# Dayforce

**Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/dayforce  
**Vertical:** Manufacturing  
**Subcategory:** Enterprise  
**Tier:** Leader  
**Website:** dayforce.com  
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-14

## Summary

Minneapolis HCM software rebranded from Ceridian (NYSE: DAY) ~$1.73B FY2024 revenue (+14%); Dayforce unified employee record, 6.3M users, global payroll 160+ countries competing with Workday and ADP.

## Company Overview

Dayforce, Inc. (formerly Ceridian HCM Holding Inc.) is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based human capital management (HCM) software company — publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DAY) as an S&P 500 Information Technology component — providing cloud-native payroll, workforce management, talent management, benefits administration, and HR analytics software through the Dayforce platform to approximately 6,700 customers and 6.3 million active users globally through approximately 8,600 employees. The company rebranded from Ceridian HCM to Dayforce, Inc. in January 2024, aligning the corporate name with its flagship Dayforce product to accelerate enterprise market positioning and reduce brand confusion between the parent company and product names. In fiscal year 2024, Dayforce reported revenues of approximately $1.73 billion (+14% year-over-year), with Dayforce recurring services revenue (SaaS subscription revenue from Dayforce HCM platform customers) growing 18% as the company continued converting Ceridian's legacy Powerpay and Bureau payroll customers to the cloud-native Dayforce platform. CEO David Ossip built the Dayforce platform from scratch after acquiring Dayforce (the workforce management product, originally a Canadian startup) for Ceridian in 2012 and deploying it as Ceridian's cloud HCM replacement for the legacy mainframe payroll system — making Dayforce a rare enterprise software success story of a mature payroll company successfully transitioning its entire business to a next-generation cloud platform rather than being displaced by cloud-native challengers.

Dayforce's human capital management platform model creates competitive advantages through the unified "single employee record" architecture: unlike legacy HCM systems (SAP HCM, Oracle HCM Cloud, ADP Workforce Now) where payroll, time & attendance, benefits, and talent management are separate systems integrated through APIs, Dayforce maintains a single real-time employee record that flows immediately from time clock punches to pay calculations to GL posting — eliminating the batch processing delays and data reconciliation labor that multi-system HCM configurations require. A Dayforce customer running a 10,000-employee healthcare system can process payroll calculations continuously throughout the pay period (seeing real-time labor cost accruals) rather than running a single batch payroll cycle at period end — providing financial reporting accuracy and compliance confidence that matters in regulated industries. The global payroll expansion (Dayforce Global Payroll supporting payroll compliance in 160+ countries) enables multinational customers to consolidate payroll and HR onto a single global platform rather than maintaining separate country-specific payroll systems with complex data feeds.

In 2025, Dayforce competes in enterprise human capital management against Workday (NASDAQ: WDAY, $7.7B revenue, cloud HCM for large enterprises), ADP (NASDAQ: ADP, $19B revenue, payroll and HCM market leader by customer count), and UKG (private, $3B+ revenue — formed by Kronos and Ultimate Software merger — workforce management and HCM) for enterprise payroll system replacement opportunities, mid-market HCM platform expansion, and global payroll consolidation mandates from multinational corporations. The Dayforce rebrand from Ceridian creates both a brand clarity opportunity (enterprise buyers evaluating "Dayforce" as a modern HCM platform rather than "Ceridian" as a legacy payroll bureau) and a transition risk (established Ceridian partnerships and analyst relationships requiring rebrand communication). Workday's dominant position in large enterprise HCM (1,000+ employee companies where Workday HCM and Workday Financial Management create an integrated ERP platform) creates a ceiling on Dayforce's upper enterprise penetration without Dayforce adding ERP financial capabilities. The 2025 strategy focuses on Dayforce platform global expansion (adding country-specific payroll compliance for additional geographies), mid-market customer acquisition (500-5,000 employee companies where Dayforce competes with ADP and Ceridian legacy), and the Dayforce Wallet earned wage access product (real-time pay advance as employee retention benefit).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does Dayforce do?
Dayforce is a global human capital management (HCM) technology company that provides a unified cloud platform combining HR, payroll, benefits, workforce management, talent management, and analytics in a single application. The platform serves over 6,876 customers across 50+ countries with 7.62 million employees actively using the system. Unlike traditional HCM systems that use multiple point solutions, Dayforce operates on a single, real-time data model that enables instant updates and insights across all modules, helping organizations make faster decisions, optimize labor costs, ensure compliance, and improve employee engagement.

