UKG Aspire 2025 kicked off with a bold vision for the future of work—one that blends intelligent technology with human-centered leadership. The opening keynote set the tone for a transformative experience, spotlighting how organizations can lead differently, operate smarter, and build resilient teams in an AI-powered world.
Leading with Purpose
UKG CEO Jennifer Morgan opened the event by challenging leaders to rethink how they build and engage their teams. Her message was clear: the future of work isn’t just about systems—it’s about people. And to support people, we need to lead with empathy, agility, and innovation.
Chief Product Officer Suresh Vittal followed with a showcase of how UKG is bringing this vision to life through agentic AI innovations across its platform. From dynamic labor management to rapid hiring, UKG is helping organizations make work, work.
Smarter Staffing in Action
A demo in the hospitality sector illustrated how UKG’s Dynamic Labor Management (DLM) module helps managers anticipate and respond to staffing needs. As seasonal demands shift, DLM detects over- or under-staffing and sends alerts to managers, who can quickly reassign employees across departments. A capacity planning dashboard helps forecast labor needs for upcoming events, making workforce agility a reality.
Rapid Hire: From QR Code to Offer Letter
UKG’s Rapid Hire module redefines the candidate experience. A job seeker scans a QR code, engages with a digital hiring assistant, selects interview times, and completes the application—all in one seamless flow. The manager interviews the candidate, extends an offer via mobile, and initiates onboarding instantly. Fast, frictionless, and human-centered.
Workforce Intelligence Hub: Insights That Matter
Behind these innovations is the Workforce Intelligence Hub—AI agents that surface insights like pay equity, retention risks, and staffing trends. These tools empower leaders to make data-driven decisions that support both business goals and employee well-being.
Project Alto: Conversational AI for Frontline Workers
One of the most exciting announcements was Project Alto, a conversational AI tool designed for frontline employees. Instead of navigating apps, workers can simply ask:
- “Request PTO.”
- “How much will I get paid this month?”
- “How can I earn more money?”
Alto responds with personalized suggestions, checks calendars, signs employees up for extra shifts, and even applies for internal job openings—all at no additional cost. It’s a game-changer for accessibility and empowerment.
Unifi’s CIO: Tech That Touches Every Employee
In an interview with the CIO of Unifi (45,000 employees), we saw how UKG’s HCM platform is central to operations. From shift scheduling to payroll, UKG has automated manual processes, improved transparency, and boosted employee engagement. His philosophy? “The employee is the most important—if you take care of them, the rest will follow.”
Bryte.AI and People Assist: Smarter Conversations
UKG’s Bryte conversational reporting tool lets users ask questions like “Show me the org chart” or “Tell me about my new team.” Paired with People Assist, these tools use AI to guide employees through complex situations with contextual support—making HR more strategic and less reactive.
One View and Global Payroll: Unified and Risk-Free
UKG’s One View module combines scheduling, time, and pay into a single dashboard—critical for global organizations. It flags issues like tax errors from address changes before payroll runs, ensuring compliance and accuracy across borders.
Project Lighthouse: Accelerating Implementation
Using Bryte AI, Project Lighthouse scans uploaded documents to infer scheduling and pay structures—speeding up implementation and reducing administrative overhead. The result? More time managing people, less time managing systems.
Google Cloud + UKG: A Strategic Partnership
The keynote closed with a conversation between Jennifer Morgan and the Head of People Operations at Google Cloud. With 60,000+ employees across 200 countries, Google relies on UKG for workforce management and payroll. They’re also using Google’s AI tools like Gemini to enhance onboarding and feedback collection.
Innovation Lab and Upskilling
Google’s People Ops team has launched an innovation lab to co-create tools with engineers and is focused on reskilling HR professionals to navigate the AI era. The call to action? Help HR teams build the skills they need to lead in a tech-driven world.
UKG Aspire 2025 made one thing clear: the future of work isn’t just about smarter systems—it’s about smarter leadership. With AI as a partner, organizations can empower employees, streamline operations, and build cultures of resilience and care.
