HRIS & Payroll
Ascend is an exclusive UKG services partner — formed from the merger of HRMS Solutions and ATS Management Consulting — that implements and supports UKG Pro, WFM, and Ready for mid-market and enterprise customers across North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HRIS & Payroll does
Ascend, Inc. is an exclusive UKG services partner operating as a subsidiary of Argano, a diversified parent group. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, the company was formed through the merger of HRMS Solutions and ATS Management Consulting, two established UKG implementation firms, and now operates as one of the largest exclusive UKG services partners in North America, fielding 130+ certified consultants and 300+ active client projects. Its entire service portfolio is anchored on three UKG platforms — UKG Pro Suite, UKG Workforce Management, and UKG Ready — which it does not own but implements, optimizes, and supports on behalf of clients.
The company monetizes through two primary revenue streams: professional services (launch implementation, client-side advisory, post go-live optimization, strategic consulting, and training) and managed payroll services, where Ascend's certified payroll experts run day-to-day payroll operations for clients. Engagements are quote-based and structured as multi-year enterprise contracts targeting both mid-market and enterprise organizations across verticals including energy, government contracting, food and beverage, and business services. Distribution is anchored by direct enterprise field sales, supplemented by the UKG Marketplace listing and the UKG Partner Network referral channel, with demand-generation supported by a multi-channel content program spanning blogs, gated reports, webinars, and social media.
Recognition signals include the 2024 UKG Partner of the Year award, a 2024 Inc. 5000 listing as one of America's fastest-growing private companies, and Great Place to Work / Top Workplaces certifications. Ascend's competitive position is built on UKG exclusivity, a credentialed consulting bench, and recurring managed-services revenue, though no proprietary technology, APIs, patents, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed in the source data.
HRIS & Payroll firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HRIS & Payroll
- Legal name
- Ascend, Inc.
- Website
- https://hrmssolutions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Ascend is an exclusive UKG services partner — formed from the merger of HRMS Solutions and ATS Management Consulting — that implements and supports UKG Pro, WFM, and Ready for mid-market and enterprise customers across North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HRIS & Payroll industry classification
Industry- Product category
- HCM Implementation Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB)
Keywords
Where HRIS & Payroll is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HRIS & Payroll business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Services: Implementation, consulting, training, and strategic services for UKG products. Revenue generated through service engagements with certified consultants for UKG Pro, WFM, and Ready implementations.
- Managed Payroll Services: Ongoing payroll administration and management services where certified payroll experts maintain client payroll cycles and handle day-to-day payroll operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise engagements - quote-based |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
HRIS & Payroll product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ascend is an exclusive UKG services partner that delivers end-to-end implementation, managed payroll, and strategic support services for the UKG Pro Suite, UKG Workforce Management, and UKG Ready platforms. Offerings span launch implementation, client-side advisory, post-go-live optimization, premier dedicated resource support, managed payroll administration, strategic consulting, training, and BI reporting for mid-market and enterprise organizations.
Product overview
Ascend is a premier UKG services partner offering a services portfolio centered around three core UKG platforms: UKG Pro Suite, UKG Workforce Management, and UKG Ready. The company provides implementation and support services across the entire UKG product family, serving mid-market and enterprise organizations. The services architecture comprises implementation launch services, client-side support, post go-live optimization, Premier dedicated resources, and managed payroll services. Strategic, training, and reporting services complement the core offerings to provide comprehensive UKG ecosystem support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Launch Implementation End-to-end implementation of UKG solutions (UKG Pro Suite, WFM, Ready) deployed on time, on budget, and with strong organizational adoption. For mid-market and enterprise customers undertaking a new UKG deployment.
- Client-Side Support Advisory and guidance for new UKG customers during launch, providing practitioner-level experience, industry expertise, and a proven implementation approach.
- Post Go-Live Post go-live optimization that drives long-term UKG system success by improving utilization, strengthening user adoption, increasing data visibility, and supporting organizational change.
- Premier Services Dedicated Ascend resources acting as a one-stop hub for all UKG-related needs, continuously improving and maximizing user adoption to extract full value from the UKG investment.
- Managed Payroll Full-service payroll administration in which certified payroll experts maintain payroll cycles and schedules, adapt to organizational needs, deliver step-by-step account management, and handle payroll operations end to end.
- Strategic Services Strategic support through comprehensive methodologies covering change management, client-side implementation support, and annual system wellness checks.
- Training and Education Expertly designed training plans and programs aligned with organizational needs to increase time-to-value and improve UKG system utilization and user adoption.
- BI Reports and Analytics Supplemental BI reporting and analytics services that assess UKG system health, accelerate onboarding, and enhance reporting capabilities for organizations new to UKG or taking over existing deployments.
