July 30: Organisations are increasingly moving beyond traditional cost-cutting approaches towards smarter workforce strategies that balance operational efficiency with capability building and performance, according to the latest DigiPoll Survey by Genius HRTech. Titled ‘The Workforce Value Equation: Cost Optimization, Capability Building and Reward Alignment Trends FY 2026’, the June 2026 survey received responses from 1,140 participants across industries between 1st June and 30th June 2026, capturing insights on how organisations are managing workforce costs, learning investments and employee rewards.
The survey found that 91% of respondents said their organisations have undertaken some form of cost optimisation, with 64% indicating these initiatives have been focused primarily on workforce-related areas such as hiring, headcount and compensation. Another 27% reported cost optimisation across multiple functions including workforce, learning & development and operations.
Artificial intelligence is also rapidly reshaping corporate learning. According to the survey, 58% of respondents said learning and development has been significantly replaced by AI-driven learning tools and platforms, while 17% said AI is supplementing traditional learning programmes. Only 23% observed a minimal shift towards AI, and just 2% reported no change, highlighting the growing acceptance of AI-enabled learning across organisations.
The survey further suggests that cost optimisation is not necessarily impacting productivity negatively. 40% of respondents said these measures have significantly improved employee efficiency. However, 35% felt optimisation had significantly reduced employee effectiveness, indicating that organisations must carefully balance efficiency with workforce wellbeing.
On workforce readiness, 29% of respondents described their teams as fully capable and well-resourced, while 36% said they are adequately equipped to meet current business demands.
Learning and development continues to remain a critical performance enabler. Nearly 79% of respondents said organisational learning initiatives positively impact their performance, with 59% stating they significantly enhance on-the-job effectiveness and another 20% reporting moderate improvements.
The findings also indicate that cost optimisation is increasingly influencing employee rewards. 41% of respondents said recent optimisation measures have significantly impacted appraisal outcomes and salary increments, while another 32% observed a moderate influence.
Commenting on the findings, R P Yadav, Chairman, Genius HRTech, said:
“The survey clearly indicates that organisations are entering a new phase of workforce transformation where cost optimisation is no longer just about reducing expenditure. Businesses are increasingly investing in technologies like AI to improve learning efficiency while ensuring employees continue to build the capabilities needed for future growth. At the same time, appraisal and reward decisions are becoming more closely aligned with organisational performance and productivity. Companies that successfully balance operational efficiency with continuous capability development will be better positioned to build resilient, future-ready workforces.”
The June 2026 DigiPoll Survey, titled “The Workforce Value Equation: Cost Optimization, Capability Building and Reward Alignment Trends FY 2026,” captured insights through multiple digital platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Typeform and relevant online professional communities.