Technology continues to reshape RPO delivery, but its evolution is not linear. Some capabilities accelerate forward, others cycle back in new forms, and many only create value when paired with human interpretation. In RPO, more technology does not automatically mean less human involvement; it often reveals where human expertise becomes even more essential.
Join RPOA Technology & Innovation Committee for its monthly Forum in August. Building on the previous month's topic of strategic foresight for talent leaders, this session applies an intuitive foresight lens to the RPO technology landscape through the first half of 2026, tracking what is emerging, what is re-emerging in new form, and what remains unseen but increasingly influential.
Rather than simply reporting on trends, the discussion will screen both the visible and the latent forces shaping RPO technology adoption. It will examine where technology is currently creating measurable value across RPO engagements, where it is plateauing or cycling back into hybrid models, and where human judgment, interpretation, and intervention remain irreplaceable.
Designed as an interactive foresight forum rather than a traditional presentation, the session will surface questions, tensions, and patterns to support peer dialogue among RPO providers, talent leaders, and technology partners.
What We’ll Explore
- Emerging, stabilizing, and re-emerging RPO technology trends from the first half of 2026
- Where technology is creating new value in sourcing, automation, screening, and decision support
- Where human judgment and human-in-the-loop models remain essential, or are reasserting themselves
- Signals RPO providers should watch when evaluating when to adopt, adapt, or step back from technology integration
- Practical foresight questions organizations can use to guide near-term experimentation and piloting
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the current RPO technology landscape through a foresight lens, seeing not only what is happening now, but what may be returning, what is quietly emerging, and where human expertise continues to anchor effective delivery.
This discussion will also set the stage for Tim’s October presentation at the 2026 RPOA Annual Conference, which will explore how AI is reshaping job seeker behavior and the downstream implications for sourcing, screening, candidate experience, and RPO delivery models.
About the Speaker
Tim Gates, Director of RPO/BPO Enterprise Accounts at Indeed
Tim Gates is a seasoned business development and talent strategy leader with deep expertise in sales leadership, workforce consulting, and labor market trends. Currently serving as Director of RPO Enterprise Sales at Indeed, Tim partners with recruitment process outsourcing organizations to drive growth, optimize hiring strategies, and deliver innovative talent solutions.
Over the course of his career, Tim has led large-scale staffing and training initiatives. Recognized as a Top Staffing Leader to Watch by the World Staffing Summit, he has also served as a national spokesperson on hiring and labor market trends, with insights featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MarketWatch, Fox Business, and The Washington Post.
Tim holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD University and is passionate about developing high-performing teams, advancing skills-based hiring, and helping organizations navigate a rapidly evolving labor market.
About the 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 explore the technologies shaping the future of talent acquisition.
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