Applaud, the employee led disruptor in HR technology, has secured the flagship AI Award at the Global Tech & AI Awards 2025. Recognized for practical impact over hype, the company’s generative-AI HR platform stood out among eight international finalists for driving real, measurable results across HR functions.
1. Award Recognition and What Set Applaud Apart
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Won the flagship AI Award at the Global Tech & AI Awards 2025.
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Selected from a field of eight global finalists.
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Recognized for effectiveness, not flashy tech—real-world value to HR teams and employees.
2. Case Study: Smith+Nephew Implementation
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Unified multiple systems (Workday, ServiceNow, Saba) via Applaud’s People+Connect platform.
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AI Assistant now handles multilingual employee queries 24/7.
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Results within 3 months:
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Thousands of tickets automated monthly.
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Improved satisfaction scores.
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Maintained data privacy: no customer data used in model training.
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3. Applaud’s Philosophy and HR-First Approach
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“People 1st, Tech 2nd” ethos puts employees at the center of digital transformation.
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Designed to deliver answers and reduce friction—no gimmicks, just performance.
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Human oversight and domain control built-in for responsible AI use.
4. Technology Stack and Platform Highlights
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No-code, cloud-native platform for fast deployment and adaptability.
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Integrates AI with:
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Knowledge management
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Case management
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Employee journeys
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Works seamlessly with existing HR systems, reducing dependency on IT.
5. Leadership Commentary on the Win
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Ivan Harding, Co-Founder and CEO, emphasized:
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Focus on empowering HR and employees.
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Agility over scale—being small allows for fast, hands-on problem-solving.
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Validation of a mission-driven model in a crowded, competitive space.
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Applaud’s victory at the Global Tech & AI Awards 2025 signals a shift in how AI in HR is valued not by complexity, but by outcomes. By putting employees first and leveraging AI to eliminate inefficiencies, Applaud shows that even smaller players can drive outsized impact in the future of work.
