UKG continues to make bold moves in its transformation from a traditional HR software provider to what CEO Jennifer Morgan calls an “AI-first workforce platform.” The latest evidence: UKG’s acquisition of Shiftboard, a leading employee scheduling solutions provider for mission-critical operations in oil and gas, energy, and manufacturing industries.
Announced June 2, the acquisition brings approximately 50 employees and a customer base of more than 500 organizations — including industry giants like BASF, Bridgestone, Daisy Brand, and Shell — into UKG’s expanding ecosystem.
Why Shiftboard Makes Sense
The acquisition was completed on May 30, with Shiftboard’s Seattle-based team bringing their domain expertise into UKG’s growing organization. The move aligns perfectly with UKG’s renewed focus on what they know best: understanding and empowering frontline workers.
Shiftboard’s platform addresses the complex scheduling challenges that plague heavily regulated industries. According to customer surveys, the Shiftboard platform resolves up to 90% of daily workforce scheduling challenges through intelligent automation that creates adaptive, employee-friendly schedules.
“For hundreds of organizations navigating some of the most intensely regulated industries, Shiftboard’s industry-leading employee scheduling engine has been a game changer,” said Rachel Barger, UKG’s president of go-to-market. The acquisition will integrate Shiftboard’s industry-specific scheduling platform with UKG Pro Workforce Management, allowing UKG to extend its AI-first suite experience deeper into key growth sectors by leading with a scheduling engine that excels at aligning labor/staffing/flexibility with near-term changes to production demand.
The Bigger Strategic Picture
UKG is moving from being product-centric to customer-centric, organizing around what they call the full employee lifecycle in four stages: Plan, Engage, Schedule, and Pay. Shiftboard directly strengthens the “Schedule” pillar, particularly for industries where scheduling complexity can make or break operational success.
Shiftboard’s deep domain expertise in heavily regulated industries provides the perfect testing ground for AI innovations. The platform’s ability to handle complex compliance requirements, union regulations, and fatigue management while maintaining operational continuity gives UKG a sophisticated foundation to build upon.
Looking Ahead
As UKG continues building what Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Hodges calls their position in the “whitespace” of workplace understanding, the Shiftboard acquisition provides immediate value and long-term strategic positioning.
The integration of Shiftboard’s industry-specific scheduling engine with UKG’s AI-powered workforce management suite creates a compelling value proposition for organizations in intensely regulated sectors.
More importantly, it demonstrates UKG’s commitment to solving real-world problems for the frontline workers who keep critical operations running. The Shiftboard acquisition is another step toward UKG’s stated goal of fundamentally changing how people work.
