Last week, I wrote about the AI feature trap—how early-stage companies add AI to their products not because users need it, but because it sounds sophisticated. The farm implement metaphor from the Shelburne Museum struck a nerve: too many companies are picking up impressive-looking tools without understanding what problems they actually solve. But based on some emails I got (such language!), I feel compelled to make this statement: if you are building a native AI application, then you are not the companies I am talking about! AI is its own thing and there are myriad applications than should and are being built to take advantage of the incredible promise that AI represents. I was referring to companies who are seeking to add AI to existing […]
Operational Excellence
Council Guest Post: HR Transformation – Data-Driven HR Decisions
Utilizing Analytics to Inform and Drive HR Transformational Initiatives Introduction In the dynamic landscape of human resources, the role of data and analytics has evolved from a mere supportive function to a central pillar in shaping HR strategies and decisions. The contemporary HR environment demands a data-driven approach to enhance decision-making processes, optimize workforce management, and ensure organizational growth. This article delves into the critical aspects of data-driven HR decisions and how analytics can be harnessed to revolutionize HR practices. The Importance of Data-Driven HR Decisions Data-driven HR decisions involve the use of data analytics to inform and guide HR strategies. This methodology shifts HR from being intuition-based to evidence-based, ensuring that decisions are backed by empirical data and insights. The importance of this approach […]
Council Guest Post: The Workplace AI Trap – When “Productivity Tools” Actually Make Work Harder
Remember those mysterious farm implements from the Shelburne Museum I wrote about last week AI Is Not Always the Answer? Tools that clearly served important purposes in their time, but whose actual utility has been lost? That same disconnect between sophistication and usefulness is playing across the country as companies rush to deploy workplace AI. “We need to leverage AI to boost productivity,” executives announce, like archaeologists picking up an ancient tool and declaring it must be valuable because it looks complex. They’re so focused on having cutting-edge technology that they forget the most fundamental question every organization should ask: “Will this actually help our people do their jobs better?” With workplace AI spending projected to reach $79 billion by 2025, companies feel pressure to […]
Analyst Insight: HR Techonomics & The Napster Effect
Agentic AI is becoming table stakes, but the pricing model is broken for HR tech vendors. Given that platforms like ChatGPT are free for most HR tech users—or built into the existing fee structures for HR tech platforms—I fear that tying it to a zero-cost model may inadvertently propel HR tech AI into a fate similar to that of recorded music after Napster and the rise of music streaming. Napster proved to the world that music can be free, and the music industry never recovered from it. Record stores closed, artists suffered, and the music market was flooded with even more music, all of which was still available for free. Even decades later, when services like Apple Music and Spotify began to pop up, charging […]
Winner Takes All: AI, Shareholders & the Future of Work
Many HR tech companies’ go-to-market strategies are fixated on enhancing employee experience. There’s often a heavy emphasis on frontline efficiency achieved through a bottom-up approach to bolster business. They aim to help employees first, enabling them to be more productive, which in turn benefits the company as a whole. A significant part of this movement is facilitated through the use of AI as a vehicle to accelerate progress. At HR Tech 2025, there was a recurring emphasis on the concept of “human in the loop” — the idea that even with advancements in AI, such as agentic AI, human oversight will always be necessary for its actions. Many business and tech leaders argue that AI is meant to assist, rather than replace, workers. And this […]
Council Guest Post: AI Is Not Always the Answer
That’s Cool! What is it? (The AI Feature Trap That Can Kill Early-Stage Companies) One of my favorite places to go is the Shelburne Museum in Vermont. Walk into one of the buildings on the expansive grounds and you’ll find yourself staring at a collection of mysterious farm implements. Interesting, well-crafted tools that clearly served important purposes—but nobody alive remembers what those purposes were. Curators can guess based on the materials and construction, but the actual utility? Lost to time. While there’s a pretty long leap from the bucolic scenery of rural Vermont to artificial intelligence, the notion of unclear use is exactly how many early-stage companies are approaching AI features today. “We need AI in our product to stay competitive,” they announce, like archaeologists […]
Council Guest Post: HR Transformation – Leveraging Technology for HR Efficiency
Utilizing HR Tech Such as AI and Analytics for Streamlined Processes Introduction In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of Human Resources (HR) has transcended traditional boundaries. The integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and analytics is revolutionizing HR functions, enabling organizations to streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and improve overall efficiency. This article delves into the transformative impact of HR tech, specifically AI and analytics, and how they are reshaping the way HR operates. Rapid Innovations in HR Technology The advent of digital transformation has paved the way for HR technology to become an indispensable part of modern organizations. HR tech encompasses a wide range of tools and solutions designed to automate and optimize various HR functions, from recruitment and onboarding […]
Workology Article: Q&A With Nicole Roberts
This interview is part of Workology’s HR spotlight series, where they highlight influential HR leaders who are shaping the future of work through bold ideas and real-world impact. For this post, they spoke with Nicole Roberts, 3Sixty Insights Analyst, Founder and President of People Solutions Group. Nicole Roberts is an HR strategist, executive advisor, and the Founder and President of People Solutions Group, a consulting and training firm that helps organizations align people practices with business strategy. With more than 20 years of experience spanning high-growth, PE-backed, and mission-driven organizations, she combines strategic foresight, human-centered insight, and practical HR leadership to drive meaningful results. Her expertise includes strategic workforce planning, leadership development, change management, culture transformation, and talent advisory. Nicole is especially skilled in guiding organizations through […]
Video: When Cost-Cutting Kills Customer Experience
In this video, Nicholas Biron of 3Sixty Insights draws a sharp contrast between the in-store experience of legacy retailers and the seamless efficiency of online shopping. What starts as a simple school shopping trip quickly becomes a lesson in why brick-and-mortar continues to lose ground to Amazon. Nicholas recounts disorganized stores, locked fitting rooms, low inventory, and disengaged employees at Target and Old Navy—problems that echo the decline of Sears. These failures highlight a deeper truth: retail isn’t losing because of Amazon’s prices alone. It’s losing because the customer experience has collapsed.