- Health Assessments Supplemental assessment services that evaluate current UKG system health, identify improvement areas, and help organizations plan where they want to go with their UKG deployment.
- Talent Interviewing and HCM Advisory & Vendor Evaluation Supplemental services providing talent interviewing support and HCM advisory plus vendor evaluation guidance for organizations assessing or changing HCM platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- 300+ active projects demonstrate scale and trust in Ascend's UKG implementation capabilities
Companies that use HRIS & Payroll
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HRIS & Payroll technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
HRIS & Payroll partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group)flagshipAscend is an exclusive UKG services partner and certified UKG partner listed on the UKG Marketplace. The company specializes exclusively in UKG Pro, WFM, and Ready implementations, offering launch implementation, managed payroll, strategic services, and post-live support. Ascend was named 2024 UKG Partner of the Year, demonstrating highest partnership status.
- ArganocoreAscend is an Argano company, operating as a subsidiary or business unit within the larger Argano organization. Argano is referenced as the parent company on Ascend's website.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HRIS & Payroll competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Accenture: Accenture operates a global HCM and cloud ERP implementation practice that includes UKG, Workday, and Oracle. It competes for large enterprise UKG deals — particularly those requiring global delivery — that Ascend's North America-only footprint cannot address.
- Cognizant: Cognizant's Enterprise Application Services practice implements and supports HCM platforms including UKG and Workday for mid-market and enterprise clients globally. Its offshore-enabled delivery model competes with Ascend on cost-sensitive UKG implementation projects.
- KPMG: KPMG's advisory practice includes enterprise HCM and payroll transformation services across multiple platforms including UKG. It competes with Ascend on mid-market and enterprise UKG deals, particularly those with compliance or change-management complexity.
- PwC: PwC's People & Organization practice delivers HCM/payroll transformation work for enterprise clients, including UKG engagements. As a Big 4 firm, it competes for the same enterprise HR transformation budgets as Ascend, typically on larger, more complex programs.
- Deloitte: Deloitte's Human Capital practice delivers large-scale HCM and payroll transformation including UKG, Workday, and SAP SuccessFactors implementations. As a Big 4 incumbent, it competes for the same enterprise UKG deals but bundles them into broader transformation programs.
- IBM Consulting: IBM Consulting delivers large-scale HR transformation and ERP/HCM implementations for global enterprises, often as part of broader cloud transformation programs. It overlaps with Ascend in the enterprise UKG segment where bundled transformation deals are pursued.
Direct peers
- OneSource Virtual: OneSource Virtual is a closely comparable services firm that built its business as an exclusive Workday/HCM partner offering managed services, implementation, and post-live support to mid-market and enterprise customers. Its business model, single-platform exclusivity, and managed services orientation closely mirror Ascend's UKG-focused approach.
- Slalom: Slalom operates a sizable HCM/Workday/UKG implementation practice serving mid-market and enterprise clients with a delivery model centered on local-market consultants. It competes directly with Ascend for UKG and adjacent HCM transformation budgets.
- Baker Tilly: Baker Tilly runs an HCM technology services practice that implements and supports platforms including UKG and Workday for mid-market clients. Its consulting-led HCM delivery model and customer overlap make it a direct competitor for UKG implementation deals.
- Crowe: Crowe provides HCM/payroll implementation and managed services through its consulting practice, competing for similar mid-market and enterprise HR transformation engagements as Ascend, with comparable UKG and competing platform delivery capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HRIS & Payroll social profiles
Digital presenceHRIS & Payroll financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HRIS & Payroll leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
HRIS & Payroll funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HRIS & Payroll M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HRIS & Payroll
What does HRIS & Payroll do?
Ascend is an exclusive UKG services partner that delivers end-to-end implementation, managed payroll, and strategic support services for the UKG Pro Suite, UKG Workforce Management, and UKG Ready platforms. Offerings span launch implementation, client-side advisory, post-go-live optimization, premier dedicated resource support, managed payroll administration, strategic consulting, training, and BI reporting for mid-market and enterprise organizations.
Is HRIS & Payroll a public or private company?
HRIS & Payroll is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was HRIS & Payroll founded?
HRIS & Payroll was founded in 2003.
Where is HRIS & Payroll based?
HRIS & Payroll is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does HRIS & Payroll make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Professional Services are the primary driver. The others are managed Payroll Services.
Who are HRIS & Payroll's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Accenture, Cognizant, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and IBM Consulting. Direct peers are OneSource Virtual, Slalom, Baker Tilly and Crowe.
Does HRIS & Payroll have an API?
No public API is recorded for HRIS & Payroll.
What industry is HRIS & Payroll in?
HRIS & Payroll's product category is HCM Implementation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAIAB, Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.