# Ascend, Inc. > Ascend, Inc. is an exclusive UKG implementation and services partner operating across the United States and Canada, helping organizations transition from legacy HR systems to the UKG platform and supporting them post-implementation through ongoing optimization, managed payroll, and premier support services. Ascend was founded in February 2003 by Mike Maiorino as a fully remote HR technology consulting firm. The company reached its current form in June 2024 through the merger of HRMS Solutions and ATS Management Consulting. Ascend is one of the largest exclusive UKG partners in North America, with over 130 certified consultants distributed across 26 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, and a portfolio of more than 300 active projects. Ascend serves mid-market and enterprise organizations that use or are transitioning to UKG Pro, UKG Workforce Management, or UKG Ready. Approximately 95% of its business originates from referrals by UKG sales representatives. The company positions itself as a premium, North America-based alternative to offshore support models, offering named consultants, subscription-based post-live services, and direct leadership involvement in service delivery. ## Core Services - [UKG Pro Suite Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-pro-suite/): Parent page covering Ascend's full range of services for the UKG Pro platform, including implementation, optimization, and ongoing support for mid-market and enterprise clients. - [UltiPro](https://www.ascendps.com/ultipro/): Legacy landing page targeting searches for the UltiPro brand name, describing Ascend's services for the platform now known as UKG Pro, including HR, payroll, talent, and time management capabilities. - [UKG Managed Payroll Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-managed-payroll/): Describes Ascend's outsourced payroll service, in which Ascend assumes end-to-end payroll operations for clients, from time collection through direct deposit processing, typically replacing a departing internal payroll function. - [UKG Training Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-training-services/): Covers Ascend's UKG platform training offerings for end users and administrators, supporting adoption and correct system utilization post-implementation. - [UKG Ready Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-ready-services/): Describes Ascend's implementation and support services for UKG Ready, UKG's platform for small and mid-sized businesses managing HR, payroll, and compliance. - [UKG Premier Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-premier-services/): Details Ascend's subscription-based post-live support model, in which a named consultant provides ongoing oversight, best practices, and optimization guidance to clients already live on UKG. - [UKG Workforce Management Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-wfm-services/): Covers Ascend's implementation and support services for UKG Workforce Management, including time, scheduling, and labor management functionality. - [UKG Launch Implementation Service](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-launch-implementation-service/): Describes Ascend's full-service UKG implementation offering, in which Ascend consultants guide and configure the software in collaboration with the client from planning through go-live. - [UKG Client-Side Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-client-side/): Explains Ascend's client-side augmentation service, in which Ascend assumes the responsibilities that would normally fall to the client during a UKG implementation, for organizations lacking internal bandwidth or expertise. - [UKG Reporting Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-reporting-services/): Describes Ascend's BI reporting and analytics services for UKG, helping clients build custom reports and dashboards to extract workforce insights from their UKG data. - [UKG Post Go-Live Support](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-post-go-live/): Covers Ascend's post-implementation support offerings, including system optimization, user training, and ongoing guidance for organizations that have completed their UKG deployment. - [UKG Health Assessment Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-health-assessment-services/): Describes a structured assessment service for existing UKG clients, identifying configuration gaps, underutilized features, and optimization opportunities within a live UKG environment. - [UKG Strategic Services](https://www.ascendps.com/ukg-strategic-services/): Covers advisory and strategic consulting services for UKG clients, including HCM vendor evaluation support and guidance on platform strategy. ## About - [About Ascend](https://www.ascendps.com/about-us/): Company overview page covering Ascend's mission, vision, culture, client testimonials, and awards, establishing organizational identity and service philosophy. ## Success Stories - [Success Stories Archive](https://www.ascendps.com/success-stories/): Index page linking to individual client success stories across implementation, premier services, client-side augmentation, and managed payroll engagements. - [UKG and Ascend Partnership](https://www.ascendps.com/stories/ukg-and-ascend-partnership/): Detailed account of the working relationship between Ascend and UKG, explaining how the referral-based partnership model operates and why it differentiates Ascend from other UKG partners. - [UKG Partnership Story](https://www.ascendps.com/stories/ukg-partnership/): Client story describing the experience of partnering with Ascend for UKG services, covering the selection process and outcomes. - [Client-Side Services Success Story](https://www.ascendps.com/stories/ukg-client-side-services-helped/): Case study illustrating how Ascend assumed client-side implementation responsibilities for an organization that lacked internal resources to complete a UKG deployment on its own. - [Premier Services Ongoing