$1M+ Disbursed, 2,500+ Workers Tracked: Fixa at Amahoro Stadium
10 min read
Jan 26, 2025
Introduction
Fixa partnered with Real Contractors to support the efforts of workforce management operations for the renovation of Amahoro National Stadium, one of the largest projects in Rwanda’s history. The $165 million renovation will expand the stadium’s capacity from 25,000 to 45,000 seats, transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility. By doubling the stadium’s capacity the country aims to host larger, world-class events, boosting tourism, creating jobs, and stimulating the local economy. Over the two-year project, Fixa’s HR-tech platform efficiently managed attendance and payroll functions for 2,500+ workers in construction roles, including, but not limited to, civil engineering, plumbing, carpentry, and welding.
The Challenges
As the Amahoro National Stadium project progressed, managing over 2,500 workers across multiple roles became increasingly difficult for Real Contractors. Initially, basic tools like spreadsheets, in addition to pen and paper, were sufficient in tracking attendance, processing payroll, and sourcing labor. However, as the workforce grew, these manual methods led to inefficiencies, payroll delays, and gaps in attendance tracking. It became clear that a more scalable solution was needed to address these challenges Real Contractors turned to Fixa’s platform to resolve these ongoing challenges. Before Fixa’s involvement, Real Contractors struggled with:
Workforce Sourcing: Before Fixa’s platform, sourcing skilled workers for large-scale projects like Amahoro Stadium was labor-intensive and unreliable. Workers were sourced manually, often resulting in mismatches between skills required and available talent. This delayed project timelines and increased operational costs.
Worker Attendance Management: Tracking attendance for over 2,500 workers was a logistical challenge, often prone to manual errors. Attendance had been managed using pen and paper and spreadsheets, which were time-consuming and error-prone. This affected payroll accuracy, as missed shifts or overtime work were frequently recorded incorrectly.
Payroll Processing: Running payroll for thousands of workers was another significant challenge. With spreadsheets, salary calculations, overtime payments, and deductions were manually inputted, often leading to delayed payments. This also created friction with workers, especially in instances of disputes regarding hours worked.
These challenges illustrate the inefficiencies of manual processes in large-scale projects, which Fixa’s technology successfully addressed. By digitizing these aspects of workforce management, Real Contractors saved time, reduced human errors, and improved overall project delivery.
Our Solution
Fixa introduced a fully integrated HR-fintech platform that revolutionized workforce management. The web-based platform enabled the seamless onboarding of workers, digitizing their employment records and linking them to mobile money accounts. Fixa’s mobile app tracked attendance and calculated both regular and overtime shifts, ensuring accurate compensation.
Additionally, Fixa’s platform allowed for streamlined payments through mobile money wallets, ensuring workers were paid on time and at scale. Fixa’s management tools also allowed Real Contractors to filter and track specific workers, resolve attendance discrepancies, and reduce reliance on spreadsheets.
Impact
Real Contractors saw improvements in operational efficiency, particularly in payroll processing, worker attendance, and workforce sourcing. The workers themselves experienced significant benefits. For the first time, they had steady employment, digital records of their work history, and access to financial services like savings and salary advances. Workers could verify their employment information via Fixa’s USSD app, giving them newfound financial empowerment and career growth opportunities.
Introduced financial services to workers for the first time
Through Fixa’s Earned Wage Access (EWA), workers had the flexibility to access their earnings at any time, addressing urgent financial needs. This service, combined with digital career identities, gave workers control over their finances and future career prospects, contributing to a more resilient and empowered informal workforce.
User research, and a wide variety of it, helps teams get as close as possible to the root of a user’s needs, over their wants. Studying responses on a larger scale is more work, but it helps form the foundation for true UX.
By the Numbers
2,573 employees were managed on Fixa's Platform and now have a verifiable history of their skills
USD 1 million+ was digitally disbursed to employees through Fixa
Conclusion
The Amahoro National Stadium project exemplifies how Fixa’s innovative workforce management platform can transform labour-intensive industries. By digitizing and streamlining HR processes, Fixa ensured that both contractors and workers benefited from improved operational efficiency, on-time payments, and enhanced job security.
