Tech Mahindra deepens UKG partnership in North America

Tech Mahindra has partnered with UKG on workforce software and services for businesses in North America.

Under the deal, Tech Mahindra will deploy the UKG Workforce Operating Platform for its own employees and expand its UKG services practice for customers. It will implement, integrate and support the platform for global enterprises, with a particular focus on small and mid-market organisations in IT, retail, manufacturing and services.

The partnership builds on a relationship that has lasted nearly a decade in enterprise service and support. It also gives Tech Mahindra a larger role in selling and delivering UKG's workforce products as companies seek software that connects human resources, payroll and workforce management.

Tech Mahindra, which describes itself as a USD $6.5 billion technology consultancy, operates in more than 90 countries and employs more than 147,000 people. UKG says its software is used by more than 80,000 organisations across 150 countries.

North America focus

The initial emphasis will be on North American customers, especially smaller and mid-sized businesses. The companies identified industries with large frontline workforces as a target, citing demand for systems that can manage staffing, pay, onboarding and day-to-day workforce administration on a single platform.

For Tech Mahindra, the arrangement combines an internal software deployment with a services expansion. By using the UKG platform within its own business, it is positioning the rollout as a reference point for clients considering similar projects.

The move also reflects a broader push by technology and consulting groups to tie artificial intelligence tools to routine business software. In workforce management, that often means using automation and analytics for recruitment, scheduling, onboarding, payroll processes and labour planning.

Sumit Kumar Popli outlined Tech Mahindra's view of that demand.

"As organizations navigate increasingly dynamic workforce environments, they need intelligent and scalable solutions that improve agility, enhance employee experience, and drive stronger business outcomes. Our partnership with UKG brings together deep transformation expertise and advanced workforce innovation to help enterprises address frontline workforce challenges with greater confidence. By expanding our UKG practice, we aim to help enterprises accelerate their adoption of the UKG platform through seamless implementation and integration. At the same time, we are deploying UKG within our own organization to lead by example and drive meaningful workforce transformation at scale," said Sumit Kumar Popli, President - Technology, Media and Entertainment (TME) Business, Tech Mahindra.

Services expansion

Tech Mahindra plans to deepen its UKG-related consulting and support work as part of the tie-up. That includes implementation and integration services around the UKG Workforce Operating Platform, which UKG markets as a system combining HR, pay and workforce management.

It also wants to help clients reshape hire-to-retire processes, a term used in the software industry to describe employee administration from recruitment to departure. In practice, this can include onboarding, payroll accuracy, talent mobility and broader workforce planning.

For UKG, the partnership extends delivery through a global consulting partner with an established enterprise customer base. For software providers, such alliances can be an important route into mid-market and larger accounts because implementation and change management often determine whether a customer adopts a system widely.

Jay Dettling, Chief Partner Officer at UKG, said the company viewed Tech Mahindra as both a delivery partner and a user of its platform.

"We are excited to deepen our partnership with Tech Mahindra, a globally respected technology consultancy with proven enterprise delivery expertise. Tech Mahindra's decision to both grow its UKG services capabilities and deploy our Workforce Operating Platform builds on our global momentum and growth strategy. Together, we will help organizations better support their frontline employees while driving operational excellence," said Jay Dettling, Chief Partner Officer, UKG.

The agreement comes as software suppliers and IT services firms compete for spending on workforce systems, an area shaped by labour shortages, rising compliance demands and the need to manage dispersed staff more consistently. Companies with large frontline operations, particularly in retail, manufacturing and services, have been a key market for tools that combine scheduling, pay and employee data in one system.

For Tech Mahindra, the partnership adds another layer to its enterprise applications and consulting portfolio. For UKG, it extends a channel model that relies on service partners to install and support its products at scale. Both companies said their collaboration will continue to focus on enterprise service and support alongside the broader rollout of workforce software.