Automatic Data Processing

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) stands as a titan in the human capital management industry, having revolutionized how businesses manage their most valuable asset—their people—for over 75 years. Founded in 1949 by Henry Taub as Automatic Payrolls, Inc., what began as a manual payroll processing service in Paterson, New Jersey, has evolved into a global powerhouse serving over 1.1 million clients and processing payroll for more than 42 million workers across 140 countries. With fiscal 2025 revenues of $20.6 billion and a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion, ADP has cemented its position as the indispensable backbone of workforce management for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to Fortune 500 enterprises.

ADP's journey from manual payroll calculations to AI-powered human capital management software represents one of the most successful technology transformations in business history. The company went public in 1961 with just 300 clients, 125 employees, and $400,000 in revenue, then methodically built its empire through strategic acquisitions and continuous innovation. By pioneering cloud-based payroll solutions with EasyPayNet in 1998 and establishing the HCM Marketplace in 2014, ADP consistently stayed ahead of technological shifts. Today, the company operates through two primary segments: Employer Services, which provides integrated HCM solutions, and Professional Employer Organization (PEO), which offers comprehensive HR outsourcing. Under the leadership of President and CEO Maria Black, who rose through the ranks from sales associate starting in 1996 to the corner office in 2023, ADP employs approximately 67,000 people worldwide and maintains a commanding 9.9% share of the global payroll software market.

What distinguishes ADP from competitors like Paychex, Paylocity, and Workday is its unparalleled scale, breadth of services, and data-driven insights derived from processing payroll for more than half of all U.S. workers. The company's flagship platforms—ADP Workforce Now for mid-sized businesses and ADP Lyric HCM for large enterprises—provide end-to-end solutions covering payroll, time and attendance, benefits administration, talent management, compliance, and workforce analytics. ADP's 2024 acquisition of WorkForce Software for $1.2 billion and the 2025 acquisition of Pequity for compensation management demonstrate the company's continued commitment to expanding its capabilities and staying at the forefront of HR technology innovation.

As the workplace continues to evolve with remote work, artificial intelligence, and changing regulatory landscapes, ADP is strategically positioned to guide businesses through complexity. The company's November 2025 launch of the unified ADP WorkForce Suite, which integrates workforce management solutions across all its HCM platforms, showcases its vision for simplified, intelligent people operations. With its conversational AI interface reducing employee support calls, predictive analytics identifying workforce trends before they become problems, and comprehensive global payroll capabilities spanning 75+ countries, ADP's mission to create better work experiences and help businesses focus on what they do best has never been more relevant. The company that once processed payroll with punched cards and mainframes now leverages machine learning and cloud computing to power the future of work for millions of businesses worldwide.