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Ask. What’s the underlying platform architecture? Why it matters. Legacy systems constrain innovation; modern platforms enable continuous evolution. Ask. How are governance and controls managed in an AI-driven environment? Why it matters. Automation must enhance, not compromise, compliance and accountability. Ask. Does the solution support broader business insight? Why it matters. Payroll’s value extends far beyond payslips into strategic decision- making. By asking these questions, pay professionals can cut through the jargon and identify solutions which genuinely support the future of payroll. Practical steps to level up The transition to strategic payroll doesn’t happen overnight. But there are clear steps to take, to begin the journey: 1. Start with insight, not technology. 2. Adopt an exception-based mindset. 3. Invest in skills development. 4. Strengthen cross-functional relationships. 5. Pilot AI use cases and scale. Payroll has always been trusted with one of the most sensitive and critical processes in any organisation: paying people correctly and on time. Now, with AI and modern technology, payroll can extend that trust into strategic influence. A moment of choice Payroll stands at a crossroads. One path continues the traditional model, as efficient, compliant, operational. The other leads to a more strategic future that’s insight-driven, collaborative and influential. AI and technology are the catalysts. But mindset is the driver. Pay professionals who embrace this shift won’t just adapt, they’ll lead. The opportunity is clear. Now is the time for payroll to level up.
automatically mean resilient. Look for high availability, multi-region hosting, proven uptime service level agreements. Ask. How is the system secured against both traditional and AI-driven threats? Why it matters. As technology evolves, so do security risks. Modern payroll systems must protect against traditional cyber threats and increasingly sophisticated AI-driven attacks. For example, emerging standards such as ISO42001 (AI Management Systems) are designed to ensure that AI is developed, deployed and governed in a controlled, ethical and transparent way. Vendors aligned to these standards demonstrate that they’re leveraging AI capabilities responsibly with appropriate oversight, risk management and accountability, built in. Ask. Is AI embedded at the core, or layered on top? Why it matters. Legacy apps may still have a shorter lifespan even with AI sitting on top of it (as a bolt-on feature). If the core isn’t sustainable longer-term, will it be able to continuously adapt? Today, maybe it supports some level of anomaly detection or can answer certain payslip queries, but will it be able to offer AI agents undertaking routine tasks in future, or adapt processes based on trends, for example? Modern applications, built API-first * , with proper orchestration layers will be around for years to come and are likely a better longer-term investment. Ask. Can the system explain its outputs, or just produce them? Why it matters. Transparency and trust are essential for compliance, audit and decision-making. Ask. Does the solution enable exception- based processing? Why it matters. True AI reduces workload by focussing attention where it’s needed most. Ask. How accessible and integrated is the data? Why it matters. Insight depends on real- time, connected data across HR, finance and operations.
once a role centred on processing, validation and compliance is becoming something far broader and more impactful. Pay professionals are increasingly expected to operate as analysts, advisors and enablers of business insight. In essence, the role is evolving from asking what happened to why those things happened and what should be done next. New career pathways emerging in payroll This evolution opens a far broader set of career opportunities for pay professionals than ever before. Rather than a linear path within payroll operations, we’re now seeing opportunities such as Payroll Data Analyst, Payroll Transformation Lead, Workforce Cost Strategist and AI-Enabled Payroll Specialist, among other product and technology roles. For pay professionals willing to expand their skillset, the career ceiling is rising significantly. Choosing the right payroll technology in the age of AI: the questions that matter As payroll evolves, so too must the technology that supports it. Many vendors now claim to be ‘AI-enabled’, but the reality behind these claims can vary significantly. For pay professionals, asking the right questions is critical. Ask. How does the solution help control and organise payroll processing costs over time? Why it matters. Modern platforms should allow organisations to scale processing capability up or down based on demand and reduce reliance on manual effort during peak periods. Without this flexibility, payroll costs can become fixed and inefficient. (This is particularly relevant for seasonal businesses where workforce patterns can fluctuate.)
Jaspal Randhawa ChMCIPPdip Payroll Technology Consultant, OneAdvanced
Ask. How resilient is the platform infrastructure? Why it matters. ‘Cloud’ doesn’t
* API = application programming interface
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