Webinar Recap: How Top Staffing Firms Will Scale Faster in 2026

In a time of rapid transformation, staffing firms are rethinking the way they scale. In this SIA webinar, industry experts Atif Siddiqi (CEO of Branch), Daniel Biondi (VP of Product at Greenshades Software), and moderator Curtis Starkey (Senior Research Analyst at SIA) explored how leading firms are leveraging AI agents, automation, and modern fintech solutions to grow faster, smarter, and more profitably. 

You can watch the full session here:

Key Takeaways 

The underlying theme was clear: this isn’t just about upgrading a tool, but about evolving the entire operating system of how recruiters work—where technology doesn’t replace them, it elevates them. 

• AI and Automation are No Longer Optional: 73% of staffing firms plan to increase investment in tech and automation in the next 12 months, according to SIA data. 
• Agentic AI is Taking Hold: AI agents, tools that perform tasks with minimal human input, have been adopted by 30% of staffing firms and are gaining traction fast. 
• The Playbook Has Changed: Simply hiring more recruiters isn’t enough. Sustainable growth requires systems that scale. 
• Worker Experience is a Competitive Edge: Tools like instant pay, mobile onboarding, and AI-driven candidate screening are helping firms stand out. 

Key Components of the Modern Staffing Strategy 

Throwing more hours or headcount at a problem no longer works. With time-to-hire increasing and the gig economy set to represent 50% of the U.S. workforce by 2030, firms must evolve or fall behind. This will involve: 

1. Building Smarter Systems

Modern leaders are connecting their ATS, CRM, payroll, and compliance tools into a cohesive ecosystem that allows recruiters to focus on high-value human tasks while tech handles the rest.

2. Leveraging AI Agents That Empower

AI is elevating recruiter roles by surfacing predictive insights like candidate fit, engagement, and job success probability. Use cases include dual-agent matchmaking, compliance monitoring, and real-time engagement surveys.

3. Using Automation as a Strategic Lever

Automated workflows, like scheduling, onboarding, and compliance checks, are accelerating productivity. What once took days now takes hours, freeing teams to focus on growth and retention.

4. Power Loyalty Through Payments

Modern pay experiences are critical for attracting and retaining hourly and contingent talent. CM Personnel, for example, implemented Branch to issue digital payments on Day 1, resulting in higher satisfaction, reduced admin, and fewer payroll errors.

How Greenshades and Branch Power the Modern Staffing Tech Stack 

To scale smarter, staffing firms need solutions that don't just automate but integrate. Greenshades and Branch provide exactly that—a modern, compliant, and efficient infrastructure for growth. 

Greenshades: Streamlining Payroll, HR, and Tax Compliance 

As an end-to-end payroll platform trusted by staffing firms, Greenshades empowers your team to stay lean and agile while eliminating payroll headaches. 

• Automated Gross-to-Net Calculations for accurate, compliant payroll processing. 
• Real-Time Data Validation that prevents costly errors before they happen. 
• Configurable Workflows to adapt to your firm’s unique needs—whether it's hourly, contract, or salaried staff. 
• Seamless Integrations with ATS and staffing platforms to ensure payroll connects with every part of the hiring lifecycle. 
• Built-In Compliance Tools for tax filings, ACA tracking, and wage-and-hour laws. 

Branch: Empowering Flexible, Instant Pay 

Branch enables staffing firms to improve worker satisfaction and reduce friction from day one. 

• Digital Paycards with zero fees—no more paper checks. 
• Same-Day Onboarding with instant wallet access. 
• Cashback Rewards & Perks to drive loyalty and reduce turnover. 
• Embedded Compliance to ensure wage and payment processes stay audit-ready. 

Together, Greenshades and Branch help staffing firms eliminate busy work, reduce operational costs, and deliver a world-class experience to clients and workers alike. 

Next Steps for Staffing Leaders 

Implementing AI, automation, and fintech tools is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s the foundation for staying competitive in 2026 and beyond. 

Here’s how to take action: 

• Audit and Prioritize Manual Workflows: Rank tasks based on how repetitive and automatable they are. 
• Start Small and Experiment: Pilot AI agents or onboarding automation in one department—then iterate. 
• Track the Right Metrics: Focus on KPIs like time-to-hire, payroll errors, onboarding time, and worker satisfaction. 
• Reinvest in People Skills: As automation handles the transactions, train your team to deepen client relationships and emotional intelligence. 

Discover how Greenshades can help your staffing firm scale faster, stay compliant, and simplify payroll from end to end. 👉 Schedule your personalized demo today and see why more firms are choosing Greenshades to power their growth.