Artificial intelligence is reshaping the recruitment process outsourcing landscape, and 2026 is poised to be a pivotal year. In this session, industry researcher and educator Zachary Chertok will explore the next wave of AI’s influence on RPO strategy, operations, pricing, and client value delivery.
Building on conversations initiated at RPOAcon, this program provides a fresh, expanded view of AI’s impact—moving beyond what has already been discussed to highlight new developments, deeper use cases, and timely insights drawn from IDC’s latest research.
Participants will gain clarity on how AI is changing competitive dynamics, where true value lies in AI-enabled RPO models, and what adoption strategies and metrics are emerging as differentiators for high-performing providers.
What We’ll Cover
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A refreshed, high-level view of AI for RPOs—including market signals and implications for 2026 and beyond
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New and evolving AI use cases and how they influence value delivery
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Opportunities for RPOs in both market positioning and pricing-model innovation
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Key adoption strategies and common challenges surfaced in recent IDC surveys
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Essential metrics, proof-of-concept frameworks, and evaluative models for AI deployment
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Strategic closing questions designed to spark reflection and shape ongoing dialogue
This session is part of the RPOA’s iCoCo Technology & Innovation Forum, which supports RPO leaders in navigating emerging technology with confidence and clarity.
About the Speaker
Zachary Chertok | Sr. Research Manager - HCM, IDC | Adjunct Faculty, Columbia University
Zachary Chertok has spent twelve years in and around the HR, Supply Chain, Project Management, and Operations Management technology sectors spanning roles including industry analyst, investment researcher, practitioner, developer, and marketer. After a brief tenure in the public sector working for the city of Boston, he transitioned to HR Technology in market research before becoming an analyst for HR and BI technologies and services and co-creating a digital retail application. Across his career, Zach has worked in investor research for private equity and in marketing for emerging and established technology spaces centered on managing and facilitating people and people-driven competencies. Today, Zach works for IDC as an analyst covering the integrated employee experience space while maintaining his own research in behavioral economics.
Zach holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and Project Management from McGill University and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
About the iCoCo Innovation and Technology Forum
The iCoCo Innovation and Technology Forum is the Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association’s (RPOA) platform for advancing applied innovation, AI literacy, and responsible technology adoption in RPO. As a neutral, vendor-agnostic forum, iCoCo brings together RPO providers, global talent leaders, and technology partners to share practical insights, evaluate emerging solutions, and collaborate on technologies shaping the future of talent acquisition.
