Making HR work for SMEs: WeDo HR’s switch from Personio to Breathe HR 

"Breathe’s made my job a lot quicker… I’m not stuck on system admin tasks like I was with Personio. I can now focus on providing support to the company in different ways."

WeDo HR Support is all about making life easier for small and medium-sized businesses.  

As part of the wider WeDo group, WeDo HR supports a growing number of SMEs with outsourced HR services, helping clients stay compliant, save time, and look after their people more effectively. 

What sets WeDo HR Support apart? The team’s commitment to personal service, backed by smart, easy-to-use HR tech. That’s where the WeDo partnership with Breathe HR comes in. 

We talk to Ethan, HR Assisant at WeDo HR Support, all about the company’s switch from Personio to Breathe HR software. 

“Breathe isn’t just HR software, it’s a smarter way to support our clients,” said Ethan from WeDo HR Support. 

“It’s simple, intuitive, and gives us everything we need in one place. We’ve saved hours of admin and improved the service we deliver to every client.” 

With Breathe HR’s intuitive tools and WeDo HR’s people-first approach, it’s a partnership built around flexibility, support, and scalability, perfect for businesses that want to grow without the growing pains. 

Whether your business has 10 employees or 80 (or more), WeDo HR shares how Breathe HR software is here to help you get the most out of your team, without the hassle of outdated systems or clunky workflows. 

Why accessible HR software matters for HR consultants   

For Breathe HR Partners and consultancies like WeDo HR Support, managing multiple SME clients requires more than just standard HR software, it calls for a solution that’s flexible, intuitive, and efficient. 

When everything HR-related lives in one easy-to-use platform, life gets a whole lot easier, for both consultants and their clients. It means less admin, smoother processes, and way more time saved. 

For busy consultancies juggling multiple clients (and limited resources), that simplicity really matters.  

You need a system that takes the pressure off, something that’s quick to pick up, works well across accounts, and doesn’t need a tech degree to use. 

WeDo HR Support first began their journey with Personio. Over time, as the software evolved to focus on the needs of larger organisations, it became less aligned with what WeDo HR were looking for as a growing SME.

That shift encouraged them to explore a more flexible solution, something designed with small and medium-sized businesses in mind.

That’s when they discovered Breathe HR.

🎯 The challenge: Finding HR software that fits SME needs 

1. Personio's enterprise focus versus SME needs

As Personio expanded its functionality to meet the demands of larger organisations, WeDo HR Support noticed that some of its features felt less accessible for their SME clients. For those less confident with digital tools, this added a layer of complexity to everyday HR tasks.

“The system became more focused on big companies… it got quite confusing to navigate,” Ethan explained. 

In contrast, Breathe’s straightforward interface and SME-focused design offered a welcome change. Features such as bulk assignment of work quickly became popular with clients, making routine HR processes simpler and more efficient.

Breathe continues to provide practical, easy-to-use solutions that empower SMEs to manage their HR confidently.

2. Managing multiple portals

When Personio moved from a single dashboard to separate client portals, WeDo HR Support’s internal processes became more complex. Each client required its own login and URL, meaning consultants had to manage a growing list of credentials and bookmarks.

This sometimes slowed down day-to-day support, created unnecessary steps, and made it trickier for consultants to switch seamlessly between clients.

“We had all of our clients in one portal. Then Personio changed it to different portals… it just messed with our system.” 

Breathe’s Partner Hub brought everything back under one roof. With a single login and dashboard, consultants could easily access all their client accounts without juggling multiple credentials.

This streamlined approach saved time and also made it simpler to provide responsive, consistent support across the board.

3. Accessing responsive support 

As Personio grew, its support model became more automated, with queries filtered through AI systems. For Ethan and the team at WeDo HR Support, this sometimes meant delays in getting clear answers, a challenge when providing time-sensitive guidance to their clients.

“Taking the people part out of the system made it harder for us to get issues solved quickly and efficiently.” 

As an external HR provider, Ethan valued having fast, human support he could rely on, rather than needing to wait for responses to filter through automation.

Ethan highlights both Breathe’s Partner and Support teams for their responsiveness: 

“Whenever I reach out, I get what I need, whether it’s a call, a support doc, or a how-to video. That’s what support should look like,” Ethan shared.  

With Breathe, the difference was clear. The UK-based support team provided direct, human help that was both responsive and approachable. This gave Ethan and his clients confidence that queries would be resolved quickly and accurately, without unnecessary delays.

4. Pricing that didn't match SME needs

Personio’s new pricing model is designed with larger organisations in mind, who will want to access a more in-depth system for businesses with HR teams. 

For WeDo HR Support, this sometimes created mismatches between actual client usage and billing, adding extra admin and pressure on client budgets.

For an SME-focused consultancy, having pricing that allows the client to choose whether to add specific modules is especially important.

Breathe’s transparent, flexible pricing makes a good fit for smaller teams and businesses with fluctuating employee numbers. Clear and predictable costs removed the guesswork, making it easier for consultancies like WeDo HR to manage budgets and reassure clients with confidence.

5. Time-consuming data management

For WeDo HR Support, managing employee data and documents wasn’t always straightforward.

Imports could be unreliable, which meant Ethan often had to step in and handle processes manually.

Tracking key information like employee records and attendance also required extra effort, making onboarding new clients or updating large datasets more challenging than it needed to be.

“With the way we used Personio, imports wouldn’t work, I had to input everything by hand.” 

With Breathe HR, the system helped to bring a solution: 

“Breathe's import tool saves me hours, if not days. Especially with larger clients coming on, it’s a lifesaver.” 