Video: Why Independent Research Creates Defendable Customer Stories
In this video, Nicholas Biron underscores the real power of independent, third-party research in marketing. While vendors often publish their own case studies, these pieces rarely carry the depth or credibility needed to influence buyers—or withstand scrutiny. Nicholas explains how 3Sixty Insights approaches customer interviews differently: by probing deeper into decision drivers, evaluation processes, and real outcomes. The result is richer, more authentic stories that buyers and participants themselves use to validate choices, showcase investments, and even elevate their personal profiles.
Research Note: The Hidden Costs of Being the HR Hero – How SMBs Use isolved to Turn Compliance Headaches into Strategic Growth
Running the financial side of a small and mid-sized business (SMB) is complex enough, but adding workforce management, benefits, and compliance to the mix stretches capacity even thinner. For many SMBs, hiring a full-time HR professional is simply financially out of reach. It may then be a structural resource or workforce issue that makes HR underdeveloped, reactive, and disconnected from overall business results. As these businesses struggle to handle the increasing complexity of HR, payroll, and benefits management, these duties often fall to CFOs, controllers, or administrators who lack the time, resources, and expertise to manage the workforce strategically. When HR responsibilities are added to an existing role, it can seem unexpected since they weren’t part of the original job description or a focus of […]
#HRTechChat: Heike Wiesner and Alastair Pride on Payroll Trends and Innovation at Unit4
In this episode of #HRTechChat, Dylan Teggart sits down with Heike Wiesner, Global Sales Growth Director HCM, and Alastair Pride, Managing Principal Consultant, of Unit4 to explore the evolving role of payroll as a strategic business driver. They discuss how cloud migration, integrated ERP systems, and innovations like Unit4’s Payroll Navigator are transforming payroll from a back-office function into a core asset for workforce planning, compliance, and employee trust. From real-time visibility to faster, smarter deployments, Heike and Alastair share how Unit4 is helping organizations simplify complexity, boost efficiency, and adapt to shifting workforce demands. If you think payroll is just about getting people paid, it’s time to think bigger. Learn more about how Unit4 can help your organization here: Unit4 HCM software for payroll […]
Anatomy of a Decision: How ZRG Partners Turned to Sprout Social to Power Brand Amplification from Within
Overview As ZRG Partners expanded from a boutique search firm to a global talent advisory powerhouse with 600+ employees, its rapid growth outpaced brand recognition. Private equity backers challenged leadership with a clear question: What are you doing for marketing? The answer was a complete go-to-market transformation—anchored by employee advocacy through Sprout Social. By empowering its people to tell the ZRG story, the firm turned marketing into a true growth catalyst, driving measurable gains in website traffic, employee engagement, and brand awareness. Key Takeaways From Sales-Driven to Brand-Driven: Transitioned from a purely sales-led growth model to a coordinated GTM engine. People, Process, Platform: Hired strategic marketing leaders, implemented new tech (Salesforce Marketing Cloud, BrightEdge, Jasper AI), and embedded advocacy into culture. Sprout Social Advantage: Chosen […]
GTM Innovators: Building GTM Trust Through Analyst Relations with Chris Manfredi
In this episode of GTM Innovators, Kyle James sits down with Chris Manfredi, Global Director of Analyst Relations at Sprout Social, to explore the power of analyst relations as a trust-building force in go-to-market strategy. With over a decade of experience navigating firms like Gartner, Forrester, and IDC, Chris shares how AR serves as a strategic connective tissue across product, marketing, sales, and the C-suite. From managing 1,500+ analyst touchpoints a year to synthesizing insights for executive decisions, Chris offers a behind-the-scenes look at what makes AR truly impactful, especially in today’s AI-driven, insight-saturated landscape. Whether you’re new to AR or looking to take your program to the next level, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, human-centric perspective, and bold ideas for the future. […]
#HRTechChat: Darwinbox’s Samrat Krishna on Killing the Toggle Tax and Unleashing AI Agents at Work
