AI and the human advantage: Adecco Group’s AI skilling strategy fuels productivity with Microsoft Copilot

The Adecco Group is on a mission to make the future work for everyone. As a global leader in workforce solutions operating in more than 60 countries, the company connects millions of people with job opportunities each year, providing recruitment, upskilling, and career transition services. Recognizing AI’s rapid evolution and its impact on the job market, The Adecco Group saw a need to prepare its workforce—and the millions of job seekers it serves—for an AI-driven future. The challenge was twofold: Externally, it sought to equip job seekers and candidates with the necessary AI skills to remain relevant in a shifting labor market, while internally, it needed its workforce to effectively adopt and apply AI across all business operations. To meet this dual challenge, the organization launched a comprehensive initiative aimed at developing AI proficiency at every level, ensuring both employees and candidates are ready for the evolving world of work. “We believe AI must be human-centric,” says Serge Shine, Global Head of Sales at LHH, The Adecco Group’s talent and workforce transformation business. “It’s not just about improving efficiency; it’s about how we serve our clients and candidates better while keeping people at the center of everything we do.”

Future-proofing the workforce with AI and continuous learning

The Adecco Group’s AI strategy focuses on four key areas: sales and demand generation, operational efficiency, product development, and customer experience. AI is embedded across the organization, from internal operations to external client services. Its Recruiter GenAI suite—an AI-driven recruitment platform that automates resume screening and candidate matching—optimizes these processes, allowing recruiters to focus more on engaging with clients and candidates. The company also deploys tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot to streamline internal operations, particularly in recruitment, and enhance client interactions. With Copilot, employees automate administrative tasks, generate content, and refine decision-making processes, freeing time for more strategic work. 

Brian McCabe, VP of Communication Operations at The Adecco Group, relies on Copilot to streamline content creation and communication tasks, particularly within Microsoft Viva. “Copilot has become my right hand,” he says. “It supports me daily, whether I’m refining messaging for Viva Engage or drafting an influencer strategy. By continuously optimizing how I interact with it, I get more and more value.”

For its customer experience-focused goals, The Adecco Group has also developed specialized AI-driven solutions, including Ezra CAI, a digital coaching assistant within its coaching platform Ezra, which provides personalized support to professionals between live coaching sessions. Additionally, the company’s LHH offers Career Studio, an AI-powered environment designed to help candidates manage career transitions, offering personalized career planning, targeted resources, and interactive interview preparation. And the AI-powered CV transforms candidate conversations into polished, professional CVs, giving thousands a head-start in their career journey.

The Adecco Group is transforming its business by deeply embedding AI across strategic initiatives to achieve clear business objectives. To ensure successful AI adoption, the company prioritizes employee skilling through its internal AI operations team, Spark AI, a team that aligns directly with these goals, including improving internal operations and supporting innovation across services while educating employees on AI, ethical principles, and real-world applications. By offering continuous skilling, education, and training—ranging from live sessions and microlearning modules to AI-powered chatbots for real-time support—The Adecco Group equips its workforce to leverage AI tools effectively, fostering a culture of ongoing learning and practical application. “One of the biggest challenges in AI adoption is the gap between technology’s rapid advancement and employees’ ability to use it effectively,” Shine explains. “That’s why we focus not just on deploying AI but on ensuring our workforce has the skills and confidence to use it.”

To support internal enablement, The Adecco Group created the AI Influencer Community, where employees engage with AI experts, share use cases, and explore best practices. In parallel, the company collaborated with Microsoft and worked closely with its Akkodis Tech Academy, (a Microsoft Training Services Partner), on AI upskilling programs. These efforts have been deployed in 12 countries, training more than 12,000 employees in AI fundamentals, data analytics, and other critical digital skills, helping teams work more efficiently, support evolving client needs, and contribute to solution development. “AI is reshaping industries, and we’re helping our employees and clients stay ahead,” says Caroline Basyn, Chief Digital and Information Officer at The Adecco Group. “Every customer we meet asks how we’re using AI internally and how we can help them do the same. Equipping our teams with AI skills ensures we can have those conversations with confidence.”

AI skilling driving real-world impact

The Adecco Group’s AI skilling initiatives have had measurable impact. By using the Recruiter GenAI suite, recruiters have increased their productivity by 63%, allowing them to spend more time engaging with clients and candidates. The CV Maker has produced over 200,000 resumes, and more than 35,000 employees have completed responsible AI training, ensuring ethical adoption and equipping them to apply AI in their daily workflows. ”I see a future where it’s the human and the AI working side-by-side together,” says McCabe. “I try to take more of a utopian view, where we’re working towards a future where we work less, and I see AI as the great enabler of that that.”

As AI continues to evolve, The Adecco Group remains committed to leading the way, ensuring its workforce is prepared for the opportunities ahead. By investing in AI skilling at scale and drawing on Microsoft’s expertise, the company is not just adapting to change—it’s molding the future of work. “AI isn’t replacing the human element—it’s amplifying it,” says Megan Wickens, Global Head of AI Operations at The Adecco Group. “By embedding AI into our workflows, we’re empowering people to work smarter, solve complex challenges, and drive innovation.”