Last week, I had the opportunity to attend UKG Analyst Day, where we heard directly from the UKG leadership team about their vision, roadmap, and continued investment in creating technology that serves both employers and employees. The event underscored how UKG is evolving — not just as a technology provider, but as a long-term workforce […]| Aptitude Research
The first time I heard about Paradox was in 2016, when Gerry Crispin called me and said, “You need to connect with Aaron Matos. He just built something that is going to change TA, called Olivia.” At that time, conversational AI was not a category of TA Tech. It was not something anyone had seen […]| Aptitude Research
Over the past few years, the conversation around the candidate experience has shifted dramatically. What was once considered a “nice to have” is now a strategic imperative with clear ties to employer brand, hiring outcomes, and even business performance. Candidates expect seamless, intuitive, and personalized experiences — expectations shaped not by legacy HR technology but […]| Aptitude Research
SAP‘s announcement to acquire SmartRecruiters is not simply another example of market consolidation. It’s a signal that the future of talent acquisition lies in intelligence, not infrastructure—and that agentic, AI-driven hiring is no longer aspirational. This is not about plugging a product gap in SuccessFactors. It’s a strategic repositioning in response to how enterprise buyers […]| Aptitude Research
Career sites are undergoing a fundamental transformation — and it’s not happening quietly. Once considered a “check the box” or branding touchpoint, the career site is now a strategic priority with growing urgency and even C-suite visibility. For many organizations, especially those competing for high-volume and high-skill talent, the career site is now seen as […]| Aptitude Research
During the pandemic, HR and TA leaders were given unprecedented budgets to support remote hiring, DEI initiatives, and workforce agility. For many companies, HR tech spending exploded—fast decisions were made, and vendors were brought on without a clear long-term strategy. Fast forward to 2025: sales cycles are slower, CFOs are tightening wallets, and TA leaders […]| Aptitude Research
This year’s IAMPHENOM conference in Philadelphia felt much larger than in past years- not just in attendees but in content and product announcements as well. With 2,500 attendees, over 90 sessions, and more than 100 customer speakers from organizations like Mastercard, Pepsi, and SSM Health, the event highlighted the growing interest in AI-driven innovation. The […]| Aptitude Research
Last month, HireEZ marked a major milestone in its ten-year journey by announcing the launch of its newest innovation: the EZ Agent, powered by Agentic AI. This announcement not only reflects the company’s consistent evolution with market needs but reinforces its unwavering focus on the recruiter — a mission that has defined HireEZ from the […]| Aptitude Research
Today, Paradox announced the acquisition of Eqtble, a people analytics provider. With this move, Paradox is proving that it is far more than just a talent acquisition solution—it is a company with a bold vision for AI-driven workforce intelligence. We’ve been studying the rapid growth of people analytics and the increasing demand for accessible, real-time […]| Aptitude Research
It has been an interesting year in HRTech. At Aptitude, we do a lot of research and speaking but we spend a lot of time on advisory with corporate clients as well. We have seen some things work for vendors…and others that do not. The HR technology market is more crowded than ever, and 2025 […]| Aptitude Research
One of the most popular topics at this year’s HR Tech Conference was Interview Intelligence. It came up during the Pitchfest, the TA Tech Expert panel, and was highlighted by Splunk as one of the most impactful areas of TA today. But, despite the buzz around this growing category, interviews are often neglected in favor […]| Aptitude Research
As we close out conference season, several key themes emerged around the HR technology landscape—mostly the growing influence of AI. Companies and vendors are struggling with what “AI” really means, especially as it shifts from an emerging technology to an essential part of HR transformation. Some companies are eagerly embracing AI, while others are cautiously […]| Aptitude Research
Chipotle’s recent adoption of Paradox’s AI-powered hiring platform is more than an HRTech investment—it’s a strategic shift in how the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector approaches hiring, employee engagement, and business growth. As companies like Chipotle evolve with smarter recruitment technology, they’re setting a new standard for efficiency and impact in high-volume hiring. Here are some […]| Aptitude Research
Today, Phenom announced the acquisition of Tydy, a global preboarding and onboarding provider. Tydy connects tools, processes and people to generate workflows that are personalized for each user. This announcement is Phenom’s fifth acquisition to date – rounding out its TA platform and expanding further into employee experience technology. Kyle and I had the opportunity […]| Aptitude Research
I have been focused on the people analytics space for the past few months. We conducted a big survey, took lots of briefings, and interviewed companies doing it right. It was full of surprises. We found that 93% of companies are increasing their investment or continuing to invest the same in people analytics this year […]| Aptitude Research
HireEZ launches CRM for Recruiters| Aptitude Research