To prepare for the reform, employment management platform Employment Hero has partnered with account-to-account payments provider Zepto and superannuation messaging provider OZEDI to build a first-of-its-kind embedded clearing solution that reduces compliance risk and administration for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

The collaboration marks a key milestone in Employment Hero’s new embedded super clearing tool, HeroClear, which will launch in Q1 2026, ahead of the 1 July 2026 reform. The platform eliminates manual steps and delays between payroll and super funds, providing employers with verified, real-time proof of payment within the required seven-day window.

HeroClear integrates OZEDI’s SuperStream connection to verify fund details before payment and Zepto’s real-time payment technology, powered by Australia’s New Payments Platform (NPP), to transfer contributions instantly. Built directly into Employment Hero’s payroll system, the solution removes the need for separate clearing houses or banking portals — systems that currently rely on bank transfers taking up to three business days.

Without this automation and live status visibility, many employers risk breaching the seven-day rule without realising it, exposing them to potential penalties — including the 60 per cent administrative uplift — even when delays stem from third-party fund or gateway errors.

Employment Hero CEO Ben Thompson said the partnership aims to help small businesses manage the transition while parts of the ecosystem are still catching up.

“The final Bill expects SMBs to get Payday Super right from the outset, even while parts of the system that employers rely on are still being upgraded,” Mr Thompson said.

“At the same time, hundreds of thousands of SMBs will need to move off the ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH), set to close 1 July 2026. That’s a big ask, especially when you consider the 60 per cent increase in admin overheads and $124,000 cashflow impact the average SMB will face on day one.”

“That’s why we’re building the solutions to make compliance practical even before the 1 July deadline. We’re proud to partner with like-minded innovators, Zepto and OZEDI, in our move to embed super clearing directly into Employment Hero Payroll. By validating fund details up-front, moving money in real-time, and providing live confirmations and a single audit trail, SMBs will see fewer errors, faster settlement and clear proof of action to meet new requirements. That means better outcomes for business and employees alike.”

Chris Jewell, President and Co-Founder at Zepto, said the partnership showcases how technology can simplify compliance under the new system.

“Employment Hero is showing what’s possible under the new Payday Super framework, taking a proactive, technology-first approach that gives Australian businesses confidence to meet these new expectations,” Mr Jewell said.

“At Zepto, we’re passionate about enabling dynamic, data-rich payment flows that move beyond the limitations of traditional banking systems. After processing Australia’s first real-time super payment with OZEDI in 2023, we’re proud to extend that innovation through this partnership with Employment Hero. By embedding Zepto’s real-time payment solutions within HeroClear, Employment Hero is leading the way for Australian businesses — unlocking automation, transparency and instant settlement that make compliance faster, simpler and more reliable.”

David Field, Director at OZEDI, said the initiative represents a turning point for superannuation infrastructure.

“OZEDI has been in the business of handling large volumes of superannuation contribution data since 2013. The industry-wide process has remained largely unchanged for more than a decade but technology, such as the NPP and our new data and payee verification services, creates a whole new experience for employers,” Mr Field said.

“The integration of OZEDI’s services with Employment Hero’s advanced technology and vision plus Zepto’s NPP payment services has created a benchmark for the industry.”

By embedding an automated end-to-end workflow directly into payroll, HeroClear consolidates clearing, payments, fund verification and tracking into one platform — eliminating the need for separate portals and manual uploads.

The partnership supports the policy goal of Payday Super: improving retirement outcomes for Australian workers while ensuring small businesses can meet the new compliance requirements from day one.

Businesses can find updates and resources at employmenthero.com/payday-super.