Two in three executives, managers say fragmented systems are holding back their organisations
Fragmented workforce data is slowing decision-making at frontline organisations, with two-thirds of executives and managers saying decisions stall because information is not held in one place, according to new research from Dayforce.
The findings come from a survey of nearly 5,700 frontline workers, managers, and executives across Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, conducted by Hanover Research between 26 March and 13 April 2026.
The report found 67% of executives and managers believe workforce decisions slow down at times because workforce data is not consolidated in a single system. The same research found that only six per cent of executives and managers said transformation is well integrated into how daily work gets done.
Steve Holdridge, president and chief operating officer at Dayforce, warned that disconnected workforce data can leave the burden on managers.
"When workforce data and workflows are disconnected, managers spend too much time searching for answers and not enough time acting on them," Holdridge said.
On a separate blog post, Holdridge cited as an example the case for scheduling decisions, which he said depend on availability, skills, pay rules, overtime exposure, and development needs.
"For frontline managers, those factors come together in real time. But in many organisations, the systems that support those decisions are still fragmented," he said in the blog post.
"That creates friction exactly when speed and clarity are most needed. Managers spend time gathering information, checking different tools, and filling in gaps before they can act."
The COO said this is "more than an efficiency issue," pointing out that the disconnect affects how quickly organisations can respond, how consistently teams execute, and how confidently leaders can manage change.
"People do their best work when they have the information and guidance they need in the moments when decisions are made," Holdridge said in another statement.
Will AI help?
Holdridge said the data fragmentation problem becomes more acute as organisations look to artificial intelligence to improve frontline performance.
"AI can't solve a fragmented operating environment on its own," Holdridge said in the blog post. "If workforce data is scattered across systems, if processes vary by location, or if managers still have to reconcile information manually before they can act, AI will have limited impact."
The report argues that connecting time, pay, skills, scheduling, and workforce planning in a single platform gives managers the context needed to act quickly and consistently, particularly during periods of operational pressure.
"The organisations best positioned for what comes next won't simply launch more initiatives," Holdridge said. "They'll make daily work easier to understand, manage, and change."
