How Workstream’s All-in-One Platform Simplified Hiring and Payroll for a Dunkin’ Franchisee

For Dunkin’ franchisee Darshan Patel, managing hiring and payroll across disconnected systems created unnecessary friction. After years of using large payroll providers, Workstream stood out as the first platform that truly unified the entire process — from application to paycheck.

“The biggest differentiator with Workstream is that it’s truly an all-in-one solution — From hiring to payroll.”

Darshan Patel

14-Location Dunkin Franchisee in Pennsylvania

The problem

The Missing Link Between Hiring and Payroll

About Dunkin'

Dunkin' is a globally recognized brand, known for its delicious coffee and donuts. With thousands of locations worldwide, maintaining operational efficiency is critical. Hiring the right people efficiently is a vital part of that process.

Industry: QSR

Over the years, Darshan relied on ADP and Paychex, but no single platform supported the full journey from applicant to paycheck.

Hiring data didn’t flow forward. Applicant data was trapped in silos. Details entered on DunkinDonuts.com and Indeed had to be re-entered for interviews, onboarding, and payroll. “There were multiple steps, we were just duplicating the information,” He said.

Patchwork tools hurt conversion. “Other providers had certain components,” Darshan said, “but it was always patchwork.” That disconnect slowed hiring and created drop-off before candidates ever reached payroll.

Payroll transitions were risky. Payroll transitions were disruptive, with hiccups and little support at critical moments. “We didn’t have the support we needed when we needed it the most,” Darshan shared.

The solution

Why Darshan Chose Workstream: The True All-in-One

Workstream stood out for Darshan as the first true all-in-one platform purpose-built for restaurant operators. Here are the key differentiators:

True All-in-One From Hiring to Payroll

Unlike legacy tools that only handled parts of the process, Workstream connects hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and payroll in one continuous flow. “Workstream is truly an all-in-one solution — we were able to go from application all the way to payroll.” Darshan shared.

Automation that Eliminates Busywork

“There were multiple steps, and we were just duplicating the information — now it’s a single integrated flow,” Darshan said, pointing to how Workstream’s automation eliminated manual work and improved accuracy at every step.

Consistent Hands-On Support

Workstream provides reliable, ongoing support — especially during payroll migrations — addressing a major gap Darshan experienced with previous providers. “With Workstream, the support was finally there — and that made all the difference.” Darshan shared.

Stronger Applicant-to-Employee conversion

Workstream creates a direct path from DunkinDonuts.com to in-store employment, driving stronger applicant-to-employee conversion. As Darshan puts it, “That whole conversion process has been very good with Workstream.”

50%

reduction in time to hire

9%

average interview no-show rates

the wins

One Platform. Less Work. Real Savings.

For Darshan, the biggest win wasn’t just the savings — it was finally running hiring, HR, and payroll as one operation.

By consolidating everything into Workstream’s all-in-one platform, his team eliminated manual handoffs between systems. Applicant information now flows automatically from application to interview scheduling, onboarding, and payroll — cutting hours of back-office work every week and significantly reducing errors.

“We used to manually input information at each step,” Darshan said. “Now it’s a single integrated workflow, and that’s saved us a lot of time.”

That efficiency translated directly into cost savings. Instead of paying for multiple disconnected tools, Darshan now runs hiring and payroll in one system, billed once per month for active employees, with no limits on payroll runs. For a multi-location operator, that simplicity makes forecasting easier and payroll costs more predictable.

Workstream also helped Darshan hire faster by integrating directly with the Dunkin careers page. Jobs published in Workstream automatically appear on DunkinDonuts.com, driving 30–40% of applicant volume — and delivering the highest application-to-hire conversion of any channel.

Most importantly, Workstream removed the operational risk Darshan previously faced when switching payroll providers. With hands-on implementation and ongoing support, payroll runs smoothly — without the stress, delays, or guesswork that once made changes feel risky.

For Darshan, Workstream didn’t just replace tools. It replaced friction — giving him back time, confidence, and control across all 14 locations.

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