HFS Research

Day 2 sessions explored moving beyond pilots, measuring real value, and preparing for Industry 5.0 + Physical AI. The HFS Hot Tech Showdown brought live pitches from @covasant_tech, @kognitos_inc, @KnowledgeLake, @OrbitShift_AI & @lyzr__ai, with enterprise leaders voting on the most disruptive AI innovations. The morning closed with @Cognizant CEO @imravikumars and @pfersht on why AI transformation requires structural reinvention, not incremental change. More Day 2 highlights soon.

Day 1 of the HFS Spring Summit 2026 is complete. The focus throughout the day was clear: the gap between AI ambition and enterprise reality is closing fast, and leaders can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines. From @pfersht opening keynote on rebuilding operating models for an AI-first economy to candid conversations on governance, outcomes, token-based economics, and what it takes to scale AI across the enterprise, the discussions pushed far beyond the usual AI talking points. We also heard from @edels0n on how Gen Z is reshaping attention, trust, and decision-making, adding another important dimension to how leaders think about relevance and communication in a changing market. Stay tuned for day 2.

@pfersht opened the HFS Spring Summit 2026 with a clear message: the AI conversation has moved past experimentation. The opening panel, "How to AI: The Leadership Reckoning," didn't hold back; accountability, operating model change, ROI, and where AI ambition meets execution reality. No hype. Just a candid conversation about what it actually takes to lead through this shift. #HFSHowToAI #AI #EnterpriseAI #ServicesAsSoftware #AgenticAI

@edels0n just took the stage at the HFS Spring Summit 2026 on one of the biggest challenges facing brands today: connecting with Gen Z. Attention spans. Trust. The platforms and messages that actually land. Ed broke down what leaders need to rethink as Gen Z's economic power keeps growing. More insights from the Summit dropping shortly. #HFSHowToAI #GenZ #Leadership #ConsumerTrends

Proud to have @HFSResearch President @saurabh_hfs speak at @aopshow Catalyst San Francisco alongside leaders shaping the future of procurement. #AOPCatalyst #Procurement #HFSResearch #EnterpriseAI

Introducing the HFS Data Intelligence Suite. 1,800+ AI deployments. 1,500+ GCC profiles. 500,000+ enterprise data points. Real intelligence for real decisions. Check it out today 👉: hfsresearch.com/data-intellige… #HFSResearch #DataIntelligence

Dana Daher, Executive Research Leader at HFS, on the shift from AI momentum to real impact. The question now: how do you embed AI to drive lasting value? Join leaders tackling what it actually takes. Apply Today: hfsevents.com/ereg/newreg.ph… #HowToAI #DigitalLeadership

Joel Martin, Chief Research Officer at HFS, on why #HowToAI is about one thing: execution. No more pilots. No more hype. Real operating model change for real AI outcomes. If you’re accountable for AI value, this is your room. Apply: hfsevents.com/ereg/newreg.ph… #EnterpriseAI #AIExecution

1,500+ leading GCCs. But almost no visibility into how they’re evolving. That’s about to change. May 5 #GCC #EnterpriseStrategy

AI. GCCs. Enterprise investment. What’s actually working and what isn’t? You’ll see it soon. Launching May 5 #Benchmarking #HFSResearch

Our CEO, @pfersht, sat down with @akkodis_global CEO @JoDebecker to discuss a shift every services firm is feeling but few are truly acting on. From moving beyond headcount-driven delivery to building AI-led, outcome-based models, Phil and Joe talk about what takes to rethink digital engineering in the AI era. If you’re still measuring value in FTEs, you’re already behind. 🎥 Watch the full conversation: lnkd.in/gWHRpWVq @pfersht, @saurabh_hfs, @ram_hfs, @AshVenkatesan, @JoDebecker hashtag#AI hashtag#DigitalEngineering hashtag#EnterpriseAI hashtag#FutureOfWork hashtag#DigitalTransformation hashtag#Innovation

We’ve analyzed 1,800+ real AI deployments. Most don’t deliver what was expected. We’ll show you what actually works. May 5. #AI #DataIntelligence

May 5 · HFS × AOP The working session on AI and the procurement operating model. Apply to attend → artofprocurement.com/catalyst-san-f…

Most procurement teams aren't failing at AI. They're just stuck in pilot purgatory. On May 5, @artofprocurement is putting procurement leaders in a room to fix that. Apply to attend → artofprocurement.com/catalyst-san-f…

Most firms are stuck between AI ambition and real outcomes. The gap isn’t tech. It’s leadership. Learn how to scale AI, build trust, and drive value. 📅 April 21 | 10–11 AM EDT 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: lnkd.in/efqtGjZw 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: lnkd.in/gqHaFcYD #AI #EnterpriseAI #Leadership

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 The latest episode of From the Horse's Mouth saw @JulieSweet , Chair and CEO of @Accenture, in conversation with @pfersht on why too many discussions focus on AI for productivity. AI is about much more than cost cutting. Its real value lies in becoming an engine for reinvention. It lies in making the impossible possible. The full episode is available now: Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7zvypq… YouTube: open.spotify.com/episode/7zvypq… #AI #EnterpriseAI #DigitalTransformation #Leadership

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 In the latest episode of From the Horse's Mouth, @JulieSweet joins @pfersht to discuss why this moment feels different to previous technology waves. Previously, entire industries could lag behind together. Today, every industry has leaders pushing ahead. Enterprises simply cannot afford to be complacent, or they will be left behind. 🎧 Full episode: You can’t cut yourself to growth: Phil Fersht with Julie Sweet Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7zvypq… YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=FZAVKz…

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? In the latest episode of From the Horse's Mouth, @pfersht is joined by @JulieSweet , Chair and CEO of @Accenture, to discuss what it really means when AI moves into the core of the enterprise. This isn't another conversation about pilots or hype. They discussed why committing outcomes to the P&L is essential for scale, why entry-level roles must be preserved, and why can't simply be treated as a productivity lever. The real opportunity lies in using AI as a reinvention engine. 🎧 Full episode: You can’t cut yourself to growth: Phil Fersht with Julie Sweet Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7zvypq… YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=FZAVKz… #AI #EnterpriseAI #DigitalTransformation #Leadership