From the moment doors opened at HR Tech Europe 2026, it was clear this was not just another industry gathering. Packed sessions, busy expo floors, and constant conversation signaled real intent from attendees, focused not just on booking meetings but on taking away meaningful lessons.
That is because HR leaders are under pressure to evolve at pace. AI is not only reshaping their roles, but fundamentally redefining how HR operates.
From automating onboarding workflows to supporting employee queries through intelligent assistants, the technology is unlocking efficiencies that were previously out of reach. At the same time, it is expanding HR’s remit, with teams increasingly expected to guide AI adoption across the broader business.
This dual role of operator and orchestrator has introduced new complexity. HR leaders must now balance efficiency with empathy, innovation with governance, and speed with strategic alignment. The stakes are high, as decisions made today will shape workforce experiences for years to come.
So, what exactly is top of mind for HR professionals navigating this shift? Conversations with UC Today on the show floor reveal a mix of opportunity, uncertainty, and a strong appetite to learn.
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What HR Leaders Are Saying on the Ground
HR leaders at the event pointed to a mix of shared challenges and emerging priorities, from keeping pace with innovation to redefining the human element of their roles. Across conversations, a clearer picture began to form of what is really driving decision-making on the ground.
Navigating Constant Technology Change
For Nil Kamal Basak, Senior Workday Specialist at Aegon, the biggest challenge is keeping up with the relentless pace of innovation. “You have to be very open to find which technologies you need, not what you want,” he said.
His point reflects a shift away from fixed roadmaps toward continuous reassessment. In a market flooded with new tools, HR teams are being forced to stay flexible, prioritizing business need over preference when making technology decisions.
Managing the Human-Automation Trade-Off
For Viktoriia Buzyl, HR Business Partner at Rubyplay, the core challenge lies in balancing efficiency with empathy. “We have a lot of tools, but you also want to keep the human touch,” she explained.
As AI and automation scale, HR risks losing the human connection that drives engagement and culture. Her perspective highlights a growing tension: technology can enhance speed and responsiveness, but it cannot replace the need for human presence.
Expanding HR Responsibilities
For Arjan Ten Brinke, Recruitment Business Partner at Virtual Vaults, the challenge is the expanding scope of HR itself. “HR professionals have to do more and more,” he said, pointing to responsibilities spanning performance, culture, and recruitment. In this context, AI is less of a disruption and more of a necessity.
As workloads increase, technology becomes critical in helping HR teams operate at scale while maintaining effectiveness across multiple functions.
Making Sense of AI Ecosystem Sprawl
For Bart Sanders, HR Director at Sioux Technologies, the challenge is understanding how everything fits together. “Everything is getting connected with AI agents all over the place,” he observed.
This reflects a broader shift toward interconnected HR ecosystems, but also introduces complexity. As AI becomes embedded across platforms, HR leaders must navigate integration, governance, and strategy, rather than just individual tools.
Keeping Up with Market Pace
For Vaibhav Somani, Senior Manager at PwC, the biggest hurdle is staying up to date. “There are so many things happening at a rapid pace,” he said.
This constant acceleration is forcing HR teams to rethink how they learn, evaluate, and deploy new technologies. The ability to quickly translate market developments into real business value is becoming a key differentiator.
Finding Value Through Exploration and Connection
For Fabricio Kaplan, HR Consultant at Ink People, the focus is on discovery and connection. “I really love to see what is going on and what the new products are,” he said, also highlighting the importance of networking.
In a crowded and fast-moving market, events like HR Tech Europe play a critical role. They offer HR professionals a way to take the temperature of the wider industry and identify technologies that are beginning to be introduced to the market as a reaction to business issues.
From Experimentation to Execution: What Comes Next for HR
Taken together, these perspectives paint a picture of an HR function in transition. There is clear enthusiasm for AI’s potential, but also recognition that adoption must be thoughtful and aligned with organizational needs. The shift is no longer about whether to adopt AI, but how to do so effectively.
Another key theme emerging from the show floor is the move from experimentation to execution. Early pilots and isolated use cases are giving way to more strategic deployments, where AI is embedded across processes and systems. This requires stronger governance, clearer use cases, and closer collaboration with IT and business leaders.
At the same time, the human element remains front and center. As Buzyl’s comments suggest, efficiency gains cannot come at the expense of employee experience. HR’s role as a steward of culture and engagement is not diminishing. It is, in fact, becoming more important as technology takes on a larger operational role.
