Choosing a workforce platform is a great first step but there is still work to be done in order to get it up and running and see real results. We sat down with our implementation team to talk about what the onboarding process actually looks like for airports adopting Klayo, what tends to surprise clients in the early weeks, and where the first wins usually show up.
How long does a typical Klayo implementation take, from kickoff to go-live?
It depends on the size and complexity of the airport and how many teams they want to set up. The process usually includes data collection and import, system configuration, role and competency framework setup, and user training but can extend to specific integrations with existing HR or payroll systems. We work in phases, so the airport sees progress quickly rather than waiting months for a big-bang launch. Some smaller airports have been operational in as little as a few weeks.
What does the process look like in the first few weeks?
The first phase is always about understanding the airport's current state: what data exists, where it lives, how roles and training are currently structured, and what the immediate priorities are. That discovery phase is critical because every airport is different. Some have well-documented job frameworks and structured training programs while others are working from disconnected spreadsheets, institutional knowledge, and processes that have evolved organically over years. We meet them where they are.
What tends to surprise airports during implementation?
The most common reaction is, "We did not realize how much we were missing." Most airports believe they have a reasonable handle on their workforce data until they start consolidating it into a single system. That is when the gaps become visible: roles without clear competency requirements, training records that do not connect to job specifications, certifications that have lapsed without anyone being alerted, and skills data that exists only in one manager's head. That moment of visibility is uncomfortable at first, but it is also where the value starts. You cannot close gaps you cannot see.
The other thing that surprises people is how quickly the platform becomes part of their daily workflow. There is often an expectation that adoption will be slow, that it will take months before people stop reverting to their spreadsheets. In practice, once managers can see their team's qualification status in real time and get alerts when certifications are expiring, the old way of working loses its appeal pretty quickly.
Where do airports typically see the earliest impact?
Compliance visibility is almost always the first win. Within weeks of going live, airports have a real-time view of training status, certification expiry, and qualification gaps across their entire workforce. For most, that is the first time they have ever had that picture in one place. The immediate effect is that audit preparation goes from a multi-week scramble to something that takes minutes.
The second early win is usually around role clarity. Once job frameworks are built in the platform with clear competency requirements, both managers and employees can see exactly what each role demands. That visibility changes conversations about development, deployment, and promotion because everyone is working from the same information.
Longer term, the deeper impact comes from workforce planning capability: being able to see where skills are concentrated, where succession risks exist, and where training investment should be directed. That typically starts to mature once the foundational data is solid and teams are comfortable with the platform.
What would you say to an airport that is interested but hesitant about the commitment?
Start small. One of the things we encourage is piloting Klayo with a single department or operational area rather than trying to roll it out across the entire organization on day one. Pick the team with the most pressing compliance challenge or the highest turnover, get them set up, demonstrate the value, and then expand from there. That approach reduces risk, builds internal confidence, and gives you a proof point to take to leadership when you are ready to scale.
The airports that get the most value from Klayo are the ones that come in with a clear understanding of the problem they are trying to solve, whether that is compliance visibility, workforce planning, training alignment, or all of the above. We handle the technical setup. What makes the difference is having a team on the airport side that is ready to engage with the process and committed to using the data once it is there.