Ryan FowlerNew research from CloudPay reveals that 53% of payroll leaders believe technology provides greater value than personnel in managing payroll functions, compared to 47% who value the human touch more highly. The Tech-Talent Equilibrium Report found that technology plays a critical role in achieving key payroll objectives, including ensuring timeliness (47%), maintaining compliance (46%), and enabling automation (41%).
Despite the benefits of technology, the study underscores the importance of human expertise in achieving effective payroll management. Over 80% of payroll, HR, and finance leaders reported satisfaction with their teams’ ability to review and enhance processes, as well as their knowledge of country-specific regulations. This highlights the continued relevance of personnel in navigating the complexities of global payroll systems.
Grant Tasker, senior director of global payroll at CloudPay, commented: “The debate around people versus technology has been raging for some time, but our analysis shows that a delicate balance must be struck. Yes, technology will drive greater efficiencies, but it is the people who are both adding value and managing this technology in the longer term.”
Tasker warned against relying solely on technology: “This approach is risky and means that functions end up lacking the strategic and expertise-led capabilities of payroll personnel. Our research and experience show that the solution is to balance equal investment into both technology and people to get the best from both worlds, now and in the future. Simply investing in the likes of AI, automation and APIs on its own won’t cut it.”
