HR Tech Churn in 2026 – How HR Leaders Can Navigate Change

HR technology continues to evolve rapidly, and many organizations are reevaluating the systems that power their people strategy. The latest 2025–2026 Sapient Insights HR Systems Survey reveals significant HR tech churn, with payroll at the very top of the replacement list, followed closely by benefits, talent management, and analytics tools. For HR leaders, the challenge is clear: deciding whether to replace, optimize, or better integrate current systems — all while maintaining compliance and supporting employees.

In this session, we’ll explore the latest research on HR tech churns and its implications for organizations in 2026. We’ll discuss practical strategies to evaluate current platforms, identify when replacement is the right move, and stabilize operations during periods of transition. Real-world examples will highlight how HR leaders successfully navigated system changes — or avoided unnecessary disruption by maximizing what they already had.

Key Takeaways:

• What the latest research reveals about HR tech churn across payroll, benefits, and talent systems.
• Why payroll tops the list of planned replacements in 2026.
• How to evaluate whether to replace, optimize, or integrate existing systems.
• Practical strategies to stabilize operations and avoid disruption during HR tech transitions.
• How HR leaders can prepare their organizations for the next wave of HR technology change.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze current HR technology churn trends and identify which HR systems are most at risk of replacement in 2026.
2. Differentiate between scenarios where system replacement, optimization, or integration is the most effective strategy.
3. Apply best practices to stabilize payroll and HR operations during system transitions.

Prepare an action plan for evaluating and prioritizing HR technology investments to meet future organizational needs.