UKG, the global AI platform for HR, pay, and workforce management, spotlighted a record 16 organizations as Innovation Award winners at its annual UKG Aspire conference. The honorees represent the cutting edge of what’s possible when HR tech meets measurable business transformation — slashing costs, improving collaboration, and reimagining culture at scale.
“These winners are turning data into action and results,” said Bob DelPonte, Chief Customer Experience Officer at UKG. “They’re not just deploying technology — they’re shaping the future of work.”
Turning Workforce Data into Business Value
UKG’s platform, known for fusing AI-driven automation with people-first design, is increasingly central to enterprise digital transformation. This year’s award categories spanned ROI and measurable results, implementation excellence, innovation in payroll and culture strategy, data and automation, and collaboration — signaling how HR tech has become mission-critical across industries.
Among the standout achievements:
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Children’s Hospital Colorado saved $1M in labor costs by unifying staffing data across four hospitals using UKG Pro Workforce Management, streamlining operations and collaboration.
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Primark replaced legacy systems across nine countries, completing its AI-driven workforce management rollout 20% under budget and with zero payroll disruption.
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GRAND Mental Health slashed monthly payroll processing time from 30+ hours to just 4, saving over $10,000 annually and boosting accuracy with UKG Ready.
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The Campbell’s Company achieved $1.35M in savings only seven weeks after go-live, while standardizing policies and ensuring zero payroll misses.
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Merlin Entertainments deployed UKG FleX and Strategic Workforce Planning to align real-time staffing with financial goals — a move that saved time, cut costs, and future-proofed scheduling.
AI and Automation Take Center Stage
This year’s winners illustrate how AI-infused workforce platforms are transforming daily operations into strategic advantages. From Daikin Comfort Technologies using UKG Bryte™ to simplify payroll and HR for 14,000 employees to Randstad leveraging Shiftboard for flexible scheduling across 250+ client sites, the emphasis is clear: intelligent automation is no longer a luxury — it’s a competitive necessity.
Even the NFL made the list, successfully migrating to the UKG Pro Workforce Management suite at the start of the 2025 season with zero disruption to 4,000 employees — proving that not even football season can halt a smooth tech rollout.
Collaboration Gets Its Spotlight
In a nod to the growing role of peer-to-peer networks in HR innovation, UKG named The Chicago User Group its Collaboration Champion. What began as a local community has evolved into a global knowledge hub, complete with a hit podcast — Logging Into UKG — now available across major platforms.
The Bigger Picture: People-First Tech with Real ROI
With 16 Innovation Award winners setting new benchmarks, UKG’s message is clear: AI in HR isn’t about automation replacing people — it’s about freeing them to focus on what matters most.
Across sectors, from retail to healthcare to logistics, the results show how intelligent workforce systems are evolving from operational utilities to strategic engines of productivity and engagement.
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Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations, investor relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX network. Business Wire’s global newsrooms are available to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media worldwide.
