Extraordinary objects, an extraordinary organisation
In a world where goods are produced faster and cheaper, often without soul or story, Catawiki brings something unique: a platform where you find extraordinary objects, carefully selected by experts. Whether it's a rare comic book, a vintage design classic, or a dinosaur egg: every object on Catawiki carries character, history, and value.
Catawiki is the leading online marketplace for buying and selling extraordinary objects. Every week, more than 100.000 objects are offered at auction, each assessed and selected by hundreds of in-house experts. Catawiki is available in more than 50 countries worldwide and counts more than 1 million bids per week.
That international dynamic brings not only beautiful objects together, but also complex HR challenges.
From complex and slow to agile and manageable
Catawiki is a fast-growing organisation with an ambitious mission. But the HR system it was working with was holding it back rather than keeping pace. What was needed was a system that could flexibly move with the growing organisation and be independently adaptable. Not custom development for everything, but a scalable standard solution that allowed room to grow.
We noticed that our old system no longer aligned well with how we wanted to move as an organisation. We needed an HR system that could be easily maintained by the People team, with a focus on simplicity, flexibility, better usability, and clarity.
THE CHOICE FOR HIBOB
Catawiki chose HiBob as its modern HR platform. HiBob is specifically developed for dynamic, international organisations that need flexibility, ease of use, and a modern employee experience. HiBob's standard approach is geared towards self-sufficiency.
During the preparation phase, however, it became clear that the available internal team did not have sufficient time in the short term to carry the entire implementation themselves, especially given the ambition to go live within two months. It was therefore decided to bring in an implementation partner: People Services HQ.
Advice and execution from A to Z
PSHQ coordinated the entire implementation process. Together with Catawiki, we looked at current wishes and processes, as well as tomorrow's ambitions. In co-creation, HiBob's standard functionalities were translated into Catawiki's specific processes and data structures.
- Functional and strategic advice. A setup that works today and grows with new countries, teams, and structures tomorrow.
- Technical implementation. Standard where possible, extra configuration and integrations where needed, but always lean and user-friendly.
- Team. 3 HR-tech consultants + 1 integration expert from PSHQ, and a dedicated project team from Catawiki.
It was great to work with a partner who was not only technically skilled, but also thought along with us about what we would need later. PSHQ really helped us look ahead.
PHASED APPROACH: THREE WAVES
To maintain both speed and overview, a phased approach in three consecutive waves was chosen.
MVP within 8 weeks
Setup of the foundations, data migration from the old system, and standard HiBob functionality aligned with Catawiki's internal processes.
Optimization & Talent
Refinement of the Core HR foundation and rollout of the Talent module, enabling fleet reviews and appraisal rounds to be conducted online rather than in Excel.
Optimization & Compensation
Completion of Talent and go-live of the Compensation module. Salary and reward rounds now fully online within HiBob.
Keep it simple, make it work
More than 70% of employees had already logged in during the first week. This shows: the system connects with daily practice.
What PSHQ noticed: Catawiki held firm to the principle of 'keep it simple'. Where many organisations introduce complexity during a project, Catawiki stuck to the agreed line. No exceptions for everyone and everything, but a clear foundation that works. By building a functional core first, room was created to scale later without unnecessary baggage.
Catawiki knew from the start where the priorities were. By staying close to the core and not trying to do everything at once, we were able to quickly build a solid foundation together.
What it delivered
With the implementation of the various HiBob modules, Catawiki is now prepared for the future. Concrete results:
- Less complex HR processes. Changes processed faster, more clarity for employees and managers.
- Better user experience. Self-service expanded, less operational work for the People Team
- Excel a thing of the past. Fleet reviews, appraisal rounds, and compensation events run within HiBob with always up-to-date data.
- Independent management. Catawiki can start or adjust workflows, leave policies, and events themselves. PSHQ remains available where needed.
In a short time, we really built something good that we're proud of. And the great thing is: we have a foundation to grow from, without it immediately becoming complicated.
Four principles behind the speed
Phased approach
Implementation in manageable parts, speed combined with control.
Focus on simplicity
Build a solid foundation first, then expand. Prevents delays and technical complexity.
Standard functionality
HiBob offers sufficient flexibility out of the box. Avoiding custom development keeps it manageable.
Dedicated internal team
Strong involvement from Catawiki with short lines of communication and substantial content input.
Simplicity as a strength
You can go live quickly with a system like HiBob, if you're willing to make sharp choices and if you know you don't have to do everything at once.
Instead of getting stuck in complexity, Catawiki chose a practical, 'keep it simple' and future-proof approach. Together with PSHQ, a powerful HR system was built that meets today's needs and grows with tomorrow's ambitions.
Want to gain control of your HR processes without unnecessary complexity? Want to make your HR team truly self-sufficient? Looking for an HR implementation without chaos and hassle? Schedule a no-obligation conversation. We'd love to think along with you.