Companies embrace software innovations like AI to take quicker actions based on real-time insights about skills, while self-service decreases costs, new research says

Enterprises are transforming workforce management with software that uses AI and automation to address labor challenges and opportunities, according to new research from global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III).

The ISG Buyers Guides™ for Workforce Management (WFM), produced by ISG Software Research, provide the rankings and ratings of 23 software providers and their products to support the management of workforces in general enterprises and specific industries. The research finds that recent innovations in WFM software coincide with a still-tight labor market and ongoing disruptions related to remote and hybrid work. Many companies are seizing this moment to change their software roadmaps and practices around WFM, seeking new tools that meet evolving employee and administrative expectations.

“Enterprises want software that brings more types of data to bear and delivers insights for workforce decisions, and providers are starting to deliver them,” said Matthew Brown, human capital management research director, ISG Software Research. “Advances in AI, GenAI and real-time analytics make WFM software more powerful and easier for workers to use through self-service tools.”

WFM software ensures the right people are working at the right times, a complex task affected by budget considerations, availability of skills, employee preferences and other factors, the research finds. The core functions found in basic WFM platforms include the ability to schedule shifts, capture time worked, track absences and forecast demand. WFM suites layer advanced capabilities such as skills-based optimization and real-time cost simulation on top of these basics.

Newly emerging WFM features address four pressing requirements of employers and employees, ISG finds. Companies need to know the potential cost and compliance risks of a given worker roster before it is locked in. If core staffing falls short, they need flexibility to bring in resources from agencies and gig marketplaces. To meet specific requirements for each shift, companies need to make practical staffing decisions based on specific skills rather than job titles. In addition, workers expect the ability to choose shifts and resolve HR questions through a consumer-style chat interface.

The new baseline for WFM software calls for increased self-service and smarter labor schedules, the research finds. Enterprises have embraced tools including forecasting engines that ingest live signals such as IoT telemetry rather than use historical averages to predict need. Companies expect smarter and AI-driven workforce systems that understand their needs for skills and worker availability and that hide the complexity of APIs and platforms — without the need for customization.

Focused, in-depth research includes details about how three key industries are using advanced WFM software. For example, manufacturers are combining AI-based workforce schedules with real-time data about machine health to ensure they only assign workers when lines need them. Healthcare providers incorporate electronic medical records and work rules into software to more precisely predict staffing needs, and retailers use data such as weather reports and foot-traffic patterns captured by computer vision to adjust rosters in minutes.

For its 2025 Buyers Guides™ for Workforce Management, ISG evaluated software providers across five platform categories — Workforce Management Basics, Workforce Management Suites, Workforce Management Healthcare, Workforce Management Manufacturing and Workforce Management Retail — and produced a separate Buyers Guide for each. A total of 23 providers were assessed: ADP, ADP WorkForce Software, Dayforce, ATOSS, Blue Yonder, Dayforce, Deltek, Infor, isolved, OneAdvanced, Oracle, Paychex, Paychex Paycor, Paycom, Paylocity, Quinyx, Relicon, Rippling, SAP, TCP Software, UKG, Workday and Zebra.

ISG Software Research rates software providers in seven evaluation categories. Five are related to product experience: usability, manageability, reliability, capability, and adaptability. Two are related to customer assurance: validation and total cost of ownership and return on investment (TCO/ROI). Providers ranked in the top three for each evaluation category are named as Leaders. Within each platform category, those with the most Leader rankings are named as Overall Leaders.

The Overall Leaders of the 2025 Buyers Guides™ for Workforce Management were the following:

Workforce Management Basics: Oracle was the highest-rated provider overall, followed by ADP and UKG. Oracle was designated a Leader in all seven evaluation categories, ADP in six and UKG in two. In addition to the three overall leaders, ADP WorkForce Software, Blue Yonder, Dayforce, Deltek, Infor, isolved, Quinyx, Rippling, SAP, Workday and Zebra also were rated Exemplary. No providers were rated Innovative.

Workforce Management Suites: Oracle earned the highest overall rating, followed by ADP and UKG. Oracle was named a Leader in all seven evaluation categories, ADP in six and UKG in two. In addition to these providers, ADP WorkForce Software, Dayforce, Deltek, Quinyx, SAP and Workday also were rated Exemplary. No providers were rated Innovative.

Workforce Management Healthcare: Oracle received the highest overall rating, with ADP taking second place and UKG taking third. Oracle was designated a Leader in all seven evaluation categories, ADP in six and UKG in two. In addition to the top three overall providers, ADP WorkForce Software also was rated Exemplary. Dayforce, Infor, Quinyx, SAP and Workday were rated Innovative.

Workforce Management Manufacturing: Oracle earned the highest overall rating, followed by ADP and UKG. Oracle was named a Leader in all seven evaluation categories, ADP in six and UKG in two. In addition to these providers, ADP WorkForce Software, Dayforce, Deltek, Infor, SAP and Workday also were rated Exemplary. No providers were rated Innovative.

Workforce Management Retail: Oracle was the highest-rated provider overall, followed by ADP and UKG. Oracle was designated a Leader in all seven evaluation categories, ADP in six and UKG in two. In addition to the top three overall providers, ADP WorkForce Software, Dayforce, Infor, SAP and Workday also were rated Exemplary. No providers were rated Innovative.

“Workforce management software is essential for a wide range of businesses that rely on hourly workers. It has become increasingly flexible in self-service scheduling and pay options for workers,” said Mark Smith, partner and chief software analyst, ISG Software Research. “The research provides new opportunities for organizations to assess their existing providers for WFM and determine those best prepared to lead in the new AI software-driven economy.”

The ISG Buyers Guides™ for Workforce Management are the distillation of more than a year of market and product research efforts. The research is not sponsored nor influenced by software providers and is conducted solely to help enterprises optimize their business and IT software investments. It provides the industry’s most comprehensive review of all viable software options, comparing their strengths to give enterprises insight to make critical selection decisions.

Visit this webpage to learn more about the ISG Buyers Guides™ for Workforce Management and read executive summaries of each of the five reports. The complete reports, including provider rankings across seven product and customer experience dimensions and detailed research findings on each provider, are available by contacting ISG Software Research.

About ISG Software Research

ISG Software Research provides authoritative coverage and analysis of the business and IT software industry. It distributes research and insights daily through its user community, and provides a portfolio of consulting, advisory, research and education services for enterprises, software and service providers, and investment firms. Its ISG Buyers Guides™ help enterprises evaluate and select software providers through tailored assessments powered by ISG’s proprietary methodology. Visit https://research.isg-one.com/ for more information and to sign up for free community membership.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

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Enterprises want software that brings more types of data to bear and delivers insights for workforce decisions, and providers are starting to deliver them. Advances in AI, GenAI and analytics make WFM software more powerful and easier for workers to use.