Boutique HR Firm Increases Productivity 10% Through Proactive IT and Strengthened Client Trust
Summary: Champion PEO, a Michigan-based boutique HR firm, faced outdated technology, slow IT response times, and security risks that threatened client data. In 2019, they partnered with GRIT Technologies for proactive IT support—boosting productivity by 10%, strengthening security, and turning technology into a sales advantage.
The Challenge
By 2019, Champion PEO had outgrown its “mom-and-pop” IT provider. Response times were slow—sometimes taking days or even weeks to resolve basic issues. The company’s computers were outdated, some over a decade old, creating reliability and security risks.
As a PEO and law firm, Champion PEO handles highly sensitive data: Social Security numbers, legal documents, and confidential employee records. Any downtime or breach could be catastrophic. Leadership knew they needed a partner who could:
- Respond quickly to IT issues
- Proactively plan for growth
- Strengthen their cybersecurity posture
- Free up internal staff from IT firefighting
GRIT doesn’t just fix the problem—they teach and empower our employees so the same issue doesn’t happen again. That’s saved us countless hours and given us back 5–10% on our bottom line in regained productivity.
— Matthew J. Smith, President, Champion PEO
Our Solution
GRIT took over Champion PEO’s IT environment with a proactive, relationship-driven approach. The onboarding process included not just migrating systems, but also addressing urgent issues left unresolved by the previous provider.
From the start, the focus was more on more than just fixing problems. They empowered Champion PEO employees with the knowledge to solve recurring minor issues themselves, reducing future tickets and boosting productivity.
GRIT also introduced regular monthly dashboards and annual in-person IT reviews, giving leadership clear visibility into trends, risks, and improvement opportunities. Security best practices—like clean desk policies, phishing awareness training, and password rotation—were implemented across the organization.
Key Features Delivered
Live Answer Help Desk Support
Lifecycle Procurement & Hardware Refresh Management
Monthly IT health dashboards for visibility into trends and performance
Microsoft Licensing & Cloud Management
Firewall & Cybersecurity Protection
Annual in-person technology review to plan upgrades and mitigate risks
Proactive vCIO Strategic Roadmapping
Hear what our client had to say
In Their Words
By the Numbers
(Past 6 Year Total)
Support Tickets – Past 6 Years
Annual ticket totals showing consistent IT support and partnership.
“ Most IT companies fade after the honeymoon. GRIT has only gotten better as the relationship has grown. ”
Overcoming Roadblocks
Before GRIT, the firm faced the same frustrations many growing businesses know all too well:
- Slow response times. Tickets dragged on for days or weeks while employees lost valuable work hours.
- Leadership as IT. The President himself often reset the internet or troubleshot computers, pulling him away from running the business.
- Reactive support. Upgrades happened only after systems failed, leaving them vulnerable and unprepared.
- Honeymoon effect. Service started strong but quickly declined as the business grew.
- No accountability or clarity. Problems lingered without ownership, and leadership had no roadmap or reporting to guide decisions.
These issues weren’t just frustrating — they risked client trust. In HR and payroll, downtime or security gaps can undermine the very foundation of the business.
GRIT changed the story by taking ownership from day one. We cleared the backlog, onboarded two companies at once, and stabilized their systems without disruption. Same-day responses replaced ticket limbo, a clear lifecycle plan removed surprises, and new security policies gave the team confidence.
What’s Next
GRIT continues to manage Champion PEO’s IT environment with a proactive approach. Current projects include upgrading older hardware ahead of the Windows 10 retirement deadline to avoid downtime. Looking ahead, the two companies plan to collaborate even more closely, with GRIT’s expertise remaining a core part of Champion PEO’s growth and client service strategy.
The Client
Champion PEO is a Michigan-based boutique HR and payroll firm helping small businesses grow with trusted HR, payroll, and compliance support.
- Industry: Professional Employer Organization (PEO) / HR & Payroll Services
- Location: Mount Clemens, Michigan
- Size: 10-20 Employees
- Specialty: High-touch, boutique HR and payroll services for small and mid-sized businesses
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Results Snapshot
- 5–10% bottom-line savings from regained employee productivity
- Same-day or faster resolution for most IT issues
- Documented security policies implemented company-wide, boosting compliance
- Technology as a sales differentiator when pitching new clients