How Computer Payroll Service Simplified Payroll and Scaled Nationwide with IRIS Payroll

When Rob Haskins took ownership of the Arcade, NY-based payroll service bureau where he’d worked for four years, he had a game-changing plan to modernize operations, improve accuracy, and lay the groundwork for massive scalability. He just needed the right strategy and the tools to make it happen. 

Founded in 1984, Computer Payroll Service (CPS) has been a trusted provider of payroll, HR, and workers’ compensation services for small and mid-sized businesses nationwide. When Haskins became its owner in 2019, the company served just under 100 clients. But the day-to-day effort to serve those clients via a patchwork of manual processes proved time-consuming and inefficient and severely limited the firm’s growth.  

The Challenge: Outdated Systems and Manual Processes 

At the time, CPS was using an antiquated downloadable payroll program called PenSoft Payroll. “It did everything we needed it to do,” Haskins said, “but it was extremely manual.” Each week, Haskins and his small two-person team spent hours entering federal tax payments manually, generating NACHA files for direct deposits, and filing taxes through multiple state websites. 

This approach left little room for growth. “We were doing everything across multiple systems,” Haskins said. “When Thursdays rolled around, we’d spend the entire day just processing reports, tax payments, and filings.” The risk of human error was high, and every new client added to the workload. 

Set on finding a modernized solution that would ease the burden on his staff and allow for growth, Haskins began demoing nearly every payroll software on the market. While many offered robust features, they were often prohibitively expensive or lacked automation. “Some required $50,000 licensing fees just to get started,” he said. “That just wasn’t feasible for a firm our size.” 

The Solution: Relief in Sight with IRIS Payroll

IRIS Payroll ultimately emerged as the clear winner. The decision hinged on three key factors: automation, affordability, and a modern user experience.

“The automation alone sold me,” Haskins said. “With IRIS, everything from ACH processing to tax filing is built in. We went from spending all day Thursday on back-end tasks to finishing by 9:30 a.m. – less than two hours into our workday.” 

Automation not only improved efficiency, it reduced stress and error risk. “There’s no more manual entry for taxes or filings,” he noted. “Our potential for human error dropped dramatically.” 

That’s critical because a 2024 study by The ElectroIQ found that even a 1.2-percent error rate in payroll (for a payroll of 100 employees earning $900 per week) would translate to $56,647 annually in miscalculations and corrections. And Ernst & Young reports that some 20 percent of payroll runs contain at least one error, with each error costing around $291 to fix. 

IRIS Payroll’s compliance-focused setup has also improved accuracy and tax reliability. “The system forces you to get your foundation right,” Haskins explained. “You can’t move forward until prior payrolls are entered correctly. That ensures compliance from day one.” 

Automation streamlined quarterly filings and reduced manual intervention to near zero, allowing Haskins to focus on business growth instead of administrative tasks. 

Looking Ahead: Rebranding and Expansion 

Since adopting IRIS Payroll, the firm’s client count has grown from roughly 100 to 163, all without adding to its two-person staff. “We can do on Monday what used to take us until Tuesday,” Haskins said. “It’s night and day.” 

And, as the company prepares for a January 2026 rebrand, Computer Payroll Service is expanding its role in the market. “We’re moving beyond payroll into a full HCM offering. We already use SwipeClock’s WorkforceHub and are looking forward to even tighter integrations within the IRIS ecosystem. We’re more efficient, more compliant, and ready to grow nationwide.” 

The switch to IRIS Payroll transformed both operations and quality of life for Haskins and his team. “Before, I couldn’t take a single vacation,” he admitted. “Since the transition, I’ve been able to take trips with my family and still manage everything remotely. It was life changing. I still owe my wife a honeymoon, but thanks to IRIS, we can finally take one.” 

Ready to simplify your payroll operations? 

Contact the IRIS Payroll team today to learn how our automation-driven payroll solutions can save time, reduce errors, and position your firm for scalable growth. Visit irisglobal.com to get started.