How Otamiser scaled a global team with Deel’s all-in-one platform

Founded in Belgium in 2022, Otamiser helps hotels and short-term rentals boost performance on online travel agencies (OTAs). Global expansion was essential, but as a bootstrapped startup, CEO Bart-Jan Leyts had to improvise HR ops:

• Used Upwork, PayPal, and international bank wires for pay
• Managed PTO, invoices, and compliance dates in spreadsheets
• Received regular “When will I get paid?” DMs as transfers crossed borders

“Before Deel, payday was a guessing game. We’d wire money through PayPal or Upwork and just wait and see when it showed up.” —Bart-Jan Leyts, Founder, Otamiser

With mismatched holiday calendars, contract risks, and scattered admin tools, Otamiser needed a single, affordable platform that worked globally and reduced manual work.

Leyts discovered Deel via a LinkedIn ad. What sealed the deal? All‑in‑one coverage, global reach, and a team that understood the complexities of global employment. After a short trial, Otamiser consolidated four tools into one:

• From spreadsheets for PTO and holidays to Deel's Global HRIS
• From Upwork and PayPal for payments to Deel Contractor
• From email chains for hiring and contracts to Deel's Global HRIS and EOR
• From Google Forms for feedback to Deel Engage surveys

Deel delivered:

• Global compliance backed by local entities
• Unified workflows from onboarding to payroll
• Expert support via a dedicated Slack channel

“A provider that handles everything. That’s Deel. It’s night-and-day easier.” —Bart-Jan Leyts, Founder, Otamiser

With a single HR manager, Phebe Vandamme, and part-time finance partner, Otamiser onboarded 30+ workers in less than a month. Workflow integrations accelerated efficiency:

• Deel Slack plugin posts a Monday “Who’s out” digest automatically
• Signed contracts via Deel route to the right Notion folders through Zapier
• 90% mobile app adoption in the first week, enabling quick PTO requests, expenses, and HR support

“I’m in Deel several times a week—payments, time-off approvals, you name it. It’s basically my HR command-center.” —Phebe Vandamme, HR Manager, Otamiser.

From solo founder to global team

Otamiser grew from a one-person startup to a 38-person team spread across seven countries, without building a full in-house HR department. Deel enabled fast, compliant hiring in every new market and supports 50+ contractors on one platform.

“Twenty years ago, your hiring market was a 30–100 kilometer radius. With Deel, it’s the whole world.” —Bart-Jan Leyts, Founder, Otamiser

Leaner ops, happier people

By replacing four disconnected tools, Deel helped Otamiser streamline admin and centralize global HR, allowing one HR lead to support a fully distributed team, with no added headcount.

Contractors convert to full-time in under 48 hours, with compliant contracts, equity, and benefits from day one. Public holidays are handled automatically, and a flat 25-day PTO policy keeps things consistent across markets.

Culture has scaled just as intentionally. Deel Engage powers engagement surveys, career tracking, and “random coffee” chats that connect teammates across time zones. And Deel’s global perks help every employee feel supported, wherever they are.

“Culture is hard when you have a relatively small team across seven countries and different time zones. With Deel, we have one set of processes that support our culture, whether you’re in El Salvador, Italy, or Mexico.”—Bart-Jan Leyts, Founder, Otamiser

With funding secured, Otamiser is doubling down on automation and global expansion with Deel:

• Migrating ATS to Deel ATS for full-cycle hiring
• Rolling out Learning Management via Deel Engage to automate onboarding courses
• Expanding to new markets with confidence in local compliance

“Deel Engage will let us automate onboarding and performance reviews; right now that’s still living in Google Forms.” —Phebe Vandamme, HR Manager, Otamiser