payments. It removes the quarterly payment cycle that many employers use today and shortens compliance windows.

Industry participants expect this shift to expose data and processing errors more quickly. It will also increase the operational burden on businesses that rely on manual file transfers or on separate clearinghouse portals.

Employment Hero said its new product aims to match these demands with real-time processing and integrated controls. It also positions the business as one of the first payroll providers with a live solution aligned to the new regime.

Zepto, which provides the underlying account-to-account payment technology, said the transaction demonstrates how real-time payment systems can support regulatory change.

"Seeing Employment Hero process its first PayTo and super contributions through HeroClear just weeks after the legislation came into effect is a remarkable milestone. The speed and reliability delivered over the NPP show the power of real-time infrastructure, and Zepto's API-led platform builds on that foundation with fast integration, instant settlement and full transparency," said Chris Jewell, President and Co-Founder, Zepto.

Beta rollout

HeroClear is currently in beta with selected customers. Early users are testing the embedded workflow, live validation and receipt generation ahead of the broader rollout.

Chesterton Customseal is the first beta customer. The company used HeroClear for its initial superannuation payment under the pilot.

"HeroClear picked up a critical fund error that our existing system missed. If it hadn't flagged it, our super payment would have failed, but instead we fixed it instantly and everything went through smoothly. It was fast, simple and gave us confidence straight away," said Deborah Kerr, the first HeroClear beta customer at Chesterton Customseal.

OZEDI, which handles the SuperStream messaging for the solution, said the partnership demonstrates how data exchange and real-time payments can operate together under the new rules.

"It's been incredible to be part of such a collaborative and fast delivery and to see the majority of payments to superannuation funds made with Zepto over the New Payments Platform (NPP). Employers really value the instant, date-and time-stamped receipt generated by the receiving bank account," said David Field, Director, OZEDI.

Next phase

Employment Hero said development on HeroClear is continuing. The company plans wider availability across its Employment OS and payroll customer base before Payday Super becomes mandatory.

"We're already deep in the next phase of development to ensure HeroClear is ready for all Employment Hero Employment OS and Payroll customers well ahead of 1 July 2026. We look forward to sharing more with customers and the broader industry," said Dunn.