Paychex Flex® and Paycor® platforms recognized as industry-leading HCM solutions

Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX), an industry-leading human capital management (HCM) company, today announced that the company has received industry recognition from Lighthouse Research & Advisory for its Paychex Flex® and Paycor® HCM platforms. Paychex Flex earned a Lighthouse Tech Award for Best Small Business-focused Solution and Paycor for Best Midsize Business-focused Solution, both within the Core HR/Workforce category.

The Lighthouse Tech Awards recognize an elite group of companies representing approximately 1-2% of all firms in the HR technology marketplace for their focus on creating solutions that address critical customer needs.

"AI is everywhere in today's HR technology conversations," said Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory. "But what separates the winners in this year's program is not hype. It is practical, relevant innovation that helps employers solve real problems. The companies recognized in 2026 are delivering measurable value in hiring, development, performance, and retention. That is what matters."

Entries are judged by a panel of industry analyst, business professionals, academics, and other independent subject matter experts in five key areas:

Problems the technology solves in the market
Client case studies
Key differentiation analysis compared to other solutions in the market
Software evaluation
Company evaluation

Paychex is redefining HCM from a user-directed experience to an AI-powered one, where intelligence and expertise are infused across the HCM lifecycle. This shift transforms AI from a tool into a trusted teammate that anticipates client needs, making workforce management smarter, more intuitive, and in sync with business needs. Newly unveiled AI-powered innovations in Paychex Flex and Paycor embody the company's commitment to integrating AI technology in its HCM platforms to democratize access to enterprise-grade innovation.

"It's an honor for our Paychex Flex and Paycor platforms to be recognized among Lighthouse Research & Advisory's Tech Award winners as top HCM technology solutions that are transforming workforce management," said Ryan Bergstrom, Chief Product Officer at Paychex. "Our solutions reflect our mission to help businesses succeed, featuring recently deployed AI-powered innovations that anticipate needs, automate tasks, and deliver precise, actionable insights. These innovations simplify complex HR processes, improve business outcomes, and drive greater efficiency for the customers we serve."

To learn more about Paychex AI solutions, visit go.paychex.com/ai. For a complete list of winners for the 2026 Lighthouse Tech Awards program, visit hrtechawards.org.

About Paychex

Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) is the digitally driven HR leader that is reimagining how companies address the needs of today's workforce with the most comprehensive, flexible, and innovative HCM solutions for organizations of all sizes. Offering a full spectrum of HR advisory and employee solutions, Paychex pays 1 out of every 11 American private sector workers and is raising the bar in HCM for approximately 800,000 customers in the U.S. and Europe. Every member of the Paychex team is committed to fulfilling the company's purpose of helping businesses succeed. Visit paychex.com to learn more.

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Media Contact

Chelsea Wernick

Public Relations Program Manager

Paychex, Inc.

(585) 216-2974

cwernick@paychex.com

Paychex Wins Two 2026 Lighthouse Tech Awards