The UKG New Experience Is Coming: Here’s What That Really Means for You

If you’ve heard about the UKG New Experience, you’ve probably heard a mix of excitement along with a few quiet concerns.

What’s changing?
When do we actually need to act?
How big of a lift is this going to be?

The reality is that this update is far more manageable, and more valuable, than it may seem at first glance.

What Is the New Experience and Why It Matters

At its core, the UKG New Experience is a redesign of how users navigate and interact with the system.

It brings everything into a more modern, unified layout:

• • A single, streamlined navigation menu
  • Role-based homepages for employees, managers, and admins
  • A centralized inbox for notifications and approvals
  • Improved search functionality to find what you need faster

What’s important to understand is that this is not a rebuild of your system. Your configurations, security roles, and core processes – like timecards, approvals, and workflows – all remain intact.

The new UI is about making the experience more intuitive, not changing how your business operates.

When Is This Happening, and What’s the Real Timeline?

UKG has communicated that the ability to toggle back to the classic experience will be removed around November 2026 (as of blog post date), with some organizations potentially seeing an earlier timeline.

That means the transition isn’t optional, but it is controllable.

Organizations have the flexibility to:

• • Allow users to explore the new experience early
  • Gradually guide adoption
  • Choose when to fully transition their workforce

The key isn’t reacting to the deadline.  It’s using the time ahead of permanence to make the change feel smooth and intentional.

How Will Your Teams Be Affected?

For most organizations, the biggest change isn’t what users can do, it’s how they get there.

Employees and managers will notice:

• • A different navigation style (moving from tabs to a left-side menu)
  • A new homepage experience tailored to their role
  • A single place for notifications and approvals

And yes, that initial “where did that go?” moment is real. But it’s also short-lived when teams are prepared. Once users understand the layout, many find it simpler and faster to navigate day-to-day tasks.

What About the Common Concerns?

Let’s go beneath the surface and address what teams are often really asking:

• • “Are we going to have to reconfigure everything?”
    No, your system setup stays the same.
  • “Is functionality changing?”
    No, core processes remain consistent.
  • “Will this disrupt our teams?”
    Only if it’s rushed. With the right approach, it becomes a guided transition instead of a reactive one.
  • “Do we have to train everyone all at once?”
    Not at all. Many organizations start by giving users access early and building familiarity over time.

This is exactly why planning ahead makes such a difference.  Uncertainty gets replaced by clarity.

A Simple Checklist to Get Ahead of the Change

The organizations seeing the most success are focusing on a few key actions:

1. 1. Explore the experience early
      Use the available sandbox environment to understand what’s changing before your users do.
   2. Define your rollout approach
      Decide when to introduce the new experience and whether to phase it in or transition all at once.
   3. Identify who is most impacted
      Managers and administrators often need more targeted preparation than employees.
   4. Update training and support materials
      Anything that references the current interface will need to be refreshed.
   5. Communicate clearly and consistently
      Even simple awareness messaging can significantly reduce confusion and resistance.

Turning a System Update Into a Better User Experience

The organizations that get the most value from this change aren’t just “moving to the new UI.”

They’re using it as an opportunity to:

• • Simplify how users interact with UKG
  • Reinforce best practices
  • Improve overall adoption

And that’s where the real impact happens!

The UKG New Experience is coming, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right level of preparation, it becomes a manageable shift… and a meaningful improvement in how your teams use the system every day.

Ascend helps organizations navigate changes like the UKG New Experience with structured communication, role-based training, and support that keeps teams confident and productive.

Explore our UKG Training Services and schedule a consultation with our team.