On the Road Roundup
isolved knows who they are, who they serve, and how they help. They are clear in their purpose and approach—providing HR, payroll, benefits, and workforce management solutions designed for SMBs and mid-market companies based in North America. Their strategy balances technology with hands-on support, ensuring HR teams can navigate compliance, payroll, and talent management with ease.
At the isolved Analyst Summit in Scottsdale, AZ, we had the opportunity to dive deep into their product, marketing, sales, and service strategy. The event provided insights into how iSolved is positioning itself for its customers today and in the future.
What is isolved?
isolved is a human capital management (HCM) platform designed to simplify HR, payroll, benefits, and workforce management for SMBs and mid-market companies. Originally focused on payroll and benefits, isolved has expanded into a full-service HCM provider with a robust partner marketplace, blending technology with hands-on support to help businesses manage their workforce efficiently.
How They Work
isolved takes a system + services approach, meaning they don’t just offer software—they can provide guidance and support to HR teams tackling compliance, payroll, benefits, and talent. Their goal is to provide HR professionals - their People Heroes - with the tools and insights to navigate the ever-changing balance between what employers need and what employees expect in today’s workplace.
isolved puts employees at the center of their system design with the goal of making it easier for them to manage their HR tasks. By focusing on usability and flexibility, isolved focuses on empowering employees to manage their own HR needs quickly and easily with a “get in, get done, get out” approach.
They’re also dedicated to empowering HR professionals, providing them with the tools and resources needed to streamline their work, make better decisions, and create a more positive workplace for everyone. They know that these People Heroes are the ones who make a real difference in the workplace, shaping the culture, supporting employees, and driving the success of the organization.
isolved partners with specialized providers rather than trying to build every solution in-house. Some examples include:
- Remote – Supports U.S. companies managing a global workforce.
- Harri – Workforce management tailored for the restaurant industry.
- 401Go – Retirement planning solutions designed for SMBs.
- Acrisure – Payroll fraud detection and cybersecurity enhancements.
What They’re Focused On
- Compliance & security – isolved is prioritizing tools that track regulatory changes and detect fraud before it happens. This tracks with our State of HRTech data that shows 55% of companies are using HR technology for compliance and security purposes.
- AI-enabled solutions – Developing AI tools to support HR teams through automating hiring, payroll, and compliance processes.
- Employee-first technology – Making HR tasks intuitive and minimizing the time employees and HR professionals spend navigating complex systems.
- Closing the feature gap - Giving SMBs and mid-market businesses access to enterprise-level tools, without the complexity.
What’s Next
isolved is continuing to evolve, with several major developments on the horizon:
- Employee Workspaces (Q2 2025): Employee dashboard surfacing 90% of their needs directly on the homepage.
- AI Virtual Hiring Assistant (Mid-2025): Automates candidate engagement, Q&A, and interview scheduling.
- Perfect Payroll Assist (H1 2026): Uses AI to catch payroll errors and compliance risks before they become costly mistakes.
- Better Benefits (2025-2026): Provides personalized benefits recommendations and automates payroll updates when benefits change.
- Fraud Detection (Q2 2025): Enhances payroll security by identifying fraudulent activity before payroll is processed.
- Integration Cloud (End of 2025): Expands API capabilities, making it easier to integrate isolved with existing HR tech stacks.
What Stood Out
- isolved speaks my love language - compliance. It’s the “must-do” for all businesses, and one of the toughest challenges for SMBs and mid-market companies to navigate effectively.
- According to an isolved HR executive, by using their own Job Ad Authoring and Candidate Matching tools, they’ve seen a 38% reduction in time-to-hire.
- As HR teams weigh the benefits of AI, there’s a clear shift toward AI-assisted - not AI-replacement - technology. isolved is positioning its AI solutions as enhancing HR workflows rather than replacing human decision-making.
What to Keep in Mind
The isolved product is definitely heading in the right direction, but like any journey, it will take some time to fully get there. One thing to keep in mind is that isolved beta tests its new features within their own organization first (which shouldn't be a differentiator, but it is). While this approach may mean a slightly longer timeline before new functions roll out to customers, it results in a more polished and complete product.
What this Means for HR
- Affordable and Accessible: With more cost-effective solutions available, even SMBs can now access enterprise-level HR tools. These platforms provide the functionality that supports growth without the high price tag typically associated with large systems.
- Efficiency for All: Small HR teams can leverage automation, data-driven insights, and AI to streamline workflows, improve employee experiences, and stay compliant, making their work easier and faster.
- Scalable Solutions: Many HR tech solutions are now designed to scale with organizations of all sizes. Whether you have a small HR team or a growing business, these tools can be tailored to meet your specific needs without overwhelming your resources.
isolved is making strategic investments in HR automation, compliance tools, and workforce efficiency, aiming to reduce the administrative burden on HR teams and improve tech adoption. As HR technology continues to evolve, isolved’s emphasis on partnerships, AI-driven automation, and seamless integrations makes it a strong option for SMBs and mid-market companies looking for scalable, practical HR solutions.
Around the Campfire - Event Extras
We kicked off the event with the most adorable welcome— a beer burro! She stole the show and absolutely loved having her ears rubbed.
One highlight of our time together was a memorable dinner with isolved’s CEO, Mark Duffell, at Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Taliesin West.
Fun Fact: Frank Lloyd Wright designed his Scottsdale home as an open-air space, with glass-less windows and only canvas for a roof. When the Foundation later added glass to protect the interior, they couldn’t move a single piece of furniture or decor—each item was placed by Wright himself. Instead, they had to cut the glass around objects, including vases that didn’t align with the building’s edges.
The next evening, we enjoyed a captivating Native American hoop dance and live music, followed by dinner hosted by President and COO Todd La Fever. The real adventure? Braving the unexpectedly frigid Arizona night and launching an impromptu search for a warm indoor spot to hang out. (I now associate Arizona with cold weather!)
Over dinner, we swapped wild animal stories—from Amberly’s not-a-pet raccoon defending its turf against possums to my tales of our neighborhood chicken. At this point, I fully expect trail cams as analyst swag at the next event!
