HiBob received the 2026 HR Pacesetter Award for AI Transformation from The Josh Bersin Company for its approach to AI adoption across the workforce.
The London-based HR software group said the certification focused on a three-tier operating model that weaves AI into daily operations, leadership processes and decision-making. HiBob has been using this model internally as companies move from limited AI trials to broader adoption across business functions.
According to HiBob, approximately 95% of employees now use AI on a weekly basis. More than 150 AI agents have been integrated into departmental workflows, more than 300 AI proof-of-concept initiatives have been submitted, and more than 70 AI leaders have been enabled across the business.
Additional figures released by HiBob show that more than 1,800 people have participated in AI workshops and learning programs, company-wide AI usage has increased by 111%, and more than 60 AI-related skills have been developed in the past year.
internal model
HiBob said the award recognizes operating models that treat AI as part of a broader organizational design, rather than as a standalone technology project. This approach links employee data, management processes, and business planning into a single structure designed to support day-to-day use.
The Josh Bersin Company tied the award to its model and its role in workforce transformation, highlighting how HiBob has adjusted its people, processes, and technology as AI moves from isolated experimentation to broader use.
“HiBob was recognized as a 2026 HR Pacesetter Award recipient for pioneering an operating model that aligns people, processes, and technology to ‘do more with more.’” said The Josh Bersin Company team. “By evolving AI from an isolated experiment to a strategic work partner, HiBob has designed a scalable, human-first infrastructure that redefines the way leaders, managers, and employees impact business.”
The advisory firm also commented on the structure of the model.
“This three-layer operating model transforms AI from a passive co-pilot to a fundamental engine for daily workflows and executive decision-making. Through this HR-connected architecture, HiBob demonstrates how a human-centered AI strategy can serve as an essential infrastructure for sustainable adoption, responsible innovation, and long-term market dominance,” the team said.
focus on people
HiBob said the main barriers to AI adoption are not just software implementation, but changes in organizational design and workforce. Our internal AI efforts are led by our AI Mind Team and supported by designated AI leaders across the business.
Ronni Zehavi, CEO and co-founder of HiBob, said the company’s experience shows that AI programs are dependent on how companies organize work and support their employees.
Ronni Zehavi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of HiBob said: “At HiBob, we are proving that this is a human-centric organizational challenge. By building an operating system for the AI era, we are not replacing the human element. We are elevating the human element and creating the strongest partnership between human creativity and AI-driven scale.”
He also pointed to the need for closer collaboration between human resources systems and broader business operations.
“Today’s organizations need more than automation. They need intelligence, orchestration, and the ability to connect HR strategy directly to business execution. That means integrating talent, payroll, performance, and planning so that leaders understand what’s happening across the workforce and can act with confidence,” Zehavi said.
market changes
The award comes as HR technology suppliers and employers seek to demonstrate practical benefits from AI after an initial period dominated by pilots and experiments. For many employers, the central question has been whether AI tools can go beyond improving individual productivity and become part of day-to-day management, planning, and workforce processes.
HiBob sells Bob, an HR platform used by more than 5,400 organizations around the world, including eToro, Fred Perry, Huel, team.blue, SmartRecruiters, and Save the Children. The company positions the platform as a system that unifies human resources, payroll, workforce and operational data for multinational employers.
The Josh Bersin Company describes itself as a human capital advisory firm focused on people, leadership, and organizational performance. The HR Pacesetter Awards recognize companies for their efforts in areas including workforce transformation.
Among the numbers highlighted by HiBob, the clearest sign of internal adoption is that approximately 95% of employees use AI on a weekly basis.