AI is changing the game—but not in the way you think. In this episode of #HRTechChat, we’re sharing a special swapcast from the PeopleTech podcast hosted by Mark Feffer, featuring Samrat Krishna of Darwinbox. Samrat unpacks how AI agents are killing the “toggle tax” and rethinking enterprise software altogether. Instead of juggling dozens of systems and interfaces, agents now act on your behalf—fetching info, taking action, and streamlining workflows across platforms. They dig into the mechanics of MCP (Modular Component Protocol), how Darwinbox is building for agent-first environments, and what HR leaders should automate today to unlock strategic headspace tomorrow. If you think AI is about replacing people, you’re asking the wrong question. Tune in to learn how to shift from assistance to agency—and why […]
OneSource Article: Driving AI Readiness with Unstructured Data – A Look into CalibrAIte’s Impact
As organizations race to operationalize AI, a key barrier remains: unstructured data. Emails, chats, voice recordings, and social media are rich in insights—yet difficult to mine without the right tools. That’s where CalibrAIte, a solution by OneSource, enters the equation. 3Sixty Insights recently explored how CalibrAIte empowers organizations to transform this data into structured, actionable intelligence. Our report sheds light on how businesses are using the platform to uncover customer sentiment, reduce manual workflows, and accelerate their journey to AI readiness—without having to overhaul their entire tech stack. OneSource’s approach prioritizes business outcomes first, starting with high-impact use cases that quickly demonstrate value. It’s a strategy that aligns with what we at 3Sixty Insights have identified as a hallmark of successful digital transformation. Read the […]
#HRTechChat: Meredith Reilly on Building Your Advisory Village and Scaling HR Strategically
Small businesses face growing complexity in HR, payroll, and benefits—but too often, leaders carry the burden alone. In this episode of #HRTechChat, Dylan Teggart talks with Meredith Reilly, Chief Sales Officer at isolved, about why it’s time to stop going solo. Meredith shares how modern HR demands strategic partnerships—not just tools—and how activating an “advisory village” can help leaders scale smarter. From tech fluency to cultural alignment, they break down what today’s HR advisors must bring to the table. If you’re still treating vendors as service providers, you’re missing the point. Tune in to learn how synergy, not solo effort, drives results. Our #HRTechChat Series is also available as a podcast on the following platforms: WRKdefined: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/3sixty-insights-hrtechchat Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3sixty-insights/id1555291436?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hXSgrFWXwvJqPbnKunztv SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-965220588 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6aDtrRPYoCIrnkeOYZRpAQ/ iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-3sixty-insights-78293678/ Amazon Music […]
Council Guest Post: HR Transformation – Leadership Buy-In and Effective Change Management
Understanding the Cornerstones of Successful HR Transformation Transformation in any organization necessitates a fundamental shift in mindset, processes, and strategies. In the realm of HR transformation, securing leadership buy-in and effectively managing change are pivotal to ensuring the success of any initiative. This article delves into the intricacies of garnering leadership support and the principles of change management that are essential for HR transformation. The Importance of Leadership Buy-In Securing leadership buy-in is critical during HR transformation since leaders set the tone and direction for the rest of the organization. Without their support, even the most meticulously planned initiatives can falter. Leadership buy-in is not merely about obtaining approval; it is about engaging leaders as active advocates and participants in the transformation process. Why Leadership […]
Case Study: How Zions Bank & isolved Empower SMBs – A Case Study on HR, Payroll, and Growth
A 3Sixty Insights Case Study on HR, Payroll, and Growth Discover how Zions Bank partnered with isolved to help small and mid-sized businesses simplify HR, payroll, and workforce management—freeing up leaders to focus on growth. What You’ll Learn: How Zions Bank expanded beyond traditional banking How isolved simplifies compliance, payroll, and HR tasks Real-world outcomes from Zions Bank clients Benefits like time savings, reduced complexity, and stronger client loyalty “These issues weren’t just operational. They were strategic.”— Steve Stacey, SVP, Zions Bank Download the case study to see how smart partnerships drive business success.

