Introduction
The pace of technological change facing professional services has never been faster, and AI now sits at the centre of that change. The HLB network continues its digital transformation journey, and we're evolving how we support our firms: providing the resources, governance and training they need to adopt AI with confidence, supported by a clear network-wide strategy. That work is already paying off, helping our firms improve decision-making, streamline processes and deliver more innovative, technology-enabled client service.
Digital Leadership
AI adoption is no exception to what we've learned from digital transformation more broadly: it succeeds when senior partners champion it, not just IT. Research suggests that many AI pilots struggle to translate into measurable business value, often because there isn't clear ownership of the business case.
Firms that assign a senior leader to champion AI roll out and adopt a structured approach to education and use case development are the ones turning experimentation into measurable value, and that model is what we're encouraging across the network.
Many AI projects struggle because the underlying data isn't fit for purpose,
not because the model is wrong.
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Digital strategy
AI needs the right foundations behind it. Good data, clear governance and well-defined processes all play an important role in helping firms use AI safely and effectively.
Intelligent, AI-enabled ecosystems are now central to successful firms, but technology leaders must build the data foundations and governance that let automation and AI tools work safely across their business.
Getting the strategy right today means planning deliberately for where AI creates real advantage, rather than chasing every new tool that reaches the market.
Rethinking technology
Making efficient use of AI, from everyday generative assistants to autonomous, agentic systems that can complete multi-step tasks across several systems with minimal human input, is an increasingly important part of how firms can work more effectively and respond to changing client needs.
Agentic AI in particular is making more advanced capabilities increasingly accessible to firms of different sizes across our network. The real value will come from adopting these technologies strategically, with clear purpose and the right governance in place.
How HLB builds AI advantage
At HLB, our technology strategy is to combine innovation and advanced technologies, increasingly AI-led, to strengthen the capabilities available across our network: leveraging in-house development and partnering with leading vendors to support the network and nurture the next generation of technology leaders.
Where off-the-shelf solutions don't yet meet our needs, HLB builds them, and we're extending that same build-first mindset to AI: piloting agentic tools that can complete multi-step work across systems, and helping firms decide when to build capability in-house and when to partner with specialist vendors instead.
Our partner programme enhances the way HLB firms collaborate with industry-leading technology vendors to extend our capabilities and offerings further. It has already helped members accelerate adoption in areas from audit, tax and data analytics to, increasingly, AI, putting proven, secure tools directly into the hands of our people worldwide.
Digital & technology capabilities
Our network-wide technology and advisory capability helps firms and their clients turn technology into advantage. It spans:
Big data & analytics
Digital operational solutions and business automation
CIO management consulting
Digital transformation advisory
Cybersecurity services
That breadth means firms across the network can draw on shared expertise to navigate the technology trends reshaping the profession, AI foremost among them, and respond confidently to change.
A key driver of what we're doing at HLB is identifying and placing leading-edge technologies in the hands of our people around the globe. By removing barriers to access, we continue to push innovation for our firms and empower them to deliver a digital-first service to our clients.
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“A key driver of what we're doing at HLB is identifying and placing leading-edge technologies in the hands of our people around the globe. By removing barriers to access, we continue to push innovation for our firms and empower them to deliver a digital-first service to our clients.”
Amy Spillard, head of Technology Partnerships, HLB
Abu Bakkar, HLB Chief Innovations Officer
Conclusion
The pace of change in AI means firms of all sizes have to keep adapting just to stay relevant, let alone competitive. Used well, technology can strengthen client service, support our people and help firms work more effectively.
Our technology leaders work closely with the community worldwide, and with partners old and new, to make sure firms across our network have the support they need to put AI to work with confidence.
Put AI to work with
confidence.
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