Experts urge data focus as Payday Super reform nears launch
The anticipated passage of Payday Super legislation has prompted commentary from figures in the payments and digital services sectors, pointing to both the benefits and the necessary data infrastructure required for the policy to succeed.
Chris Jewell, President and Co-Founder at Zepto, and Chris Denney, President of Digital Service Providers Australia New Zealand (DSPANZ), have outlined support for the reform while highlighting areas that demand close attention to ensure national implementation is handled effectively.
Policy changes
Payday Super, a long-debated measure, will require employers to pay superannuation to employees at the same time as their salary or wages, rather than on a quarterly basis. Industry representatives said the reform will bring tangible benefits to employees-namely, earlier payment of super contributions and a reduction in unpaid contributions.
Jewell indicated Zepto has already operated in the real-time super payments space using the PayTo platform, which he says provides evidence of the industry's technical readiness if regulatory and sector frameworks align effectively. He supports the intent behind the legislation and reflected on the wider impact for workers and employers.
"Zepto welcomes the government's Payday Super policy passing legislation. This is an important reform that will transform how Australia pays superannuation; linking contributions to each pay cycle means money hits employees' accounts sooner, compounds for longer and reduces unpaid super.
"But to deliver those benefits at scale, implementation must be practical and sequenced across all participants in the super contribution supply chain: the ATO, funds, gateways and payroll providers. Data quality and validation will also be critical to the success of Payday Super: government needs to invest in upfront data services that support employers to get it right the first time. That means providing employers access to accurate and up to date information that will enable super contributions to be processed the first time and every time.
"Encouragingly, Zepto's first real-time superannuation payment was successfully processed in 2023 - proving the capability already exists when innovation and regulation align. The focus now must be on scaling that capability safely, reliably and inclusively so every employer and employee benefits. Zepto stands ready to work with payroll and super providers to turn Payday Super from compliance pressure into better payment experiences for every Australian business."
Denney, representing digital service providers who enable payroll and superannuation solutions, stressed that the forthcoming regime brings new demands on employers and places a premium on the integrity of data flows among a range of stakeholders.
"Payday Super is a significant reform that will deliver lasting benefits for employees by strengthening their retirement outcomes. To make it a success, we must get the settings right, not just for employees and super funds, but also for the hundreds of thousands of employers who, from 1 July 2026, will be required to pay superannuation every time they pay wages. Paying super isn't the same as transferring salary into a bank account. Super funds must first confirm that a member exists and can receive contributions before data and payments are sent. Under Payday Super, the ability for employers to validate fund details before contributions are made becomes critical to prevent errors and failed transactions.
High-quality data will be essential to ensuring Payday Super works smoothly for employers and funds alike. Its success relies on collaboration and strong integration across the entire superannuation ecosystem - software providers, payroll systems, super gateways and clearing houses, payment providers, super funds, and the ATO - all moving in lockstep to deliver the technical changes needed to make Payday Super a success.
At DSPANZ, we're committed to working with government, industry partners, and our members to help them navigate these changes and ensure a smooth transition to Payday Super."
Data and technical infrastructure
Both Jewell and Denney emphasised that timely, accurate data and effective technological integration across the superannuation network are vital to implementing Payday Super at a national scale. According to their statements, ensuring correct member identification and transaction validation can help mitigate errors, reduce failed contributions, and achieve the core aim of timely and consistent retirement savings for all employees.
Stakeholders in government, software development, payroll processing, superannuation funds, and payment gateways are all expected to play roles in updating systems to comply with new requirements by the deadline. Commentary suggested the focus in the coming months will be not only on legislative compliance but also on supporting the technical and operational shifts required to provide smooth payment experiences for both businesses and employees.
