AllWork at Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo 2026: Key Takeaways for HR Leaders Heading into 2027

Yes, AI is here, but now it’s time to show results

As AI continues to be a major topic in HR, the conversation is changing at the same time. Organizations are moving beyond experimenting with AI and starting to ask a much bigger question: Is it actually delivering results?

According to Gartner, 67% of CHROs are seeing increased expectations around productivity driven by AI. At the same time, only 24% of leadership teams agree on who is responsible when an AI agent makes a mistake (source). That’s a pretty significant gap.

Throughout the conference, we heard similar concerns. For instance, HR leaders are excited about the potential of AI to automate processes, improve efficiency, and provide better insights, but they also recognize that technology needs to be paired with accountability, especially in sensitive areas like payroll, worker classification, and compliance. The main takeaway here is that AI can be a powerful tool, but it works best when it’s backed by reliable data, clear processes, and the right people.

HR leaders are being asked to do more than ever

It’s no secret that the role of HR continues to evolve. HR leaders are expected to help drive business growth, improve productivity, support organizational change, and manage risk, often all at the same time. Gartner’s research on 2027 CHRO priorities highlights this growing responsibility, with a focus on helping organizations navigate constant change while meeting increasing expectations from executive leadership.

And we did end up hearing this firsthand in conversations throughout the event—that HR teams are looking for ways to simplify operations, reduce administrative work, and gain better visibility into what’s happening across their organizations. They want to spend less time managing disconnected processes and more time focusing on the strategic initiatives that move their businesses forward. And of course, when it comes to managing a flexible workforce, having the right systems and partners in place can make a big difference.

Workforce flexibility is important, but visibility is just as critical

One of the most interesting topics we discussed at the event was the growing complexity of managing contingent and flexible workers. More organizations are relying on a combination of W-2 employees, independent contractors, and other flexible talent to support their business needs. While this provides valuable flexibility, it can also create challenges when workers are managed across multiple vendors, spreadsheets, and disconnected systems.

For HR leaders, that raises some important questions:

-Who’s working? Where? And when?

-Are workers classified correctly?

-How much are we spending on our flexible workforce?

-Do we have the right processes in place to stay compliant?

-Can we easily access the data we need to make better decisions?

These are exactly the types of challenges we help organizations solve at AllWork. Our platform brings onboarding, scheduling, time and attendance, payroll, compliance, and workforce reporting altogether in one place. Combined with our employer of record (EOR) and agent of record (AOR) services, we help businesses simplify how they manage and pay their flexible workers while reducing administrative headaches and compliance risks.

The conversations we had at Gartner reinforced something we strongly believe: Workforce flexibility shouldn’t come at the expense of visibility, control, or compliance.

Looking ahead to 2027

We left Orlando feeling energized by the conversations, connections, and ideas shared throughout the conference. As organizations prepare for 2027, it’s clear that HR leaders will continue looking for smarter ways to manage their workforces, embrace new technology, and balance efficiency with compliance.

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by Booth #115, joined us for dinner, or took the time to connect with our team. We enjoyed meeting you and look forward to continuing the conversations, we’re already looking forward to Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo 2027!

Want to learn more about AllWork?

If we didn’t get a chance to connect at Gartner, or you’d like a closer look at how AllWork can help your organization manage and pay its flexible workforce, we’d love to show you what our platform can do. To schedule a personalized demo, reach out to us at info@allworknow.com.