NAPEO's 2026 Annual Conference & Marketplace draws over 1,000 PEO professionals, partners, and vendors. Here's what we're watching this year, from AI in service delivery to the integration questions shaping how PEOs choose their tech partners.
NAPEO's Annual Conference & Marketplace is the PEO industry's biggest gathering, and this year it heads to Marco Island from September 16 to 18. Over 1,000 attendees are expected, including more than 475 from PEO companies themselves. As a company that's spent years embedded in this industry, including integrations with four major PEO software platforms, we'll be there talking hiring technology and listening for what's top of mind. Here's what we expect to hear a lot about.
AI has been a conference talking point for a few years now, but the conversation is shifting. Sessions this year are less about what AI could theoretically do and more about how PEOs are actually using it in client service, from automated support to smarter data matching. In hiring specifically, this shows up as AI-assisted screening and candidate matching built directly into applicant tracking workflows. We expect this to be one of the most discussed topics on the show floor.
With more than 7,400 local tax jurisdictions in the U.S. and continued expansion of paid family and medical leave laws, staying compliant across state lines has become a genuine differentiator for PEOs. This complexity extends beyond payroll into hiring itself, as recruiting and onboarding across multiple states each with their own rules adds real operational weight for PEOs and their clients.
The PEO industry keeps consolidating, and that's changing what finance and operations leaders look for in a technology partner. When companies merge or scale quickly, they need infrastructure that can integrate fast rather than force a rebuild. This is pushing vendor evaluation criteria toward compatibility and speed of implementation.
PEOs and their clients are tired of managing disconnected systems. When a hiring tool, a payroll platform, and a benefits system don't talk to each other, someone ends up doing manual data entry or living with gaps. We hear this directly in conversations with prospects, and it's a big reason we've built and maintained integrations with four major PEO software platforms. Compatibility with the systems a PEO already runs has moved from a nice-to-have to one of the first questions buyers ask.
We'll be on the trade show floor at booth #407 and happy to talk through how our ATS fits into your existing PEO software setup. Stop by, or reach out ahead of time if you'd like to set up a conversation.
HiringThing is a modern recruiting platform as a service that creates seamless talent experiences. Our white label solutions and open API enable HR technology businesses to offer hiring and onboarding to their clients. Approachable and adaptable, the platform empowers anyone, anywhere to build their dream team.