For companies looking to expand overseas, setting up operations in a new market is often only the first step.
The bigger challenge comes after: hiring employees, complying with local labour laws, processing payroll in different currencies, and navigating regulations that vary from one country to another.
Singapore-based HR technology company BIPO wants to solve this challenge by becoming the infrastructure layer behind global workforce expansion.
The company has secured a US$50 million growth investment from Apis Partners, through its Apis Growth Fund III, to expand its payroll technology, accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, and strengthen its position as a global HR solutions provider.
Founded in 2010, BIPO started with a focus on helping businesses manage payroll and HR operations more efficiently. Today, the company supports around 700,000 employees across more than 170 countries and regions, processing nearly US$2 billion in payroll payments annually for close to 6,000 corporate clients.
The investment comes as companies increasingly look beyond their home markets for growth opportunities, but many still struggle with the operational challenges of managing a distributed workforce.
Building the infrastructure for borderless work
International expansion has traditionally required companies to work with multiple payroll vendors, local consultants, and separate HR systems in each market.
For multinational companies, this fragmented approach can create difficulties in maintaining accurate employee records, ensuring payroll compliance, and keeping track of constantly changing employment regulations.
BIPO aims to address this by bringing these functions together through a single platform that combines its Human Resource Management System, Global Payroll Outsourcing, and Employer of Record services.
Its proprietary payroll engines allow businesses to manage payroll processes across multiple countries through one operating model, while incorporating local statutory requirements directly into the system.
The company’s Employer of Record services also allow businesses to hire employees in new markets without immediately establishing a local entity, helping companies test new markets or build international teams more quickly.
Investing in AI-powered HR operations
With the new funding, BIPO plans to increase investments into artificial intelligence and research and development across Singapore and its regional hubs.
The company is exploring AI-powered workflows that can support areas such as workforce scheduling, payroll accuracy, and implementation processes.
Rather than replacing human involvement entirely, BIPO said these tools are designed to support decision-making while maintaining human oversight for compliance-related matters.
Michael Chen, CEO of BIPO, said the company’s investment in proprietary payroll technology gives it an advantage in helping businesses navigate international expansion.
“We have developed our own proprietary payroll engines across multiple countries–a structural advantage that few in the industry can match,” he said.
“This US$50 million investment from Apis Partners validates our HR technology platform and our strategy to simplify international expansion.”
Becoming a global HR platform
BIPO’s growth reflects a broader shift in how companies think about employment technology.
As remote work and cross-border hiring become more common, businesses are increasingly looking for HR platforms that can support employees across multiple regions instead of just managing administrative tasks within one country.
The company said it aims to become Asia’s leading AI-embedded payroll and HR platform, using its regional expertise to help multinational companies expand into Asia while supporting Asian businesses entering global markets.
Operating across more than 50 offices worldwide, BIPO currently serves customers across Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and North America.
For the Singapore-founded company, the latest funding marks a new chapter in its ambition to make global hiring and payroll management less complicated, turning what has traditionally been a back-office challenge into a technology-driven advantage.
First published in Vulcan Post on 22 July 2026.
