Analyst Perspectives

Attending isolved’s first Analyst Summit was more than just an opportunity to hear about their latest innovations—it was a front-row seat to their vision for the future of HR technology and services. A central theme emerged quickly—they are deeply committed to supporting small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), not just with technology but also with robust services and an ecosystem of partners that elevate HR teams into the strategic powerhouses they were always meant to be.

For an often-overlooked segment of the market, isolved is fearlessly delivering feature-rich technology and services that are typically reserved for large enterprises. And they’re not just retrofitting enterprise solutions for SMBs—they’re building with purpose, ensuring that everything from analytics to artificial intelligence (AI) to talent management is designed to be powerful yet accessible.

One of the biggest takeaways from the summit was just how clear and unwavering isolved’s ethos is. Unlike some providers who attempt to be everything to everyone, isolved is doubling down on what they do best: helping SMBs build better HR functions through a combination of cutting-edge technology and thoughtful, high-touch services.

That strategy was on full display throughout the event. Every conversation, every roadmap discussion, every customer story reinforced the same message: isolved isn’t chasing competitors or market trends for the sake of keeping up—they’re laser-focused on delivering value where it’s needed most.

And that focus isn’t just a tagline. It’s reflected in their continued investment in talent technology, their approach to AI and analytics, and their bold moves, like the recent announcement of their acquisition of ApplicantPro.

The acquisition of ApplicantPro is more than just a strategic expansion—it’s a reinforcement of isolved’s commitment to delivering a seamlessly integrated talent experience. While the recruiting technology has been part of their ecosystem for several years, bringing ApplicantPro fully into the fold allows for a more cohesive strategy across recruiting, talent development, and people analytics.

For HR teams, this means tighter connections between hiring, internal mobility and workforce planning—something that has often been fragmented in the SMB and mid-market space. While many solutions in this segment focus on individual HR processes, isolved is ensuring that each part of the talent journey is intentionally connected, making it easier for HR leaders to drive meaningful outcomes.

If there was one area that particularly stood out to me, it was isolved’s approach to AI and analytics. Let’s be honest—most SMB and mid-market HR teams are used to getting the short end of the stick when it comes to data insights. They typically get basic reporting, some rudimentary automations and not much else—or they get a solution that is overbuilt for their needs, creating overwhelm and frustration.

isolved is changing that narrative.

While some of their AI and analytics capabilities are helping them catch up with the broader market, what’s most impressive is their commitment to making these tools accessible and purpose-built for SMBs. Instead of repackaging enterprise-grade analytics in a watered-down format, they’ve developed solutions that feel tailored to the actual needs of smaller HR teams.

Their analytics platform offers rich insights that rival those found in much larger systems, but in a way that’s digestible and actionable for HR teams that don’t have dedicated data scientists on staff. The AI-driven automation, in particular, is aligned with the realities of SMB and mid-market HR teams—helping them proactively address workforce challenges without adding unnecessary complexity. This keeps isolved on pace to meet the growing demands ahead. I assert that by 2027, two-thirds of enterprises evaluating people analytics will require prescriptive guidance with actionable insights that can be read and heard rather than just visualized in dashboards.

One of the things I always look for in an HCM provider is whether their industry-specific solutions are more than just surface-level marketing claims. At the summit, it was clear that isolved has done their homework.

Their focus on industries like hospitality and professional services isn’t just a play to win more customers—it’s a deeply researched, well-executed strategy designed to tackle real-world pain points. These industries are notorious for high turnover, labor challenges and complex compliance requirements, and isolved has built an approach that helps business owners and HR teams shift their focus from firefighting to proactive people management.

What truly sets them apart? Their ability to offer enterprise-grade capabilities at an SMB-friendly price point. The combination of robust technology and flexible service offerings—available both as an integrated package and as standalone solutions—gives organizations the agility to build exactly what they need.

One of the more unique elements of isolved’s ecosystem is the way they engage their customers. They don’t just have system administrators—they have People Heroes.

This isn’t just a clever name. People Heroes are the customer-side system admins who play a vital role in HR tech success, and isolved has created a highly engaged customer community where they can collaborate, share ideas and participate in innovation cycles. They don’t just implement the technology—they help shape its future.

The level of customer engagement extends to the company’s leadership as well. From the moment the summit began, it was clear that isolved’s executives weren’t just there to present—they were there to listen. They actively sought out one-on-one conversations, invited candid feedback and weren’t afraid to tackle tough topics. There was no forced enthusiasm, no corporate posturing—just a team that genuinely cares about getting it right. And that’s not something you see every day.

As isolved continues to evolve, their focus on talent technology is only growing stronger. Talent acquisition, talent development and talent management are all areas where they’re doubling down, building a powerhouse combination of tech and services that could be game-changing for SMB and mid-market customers.

It’s worth noting that while their sweet spot today is organizations with under 500 employees, they have the scalability and strategic vision to move upmarket. As they continue refining their offerings, they’re well-positioned to expand into larger organizations in the 2,500-employee range while maintaining the same level of service and customer-centricity.

For SMBs, the HR technology market can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to assume that the best solutions are out of reach or that managing HR at scale is something you have to figure out on your own.

isolved is here to prove otherwise.

HR teams should see technology and services as strategic enablers—not just tools for processing payroll or managing compliance, but as a foundation for growth. Whether you’re a team of one or part of a larger HR function, having the right technology partner can make all the difference in elevating your role, driving business outcomes and positioning HR as a true strategic force.

With a strong technology foundation, flexible service offerings and a deep commitment to their customers, isolved isn’t just another HR tech provider. They’re a partner in growth—and one that SMBs should be paying close attention to.

Regards,

Matthew Brown