Remote, an Amsterdam-based payroll service provider, reports a 50% increase in revenue per employee after integrating AI across its operations, reaching over $300 million in annual recurring revenue without adding to its workforce.
AI Integration Across Operations
CEO Job van der Voort highlighted the use of multiple AI tools, including Claude instances and a Slack agent for summarizing discussions. "Some of those are for me, but a lot of them are for Remote," van der Voort told TechCrunch. This approach has allowed Remote to enhance revenue without expanding its team.
Remote Labs and Client Services
Remote's internal marketplace, Remote Labs, empowers employees to develop and utilize AI apps. Van der Voort explained the company's strategy extends to clients through Remote Build, a service that provides 'forward-deployed engineers' to assist clients in creating custom workflows.
Growth and Future Projections
Van der Voort claims Remote's payroll business has grown over 300% year over year, crediting this largely to AI. The company now assists tens of thousands of clients with global employment compliance, although these figures are self-reported.
AI has also simplified and automated the repetitive tasks involved in global payroll management. "Obviously we’ve been automating a lot of that; that’s what we do," said van der Voort, noting that AI has made these processes more efficient and enjoyable.
Strategic Focus and Industry Position
Despite the trend of competitors moving towards all-in-one HR platforms, Remote remains focused on payroll, leveraging AI to streamline operations. The introduction of Remote MCP allows AI agents from platforms like BambooHR and Workday to access payroll and compliance data securely, positioning Remote as a backend engine for these services.
Van der Voort envisions a future where AI agents interact directly with Remote, maintaining security and efficiency. His personal assistant, Jim, demonstrates this potential by securely accessing necessary data without causing disruptions.
Internally, Remote has seen a 60% increase in engineering contributions thanks to AI-powered coding, with 85% of code now AI-generated. This has led to a reevaluation of hiring needs, focusing instead on upskilling current employees.
Despite rising AI costs, van der Voort remains optimistic, citing increased company efficiency as a buffer. "Our spend on AI is increasing, but we keep track of it," he stated, emphasizing the strategic expansion of AI initiatives.
Remote's experience highlights AI's transformative potential in business operations, achieving more revenue per employee and expanding product capabilities without increasing headcount.
Van der Voort is enthusiastic about AI's impact on his role, adding a "whole new fun angle" to his responsibilities.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/27/payroll-startup-remote-says-it-grew-revenue-50-per-employee-without-adding-headcount/
