Last month, we hosted Zellis Connect 2025 – our annual conference bringing together HR and payroll leaders to explore the latest trends, innovations, and ideas shaping the future of work.
Couldn’t join us? Here are the highlights…
One platform, endless possibilities: Introducing ZellisONE
We kicked off the day with two big announcements: the launch of ZellisONE, our new AI-enabled platform that unifies HR, pay, financial wellbeing, talent, workforce management, and benefits, and the launch of ZellisONE Pay, our pay-only solution in the new platform.
Attendees were given an exclusive look at how ZellisONE supports every stage of the employee lifecycle – from hiring and onboarding to scheduling, absence management, earned wage access, and beyond – empowering organisations to:
- Hire smarter, faster
- Engage and retain employees
- Unlock productivity
- Empower decision-making
- And, most importantly, free HR and payroll teams to focus on people, culture, and strategy
It became clear that the value of the platform goes beyond its technical capabilities. ZellisONE offers a new and improved way of working, enabling organisations to simplify processes, make smarter decisions, and ultimately become the best versions of themselves.
Our event speakers
Following the morning’s exciting announcements, we were joined by a series of expert speakers who explored some of the biggest challenges and opportunities in HR and payroll today:
Unlocking organisational value beyond compensation
In this session, Chief Innovation Officer, Gethin Nadin, examined the growing importance of employee benefits and benefits technology for both wellbeing and performance.
He showed how industries with large deskless workforces are now among the fastest-growing adopters of benefits, and how employees are increasingly turning to their employers – rather than the state – for support during uncertain times. The message was clear: strong benefits strategies, powered by the right technology, not only support employees, but also create measurable organisational value.
Rethinking pay as a strategic advantage
Nick Clarke, Director of Product Management, explored how payroll is more than a back-office process, it is a driver of trust, wellbeing, and financial confidence. He went on to demonstrate how innovations such as intelligent payslips and earned wage access are reshaping the pay experience, giving organisations new ways to support their people and create strategic value.
Unlocking hidden value through people-led transformation
In his session on workforce management, Leigh Joynson, Senior Customer Success Manager, was joined by Lee Vallett, People Systems Manager at Five Guys UK, to discuss the value of people-led transformation. Attendees saw first-hand how smarter scheduling, forecasting, and optimisation can streamline operations and improve employee experiences – even in fast-paced, high-volume environments.
Transforming work through technology
Steve Elcock, Director of Product – AI & HCM – discussed how technology, remote work, and shifting employee expectations are reshaping the workplace. His focus on AI and automation resonated strongly with the audience – especially when he demoed ELLA, Zellis’ Embedded Large Language Assistant. From checking holiday balances to generating workforce insights, ELLA showed how AI can free HR teams from administrative burdens to focus on conversations, coaching, and culture – the very things that draw people into this profession in the first place.
Lessons in leadership: Dame Inga Beale
To close the day, we were privileged to hear from Dame Inga Beale, former CEO of Lloyd’s of London, who shared her story of leading one of the UK’s most historic institutions through digital transformation.
Using the metaphor of a three-person tandem bike – with “greens” pedalling passionately, “ambers” going along for the ride, and “reds” dragging their feet – Dame Inga reminded us that transformation succeeds not by ignoring resistance, but by engaging with it. Her message was clear: progress isn’t just about technology or systems, it’s about people feeling supported, connected, and part of the journey.
It was the perfect reflection to end the day, reinforcing the central theme of Zellis Connect: that the future of work is all about supporting your people – empowering them to unlimit what’s next.
What’s next for HR and Pay?
Zellis Connect 2025 reinforced just how fast the world of work is evolving – and the central role HR and payroll professionals are playing in shaping it.
We’re especially excited to see how ZellisONE will help organisations unlimit what’s next – bringing together HR, pay, workforce management, talent, and benefits into one AI-enabled platform. By cutting through complexity and unifying the people experience, it opens up new possibilities for organisations and the employees they support.
