Progress is a global technology company that empowers its customers to develop, deploy, and manage responsible AI-powered applications and digital experiences with agility and ease. With an acquisitive growth strategy, Progress expands its portfolio through strategic acquisitions that align with its mission and technical roadmap. 

Fast-moving M&A meets compliance complexity

In 2024, Progress acquired the ShareFile business unit from Cloud Software Group, adding a strong employee presence in Costa Rica. However, Progress did not have a legal entity established in that country. They faced an all-too-common challenge: seamlessly and compliantly onboarding employees from an acquired company into a business that lacked local infrastructure. The stakes were high—with 32 employees in Costa Rica and a transition deadline looming—so they quickly chose an Employer of Record (EOR) vendor. 

However, it became clear that the vendor could not deliver on key capabilities related to benefits administration and operational readiness. “That would have created a real fundamental issue down the road, especially in all the areas that mattered most: compliance, employee experience, and the ability to respond quickly to business needs,” said Danielle Shea, Senior Manager, Regional HR Business Partners; Americas.

Acquisitions are already a period of uncertainty and stress for employees. Progress needed to ensure not only a compliant transition but also a smooth and reassuring experience for its new team members.

With just four weeks remaining before the acquisition close date, Progress turned to Velocity Global and asked for help. Danielle explained. “It was a true panic situation. We had a population of about 35 people we needed to bring on board in four weeks.”

Trusted partnership, delivered at speed

Velocity Global responded with a resounding yes. Within days, the team mobilized a cross-functional project group to handle every detail, from employment contracts and benefits analysis to onboarding coordination and local compliance.

“That phenomenal level of partnership, collaboration, support, and knowledge has continued since the initial transition,” Danielle said. “In places where we had no clue what we needed to do, Velocity Global helped us understand our obligations and provided turnkey solutions.”

For a company like Progress, which had never operated in Costa Rica, this guidance was invaluable. Concepts like probation periods, local payroll compliance, and employee allowances were unfamiliar territory. Velocity Global’s local expertise not only answered questions but also helped Progress confidently implement best practices.

A notable example was transportation benefits. After discovering that the acquired company had provided this service to employees, Progress consulted with Velocity Global on norms in Costa Rica. Velocity Global provided localized insight and helped Progress quickly implement a transportation reimbursement policy using their existing systems.

“That’s been one of the heartwarming pieces of this story,” Danielle shared. “It wasn’t just about getting the job done. The Velocity Global team brought positivity, empathy, and creativity to every conversation. They were solution-oriented in the best way.”

From emergency fix to scalable strategy

By the time the transition deadline arrived, Progress had successfully transitioned all 32 acquired employees in Costa Rica. But the growth didn’t stop there. Since the acquisition, Progress has added an additional 26 employees in Costa Rica.

“Had we not had Velocity Global in place, we wouldn’t have been able to respond to the business’s needs,” Danielle noted. “Our internal teams had no additional bandwidth to become overnight experts in Costa Rican employment law. Velocity Global saved us time, money, and stress.”

The partnership also helped Progress strengthen trust with its newly acquired workforce. By being transparent about their limitations – like not having a legal entity but sharing their plans to hire through an Employer of Record partner – Progress built credibility. The feedback from the Costa Rica employees was overwhelmingly positive. Employees reported that the onboarding was smooth, communications were clear, and benefits and payroll were delivered as promised.

Beyond solving an urgent problem, the experience provided Progress with a repeatable M&A playbook and a reliable partner for future expansion. “Every acquisition is different, but now we have a foundation that works. It works for us, and it works for the people we’re bringing into the organization,” Danielle explained. 

For companies facing fast-paced international growth, this case is proof that it’s possible to move quickly without compromising on compliance. With the right partner, complexity becomes manageable, and people remain at the center of the process.

How Progress found its global expansion partner in Velocity Global

Progress’s challenge

• After acquiring the ShareFile business unit, Progress needed to transition 32 employees in Costa Rica.
• Without a legal entity in Costa Rica, Progress lacked the infrastructure and internal knowledge needed to compliantly hire, onboard, and support employees in the region.
• An initial attempt to partner with another EOR vendor failed when that provider was unable to deliver on key operational promises, putting compliance and employee experience at risk.
• Left with a tight four-week deadline, driven by the acquisition close date, Progress needed to find another solution.

Velocity Global’s solution

• Velocity Global quickly stepped in to deliver rapid, compliant onboarding of employees in Costa Rica through its Employer of Record solution, despite the unusually short timeline.
• The Velocity Global team provided hands-on guidance and country-specific expertise on topics such as benefits, payroll, transportation reimbursements, and probation periods.
• After the initial success, Velocity Global continued supporting Progress’s growth by onboarding an additional 26 employees in Costa Rica after the acquisition.

Shared success

• Progress has successfully transitioned and onboarded 58 employees in Costa Rica with zero disruptions to employment, benefits, or payroll.
• Thanks to clear communication and a supportive process, the smooth onboarding experience built strong employee trust during a period of organizational change.
• Progress now has a proven, repeatable playbook for handling future M&A transitions, enabling faster international growth and improved employee outcomes in new markets.