How we rebuilt DriveHRIS so a 10,000-user HRCM solution could keep growing
10K+
active daily users across Canada
100+
screens redesigned and rebuilt
5 years
of partnership and counting
DriveHRIS is a dealership-focused HRCM system, and the only one endorsed by CADA, Canada’s national dealer association. It unifies recruitment, compliance, onboarding, training, and employee engagement in a system built around how Canadian dealerships work.
Industry
- HR Tech
- DealerTech
Provided services
- Front-end development
- Architecture
- Product design
- UI/UX modernization
- Mobile development
- Backend support
A frontend refresh that revealed something bigger
When we started collaborating, the brief sounded simple: “speed up the frontend and refresh the interface.” But the issue ran deeper than expected once we looked under the hood. The system had accumulated so much architectural debt that almost every new feature put existing workflows at risk. Across more than 100 screens, adding functionality without breaking something else had become nearly impossible.
The scope changed fast. Instead of a cosmetic tune-up, our team faced a full redesign: estimating and rebuilding 100+ screens from scratch, with a 12-month deadline and a live system that couldn’t go down.
Solution
A full rebuild while the system kept running
We joined the project in April 2021 with a 2-person frontend team. Over time, the collaboration grew into a full engineering partnership spanning frontend, backend, mobile, and product delivery.
The solution was rebuilt on Vue 3, TypeScript, and Tailwind, a stack we proposed at a time when Vue 3 was still relatively new. Our team chose it because its architecture gave us room to build in modules, ship features independently, and scale without rewriting the whole UI again in a few years.
On the backend, the existing C#, .NET, and OData foundation stayed in place. Our focus was the frontend, where we rebuilt 100+ screens, improved performance, redesigned workflows, and created an architecture that could absorb new functionality without destabilizing what already worked.
The way we worked mattered as much as what we built. Daily syncs, rapid microsyncs, and business-level planning sessions kept both teams aligned as requirements evolved (and they did, often).
The original dashboard suffered from information overload – dense widgets, inconsistent hierarchy, and no clear visual priority. Users struggled to quickly identify what required immediate attention, leading to slower decision-making and frequent support requests.
The redesigned dashboard introduces a cleaner layout with clear visual hierarchy, grouped widgets by priority, and improved data readability. Key metrics are surfaced upfront, reducing cognitive load and helping managers act faster with confidence.
"The most impressive aspect of Softonix is their willingness to take on new challenges and work."
Daniel Locksley
VP Product & Technology
AI integration
The modular foundation made future AI functionality possible
While AI wasn’t on the roadmap in 2021, our team architected a system that was easier to maintain, extend, and hand back to a growing team.
This choice paid off in 2024. DriveHRIS has moved into AI-driven features such as Resume Summary Preview, automated compliance tools, and intelligent onboarding workflows. Because the architecture was already structured for change, these capabilities could be added without rewriting or destabilizing the core system.
Features
Dealerships don’t run like offices, so the platform reflects this
What the DriveHRIS team built on top of that foundation goes well beyond standard HRCM software:
- The Recruit Module is the cornerstone of the system. Its built-in ATS keeps the entire hiring process in one place, from posting roles and filtering candidates to scheduling interviews, sending offers, and completing onboarding.
- The Workplace Inspection Wizard and Safety Meeting Wizard walk dealership staff through compliance workflows step by step, on mobile, and aligned with Canadian labor requirements.
- Drive University brings automotive-specific training directly into the platform, including EV safety, workplace hazard management, and leadership skills for service advisors and managers.
- The built-in HR Advisory Team gives dealerships access to certified HR experts alongside the software.
"Before DriveHRIS, compliance was a struggle. Now, we’re fully compliant with committee meetings, inspections, policies, and training–all tracked in one system"
Peter Hatch
Director of H&S, Hickman Auto Group
"DriveHRIS brought us together as a group, centralizing HR and Safety processes across all our dealerships. It’s given us the ability to align communication and streamline operations, saving us hours each week"
Nancy Little
Corporate Controller, Boyer Auto Group
"DriveHRIS has saved me 35% of my time by automating tasks like policy delivery and training certificates. Manual tracking is eliminated, and I only need to manage exceptions"
Peter Hatch
Director of H&S, Hickman Auto Group
Result
What 5 years of partnership built — and counting
DriveHRIS is now a different product: faster, more stable, and architected to grow. It serves more than 10,000 active daily users across the Canadian dealership market. The engineering partnership that started with a 2-person frontend team has grown into a 12+ person cross-company squad covering frontend, backend, mobile, and product delivery.
In 2025, DriveHRIS was recognized by HRD Canada as one of the Most Innovative HR Teams in Canada.
The partnership continues, with Softonix still embedded in DriveHRIS’s product team as the platform evolves.
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