According to an ADP study, 50% of leaders would like their teams to spend less time on manual processes.
Payroll systems are continually adapting to meet new business demands. According to ADP's annual Global Payroll Survey 2025, 53% respondents face difficulties finding specialized payroll professionals. In parallel, and to help teams better utilize their time for action planning once their processes are automated, 58% are considering implementing artificial intelligence into their methods.
Issues such as talent acquisition, productivity, transparency, and data security continue to challenge industry leaders. Finding creative solutions is helping them shift from tactical operations to more strategic models. "Far from being purely transactional, the payroll function plays an increasingly strategic role. When executed smoothly and effectively, it fosters employee loyalty, which in turn contributes to the acquisition and retention of key talent," says Luiz Bernabé, general manager for Brazil and vice president of service delivery for LATAM at ADP.
According to the survey, business leaders have much higher expectations for payroll, including strategic use of the tool and optimization of employee time and resources. "Today, they want specialized knowledge and the ability to offer business insights that help them shape a long-term strategy," Bernabé points out.
Integrating and automating payroll and HR systems is a top priority for HR leaders. The amount of time teams spend managing data flows between payroll and other enterprise systems is increasing. On average, IT teams spend 25 hours and 13 minutes per week, up from 21 hours and 42 minutes last year. Nearly a third (32%) spend more than 30 hours per week on average.
The survey also showed that 81% of organizations say they are empowering their current payroll staff and changing the way they work. The drive to use technology to improve operational efficiency is significant: 55% of organizations are introducing a combination of payment methods, including virtual wallets and prepaid cards. Furthermore, 41% of companies say they have integrated their financial and accounting systems with payroll globally.
"More and more companies are investing in technological tools to optimize processes and support more complex requirements. Tactics include investing in training, rethinking employee pay, standardizing and automating operations, and leveraging artificial intelligence as a powerful ally," says the executive.
The 2025 Global Payroll Survey was conducted with 1,825 senior payroll professionals across 20 countries. Respondents work in organizations with 1,000 or more employees worldwide and are department managers or higher. More than 801 TP3T are at the senior vice president, board member, or decision-maker level within their organization.
About ADP (NASDAQ – ADP)
ADP designs better ways of working through innovative products, premium services, and exceptional experiences that empower people to reach their full potential. We serve HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits, and Payroll. Our services are data-driven and built for people. Learn more at ADP.com.
ADP, the ADP logo, Always Designing for People, ADP National Employment Report, ADP Research Institute, and ADP Research are registered trademarks of ADP, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
