In a recent Forbes article, Joe McKendrick explores a growing gap in AI adoption: while organizations are investing heavily in AI for office-based knowledge workers, many frontline employees are still waiting to see meaningful benefits. Drawing on new research from Dayforce, the article found that only 29% of organizations have meaningfully evaluated AI for frontline work, and just 6% have fully integrated AI into daily frontline operations.
A key voice in the article is Rebecca Wilson, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Kenco, who emphasizes that the challenge is not a lack of technology but a lack of workforce enablement. According to Wilson, companies must move as quickly on employee training and adoption as they do on implementing new AI tools. She notes that frontline employees need practical, role-specific AI solutions that help solve real operational challenges rather than broad, theoretical applications.
Wilson also highlights Kenco’s approach to AI adoption, which includes company-wide AI training and tools designed specifically for warehouse operations, such as support for warehouse management system navigation and wave planning. Her advice is straightforward: make AI accessible, practical, and embedded in employees’ daily work so they view it as a tool that enhances productivity and problem-solving rather than something separate from their jobs.
The full article offers additional insights into why frontline workers continue to lag behind in AI adoption, the operational challenges created by disconnected systems, and the steps organizations can take to ensure AI creates value for the entire workforce, not just employees behind a desk. Read the article on Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2026/08/22/ai-continues-to-bypass-half-of-the-workforce/