ADP buys automation startup Sora

Despite economic uncertainty, deals and transactions are not slowing down in the HR tech space.

Research by Drake Star found that mergers and acquisitions were particularly busy in the first half of 2023; notable examples include HireVue’s acquisition of ModernHire, Zoom buying Workvivo and SAP selling its majority stake in Qualtrics to Silver Lake Capital.

Now HR tech giant ADP has joined the fray – it has just bought Sora for an undisclosed sum.

Sora is a low-code workflow tool – it aims to automate and streamline the workplace experience for HR and employees alike. It currently serves customers like BetterUp, Fiorella and Calendly.

ADP was founded in 1949, and it has carried out multiple significant acquisitions in its 70 year history. Examples include WorkMarket, ProQuest, and Sage’s payroll outsourcing business in South Africa.

A bright future for HR automation?

ADP and Sora have long been integration partners, but they are now formalizing that partnership through the acquisition.

Talking about the deal, ADP’s president of global product and innovation, Sreeni Kutam commented: "We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Sora, as it underscores ADP's dedication to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions and positions us at the forefront of the industry.

“The incorporation of Sora's innovative workflow configurations and data integration capabilities into our offerings will enable ADP clients to remove friction in people processes and unlock new levels of productivity."

Sora’s CEO and co-founder Laura Del Beccaro added: “After being an ADP Marketplace partner for the past three years, we are excited to officially join ADP's team and work together to create an impactful experience for HR professionals and drive change in the world of work.Sora’s CEO and co-founder Laura Del Beccaro added: “After being an ADP Marketplace partner for the past three years, we are excited to officially join ADP's team and work together to create an impactful experience for HR professionals and drive change in the world of work.

“We look forward to the great opportunities we have ahead of us as we focus together on always designing for people.”

As a result of the deal, Sora’s entire workforce will join ADP’s DataCloud team.

Will this deal be able to reduce the manual work for HR teams, as well as drive employee experience? Stay tuned to find out.