A significant number of healthcare employers continue to rely on outdated workforce systems and manual processes, limiting their ability to fully implement artificial intelligence and workforce transformation, according to new research from Strada.
The Workforce Possibility Report 2026 found that 84% of healthcare employers maintain backup systems, spreadsheets, or legacy processes alongside their primary Human Capital Management (HCM) platform. The report notes that these disconnected processes increase administrative burdens, lead to inconsistent workforce data, and hinder the ability of leaders to gain real-time insights into staffing levels and labour costs.
Technological fragmentation remains a widespread issue, with nearly two-thirds (66%) of healthcare organisations utilising multiple systems to manage HR, payroll, benefits, and finance operations. Only 27% of organisations reported having a fully cloud-based HCM architecture.
The findings suggest that many healthcare providers have not yet established the connected technology foundation necessary to support automation and AI. The research emphasises the need for organisations to maximise their cloud HCM investments by reducing complexity and eliminating manual workarounds.
The report highlights that while AI has the potential to improve workforce planning and reduce administrative burdens, its effectiveness is dependent on the quality of the underlying data. Simplifying existing technology and creating a single, trusted source of workforce data is seen as a critical step for the sector.
Strada’s research was based on an independent survey of 405 senior decision makers in organisations with more than 1,000 employees across seven global markets.