Breathe streamlined this process with reliable imports and simple document management tools.

Having employee data, records, and attendance all stored in one place meant WeDo HR could save time, reduce manual admin, and ensure smoother onboarding for new clients.

✅ The solution: Breathe HR made everything simpler 

Breathe's Partner Hub changed the game 

For HR consultants managing multiple clients, the Partner Hub provides one secure, centralised view across all client accounts.  

Consultants can also easily generate and access reports across all client accounts from the Hub, streamlining multiple HR tasks and HR reporting. 

“The separation between clients is crucial.” 

With GDPR-compliant access controls and one-click client switching, managing SMEs became far more efficient and stress-free. 

Pricing that works for small businesses 

Breathe HR’s model is built for cost-conscious clients and consultancies that scale up and down with demand. 

“From a pricing standpoint, it’s very good, and it just made sense for our SME clients.” 

The flexible pricing model was a big factor in the final decision to move from Personio to Breathe HR. 

Import tools that scale with growth 

Whether onboarding a 10-person team or a new 80-person client, Breathe HR’s import functionality handles it with ease.  

The import tools also streamline the process of hiring and integrating new employees, making onboarding faster and more efficient. 

“It saves me so much time. With Personio, I’d still be doing everything manually.” 

Bulk actions like assigning working patterns or uploading employees, help Ethan work faster and reduce errors. 

Simple, scalable HR for SMEs

Breathe HR is designed with smaller organisations in mind, offering a platform that’s both easy to use and flexible enough to grow alongside a business.

For UK-based SMEs - whether supporting a single team or managing multiple clients across regions - Breathe provides one straightforward system to keep everything organised.

With no complicated setup or clunky workarounds, Breathe helps SMEs focus less on admin and more on supporting their people.

With features like centralising employee records, absence tracking, onboarding tools, payroll tools, and easy reporting, it helps HR teams stay on top of everything without admin overload. 

The best part? “It just works,” as Ethan from WeDo HR Support puts it. “We’re not stuck in the system anymore, we can actually focus on helping people.” 

If you want a more straightforward system that supports your growth, Breathe HR's got your back. 

Implementation and onboarding: Making the switch seamless

Switching HR software doesn’t have to be a headache, just ask WeDo HR Support. 

Moving to Breathe HR was simple, smooth, and tailored to their clients’ needs.

“Depending on the client, switching from Personio to Breathe for data imports has saved us anywhere from several hours to multiple days of work, freeing up valuable time for more strategic tasks.” 

Designed for busy HR teams, Breathe HR’s user-friendly platform made it easy to leave behind clunky tools and manual processes. 

From day one, onboarding was straightforward. Even clients who weren’t tech-savvy could pick it up quickly thanks to Breathe HR’s modern interface and intuitive design.  

To further support HR teams, structured training tools are available, ensuring everyone can maximise the benefits of the new platform. 

Tools like applicant tracking and data imports, are built to be powerful, yet easy to use, so consultants can manage everything in one place, without the stress. 

Clear dashboards and reporting features make decision-making easier too, giving HR individuals instant access to the insights they need. 

For WeDo HR Support, switching to Breathe HR wasn’t just a tech upgrade, it meant giving clients the confidence to run their HR more efficiently, with less hassle and more human support. 

Real-world impact: What's changed since switching from Personio to Breathe HR

• Fewer complaints from clients: A quiet inbox means things are running smoothly. 
• Simple HR designed for 100% SME clients' needs 

• Faster client onboarding: Bulk imports and templated tools get clients up and running faster. 
• 5x faster, human support when it matters 

• Better client relationships: With fewer technical issues, Ethan can focus on strategic HR support. 

• More confidence: Breathe’s intuitive layout makes consultants and clients feel more in control. 

Since moving to Breathe, both consultants and clients have noticed a real difference. The system feels more reliable, day-to-day HR tasks run more smoothly, and there’s a stronger sense of trust in the platform.

Most importantly, people feel more confident - and happier - using it.

Regular check-ins include a review of the platform’s performance and gathering user feedback, confirming it’s working well and just keeps getting better, which only proves the move was the right one. 

“With Breathe HR, I’m more open to doing calls and support chats now. I understand the system, and that helps clients trust me more,” Ethan shares. 

The future of HR: Why Breathe HR is built for what's next

HR is changing fast, and the tools we use need to keep up. While some HR software platforms can feel complex or clunky and built for big businesses, Breathe HR is all about making HR simpler, smarter, and more human. 

With Breathe HR, everything just works, whether you’re managing recruitment, performance, or day-to-day admin. It cuts out the noise so HR can focus on people, not paperwork. 

The platform’s clean design and easy reporting means you don’t need to be a tech expert to get the insights you need. It’s built for growing teams that want clarity, not complexity. 

“Breathe helps us work faster and support clients better. We’re not stuck doing the same admin over and over,” said Ethan. 

As HR continues to evolve, Breathe HR is already ahead, offering the tools and support growing businesses need to stay on track and thrive. 

Advice for other HR consultants 

If you’re managing SME clients and struggling with a different system, or looking for a new HR platform altogether, Ethan has some advice: 

“I’d recommend Breathe HR. The Partner Hub is easy to use. The import tool is easy to use. And the pricing is cost-effective. Breathe just makes things simpler, and that makes everything better.” 

Summary: Key differences - Personio and Breathe HR

“Breathe isn’t just HR software, it’s a smarter way to support our clients,” Ethan shared. 

WeDo HR Support is part of the Breathe HR Partner network. While Breathe doesn't offer HR advice, our dedicated Partner network of HR consultancies works with our customers to offer support, advice and managed services.