Zalaris named a Leader in NelsonHall's HR Transformation Services NEAT 2026

NelsonHall's NEAT evaluation measures vendors across two dimensions: how well they deliver real, immediate value to clients today, and how well they are positioned to meet clients' future needs. Only vendors that score highly on both axes reach the Leaders quadrant. For Zalaris, this dual recognition signals something important: clients are not just getting results now - they are partnering with a company that is built for what comes next. 

A clear upward trajectory 

This result is the culmination of years of deliberate investment - in people, platform, and methodology. Zalaris has grown from a Nordic payroll specialist into a full-service HR transformation partner with a stronghold in EMEA, operating across 25 countries and serving approximately 2 million employees on behalf of around 620 clients every month. Clients choose Zalaris not only for the depth of its technology, but for something harder to replicate: a genuinely European company culture that values flexibility, long-term relationships, and the willingness to adapt to each client's unique needs. A dedicated AI innovation team ensures that cutting-edge capabilities move quickly from concept to client reality, making Zalaris a future-ready partner. The 2026 NEAT result reflects that journey - and the ambition that drives what comes next. 

"Being named a Leader in both EMEA and Overall is something the entire Zalaris team is proud of," said Hans-Petter Mellerud, CEO of Zalaris. "But what matters most to us is not the recognition itself - it is what it represents. It proves that our clients are getting real value, that our platform delivers, and that our approach works. At Zalaris, we don't just implement systems and hand over the keys. We stay. From the first conversation about requirements, through go-live, and deep into business as usual - we are there. One Partner, one team, accountable from setup to services, from technology to outcomes. And as we expand into new markets and embed AI deeper into everything we do, that commitment only grows stronger." 

What sets Zalaris apart 

Zalaris operates at the intersection of deep local expertise and scalable global delivery. With 25 years of HR and payroll domain knowledge, Zalaris combines the precision of a specialist with the reach of a global partner. 

At the heart of Zalaris' delivery is PeopleHub - a proprietary HR platform, designed to unify payroll, time, talent, and expenses in a single employee experience. PeopleHub can support clients across more than 150 countries and is backed by SAP compliance guarantees through at least 2040. Paired with a market-leading implementation methodology Zalaris has redefined what a fast, low-friction HR transformation looks like. The result is a delivery model that places far less manual burden on the client, introduces better-structured approval gates throughout the project, and enables go-lives in as little as eight weeks. With AI-powered requirements gathering, agile delivery principles, and change management embedded from day one, clients reach value faster - and with far less disruption - than traditional implementation approaches allow. 

AI is no longer a roadmap item at Zalaris - it is live and delivering. From the Zally virtual assistant to AI-driven payroll validation, automated helpdesk translation across multiple languages, and the MyPayslip platform that lets employees understand and simulate their own pay, Zalaris is making HR smarter at every touchpoint. 

For organisations that want to modernise without disruption, Zalaris also offers Global Capability Centre models - including build-operate-transfer and build-own-operate-transfer structures - giving clients a path to world-class HR operations without having to build from scratch. 

"Zalaris' recognition as a Leader in both the EMEA and Overall market segments in our 2026 NEAT reflects a company that is both innovative and driving high-performance HR outcomes," said Elizabeth Rennie, HR & Talent Transformation Research Director at NelsonHall. "Their ability to combine strong European compliance depth with a forward-looking AI agenda and a methodology that accelerates time to value makes them a credible choice for organisations navigating complex, multi-country HR and Payroll environments." 

Building for what's next 

Zalaris entered 2026 with clear momentum - full-year 2025 revenues grew 11.7% year-on-year to  NOK 1,503.2 million - and an ambitious roadmap ahead. New market expansions across Benelux, Italy, Portugal, and beyond the European border into Chile, the U.S., and Canada are underway, with a long-term goal of supporting clients across all G20 countries. 

This trajectory reflects more than geographic growth - it reinforces Zalaris' role as a true One Partner for HR & Payroll. By combining end-to-end accountability with deep local expertise and scalable global delivery, Zalaris continues to offer clients a single, trusted partner across their entire HR transformation journey - without losing the local depth and client intimacy that has defined it for 25 years. 

Contacts

Hans-Petter Mellerud, CEO and founder Zalaris
Contact

About NelsonHall 

NelsonHall is the world's leading analyst firm dedicated to helping organisations understand the "art of the possible" in digital operations transformation. With analysts in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, NelsonHall provides buy-side organisations with detailed, critical information on markets and vendors - including NEAT assessments - that enables fast and highly informed sourcing decisions. NelsonHall conducts rigorous primary research and is widely respected for the quality, depth, and insight of its analysis. 

About Zalaris 

Zalaris is a leading provider of Global Payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, delivering services to over 2 million employees each month and generating annual revenues exceeding €130 million. With a team of more than 1,200 experienced consultants across 18 countries, we support organisations in over 150 countries worldwide through a unified, cloud-based system.

Our mission is to simplify HR and payroll operations, providing scalable solutions that streamline administration and deliver actionable insights. By empowering organisations to focus more on their people, we help drive strategic growth and long-term value.

To learn more, visit zalaris.com.