US-based giant UKG has snapped up London-founded employee recognition startup Mo in a move designed to strengthen its offer for businesses with large frontline workforces.
The global HR and payroll platform said the acquisition strengthens its position as a “workforce operating platform” for organisations that rely heavily on frontline staff.
Mo, founded in 2013, has built a culture and recognition tool aimed at making behind-the-scenes work more visible, helping companies celebrate achievements, reward contributions and lift morale.
Its customer list includes Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Ocado Retail and OVO Energy.
The firm’s technology will now be folded into UKG Beacon, UKG’s intelligent employee engagement product for small and mid-sized businesses.
The idea is to add more structured rewards and recognition capabilities to Beacon, giving managers an easier way to spotlight good work and build stronger team culture across dispersed workforces.
Luke Fisher, Mo’s former CEO, will stay on at UKG in a senior product role.
“Joining UKG allows us to bring the power of recognition to more organisations and more people than ever before,” he said.
“Together, we’re making it easier for every business to build cultures where appreciation is part of everyday work, especially for critical frontline workers.
“By combining Mo’s innovation with UKG’s scale and unmatched workforce data, we’re accelerating our shared mission to help organisations create stronger, more connected, and more human workplaces.”
The deal follows the company’s involvement in UKG Labs, an accelerator programme that links UKG customers with early-stage startups.
It is the latest in a line of UK and Ireland acquisitions by UKG aimed at expanding its frontline-focused tools.
In 2023, UKG bought Kilkenny-based global payroll provider Immedis, speeding up the rollout of UKG One View, an AI-powered multi-country payroll platform supporting more than 20 languages across 160 countries.
A year earlier, it acquired Oxford startup Quorbit, whose long-term workforce planning software now supports UKG Strategic Workforce Planning.
Russell Howe, group vice president for EMEA at UKG, added: “Our successful track record of UK and Ireland -based acquisitions has enabled UKG to offer industry-leading technology solutions to customers that address the unique needs of their frontline workforces.
“By integrating innovative solutions that were developed here into UKG’s global platform, we’re delivering smarter, more connected experiences that empower managers and employees alike.”
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