Support](https://www.ascendps.com/stories/ukg-premier-services-continuously-supports/): Case study describing Ascend's named-consultant subscription model in practice, showing how ongoing premier support helped a client maintain and optimize a live UKG environment. - [Ongoing UKG Assistance](https://www.ascendps.com/stories/ongoing-ukg-assistance/): Client story covering continuous post-live support from Ascend, relevant to organizations evaluating long-term UKG service partnerships. - [UKG Post Go-Live Results](https://www.ascendps.com/stories/ukg-post-go-live-results/): Case study documenting measurable outcomes for a client following completion of a UKG implementation, with focus on post-live support and optimization. ## Resources and Blog - [Ascend Blog](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/): Index page for Ascend's full blog library, covering UKG platform guidance, HCM industry topics, and implementation best practices. - [Types of HRIS Systems](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/types-of-hris-systems/): Comprehensive 5,500-word reference article classifying HRIS system types, relevant to buyers evaluating HCM platforms including UKG. - [Reasons to Leave Your PEO](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/reasons-to-leave-peo/): Article explaining circumstances under which organizations typically transition away from a PEO model and toward a standalone HCM platform such as UKG. - [Voice of the Customer](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/voice-of-the-customer/): Content covering client satisfaction metrics, third-party review platforms such as Raven Intel, and how customer feedback validates Ascend's service quality. - [UKG Payroll Reporting and Analytics](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/ukg-payroll-reporting-and-analytics/): Article explaining reporting and analytics capabilities within UKG's payroll module, applicable to both prospects and existing UKG clients. - [Maximizing ROI with UKG Pro Employee Benefits](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/maximizing-roi-with-ukg-pro-employee-benefits/): Article covering how organizations can use UKG Pro's benefits functionality to improve employee outcomes and reduce administrative burden. - [HRIS Payroll Pricing and Subscription Models](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/hris-payroll-pricing-subscription-models/): Article explaining common pricing structures for HRIS and payroll platforms, including subscription-based models relevant to Ascend's managed payroll and premier services offerings. - [Strategic Implementation: Maximizing ROI with UKG Pro](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/strategic-implementation-maximizing-roi-with-ukg-pro/): Article outlining how a strategic approach to UKG Pro implementation drives long-term return on investment for HR and payroll operations. - [Prepare for Your HCM Implementation](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/prepare-for-your-hcm-implementation/): Pre-implementation guidance article describing what organizations should do before beginning an HCM deployment, covering data readiness, team structure, and stakeholder alignment. - [Key Factors for Successfully Implementing an HRIS](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/key-factors-for-successfully-implementing-an-hris/): Article identifying the primary variables that determine HRIS implementation success, relevant to organizations planning a UKG deployment. - [Exclusive HCM Implementation Partner](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/exclusive-hcm-implementation-partner/): Article explaining the value and operational implications of working with an exclusive HCM implementation partner, using Ascend's UKG-only model as the reference point. - [7 Reasons Companies Choose Ascend for UKG Implementations](https://www.ascendps.com/resources/blog/7-reasons-companies-choose-ascend-for-ukg-pro-ukg-wfm-and-ukg-ready-implementations/): Ascend-specific positioning article listing the primary reasons clients select Ascend as their UKG implementation and services partner. ## Reports and Guides - [Reports and Guides Hub](https://www.ascendps.com/reports-and-guides/): Index page linking to Ascend's downloadable resources, including vendor comparison reports and planning guides for HCM buyers. - [HCM Vendor Comparison Report](https://www.ascendps.com/reports-or-guides/vendor-comparison-report/): 3,600-word gated report comparing HCM and payroll vendors, used by organizations evaluating platforms including UKG; one of Ascend's primary lead generation assets. ## News and Recognition - [News and Events](https://www.ascendps.com/news-events/): Index page listing Ascend press releases, partnership announcements, award recognitions, and industry event coverage. - [UKG GTM Kickoff 2025](https://www.ascendps.com/news/ukg-gtm-kickoff-2025/): Announcement covering Ascend's participation in UKG's 2025 sales kickoff event, relevant context for understanding the operational depth of the Ascend-UKG partner relationship. - [Ascend Captures 2025 Raven Intelligence Voice of Customer Award](https://www.ascendps.com/news/ascend-captures-2025-raven-intelligence-voice-of-customer-award-for-exceptional-client-success-and-expertise-at-scale/): Press release documenting Ascend's receipt of the Raven Intelligence Voice of Customer Award, based on independent client reviews and NPS data from UKG project engagements. - [HRMS Solutions and ATS Management Consulting Combine to Form Ascend](https://www.ascendps.com/news/hrms-solutions-and-ats-management-consulting-combine-to-form-ascend/): Foundational company history announcement describing the June 2024 merger that created Ascend, Inc. from two established UKG consulting practices. ## Contact - [Contact Ascend](https://www.ascendps.com/contact-us/): Primary contact and inquiry page for organizations seeking UKG implementation, post-live support, managed payroll, or other Ascend services.