### Who are Dayforce's customers and target market?
Dayforce serves organizations of all sizes and industries across more than 50 countries, from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises. The company's target market includes mid-to-large organizations with complex workforce management needs, particularly those operating across multiple jurisdictions with diverse compliance requirements. Key customer segments include retail, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, and financial services industries. With 6,876 customers as of December 2024 and strong growth in enterprise accounts, Dayforce focuses on organizations seeking to modernize legacy HR systems and consolidate multiple point solutions into a unified platform.

### When was Dayforce founded?
The Dayforce platform was developed by Dayforce Corporation and acquired by Ceridian in March 2012. Ceridian itself was founded in 1992 from the restructuring of Control Data Corporation (CDC), which dates back to 1957. The company operated as Ceridian from 1992 to 2024, went public in 2018, and officially transitioned its corporate brand to Dayforce on February 1, 2024. So while the Dayforce product has existed since 2012, and Ceridian since 1992, the company as "Dayforce Inc." was established in 2024 through the brand transformation.

### Where is Dayforce based?
Dayforce maintains dual headquarters in Toronto, Canada (4110 Yonge Street, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M2P 2B7) and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (3311 East Old Shakopee Road, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55425-1640). The Toronto location serves as the Canadian headquarters with phone (416) 987-2987 or toll-free (866) 748-7066, while Minneapolis serves as the U.S. headquarters with phone (952) 853-8100. With more than 9,600 employees globally, Dayforce operates offices and serves customers in over 50 countries worldwide.

### How much revenue does Dayforce generate?
For full-year 2024, Dayforce generated $1.16 billion in recurring revenue (excluding float), representing a 20.7% increase year-over-year on a constant currency basis. The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $501.5 million with a 28.5% margin (expanding 140 basis points), and net income of $18.1 million with a 1.0% net profit margin. Dayforce achieved a 98.0% annual gross revenue retention rate and increased revenue per customer to $163,101 for the trailing twelve months. The strong financial performance and customer growth trajectory contributed to Thoma Bravo's $12.3 billion acquisition valuation.

### What makes Dayforce different from competitors?
Dayforce differentiates itself through its single, real-time data model architecture that powers instant updates and insights across all HCM modules—unlike competitors that cobble together multiple acquired systems. The platform's always-on calculation engine processes changes in real-time, enabling immediate visibility into labor costs, compliance status, and workforce analytics. Dayforce has been recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for six consecutive years (2020-2025). The company's focus on AI-enhanced capabilities, global compliance across 50+ countries, and unified user experience across HR, payroll, and talent management sets it apart from legacy providers and point solution vendors.

### Who are Dayforce's main competitors?
Dayforce's primary competitors in the Cloud HCM market include Workday (17.9% market share), SAP SuccessFactors (19.9% market share), Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM, ADP Workforce Now, and UKG Pro (Ultimate Software). Workday is known for advanced financial management integration, SAP SuccessFactors for extensive global capabilities, Oracle for comprehensive enterprise suite integration, ADP for payroll reliability and scale, and UKG Pro for labor tracking excellence. As of August 2025, Dayforce holds a 3.3% mindshare in the Cloud HCM category. The competitive landscape also includes newer entrants and specialized point solutions for specific HCM functions like recruiting or learning management.

### How can I contact Dayforce?
You can contact Dayforce through multiple channels: U.S. headquarters at (952) 853-8100 (3311 East Old Shakopee Road, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55425), Canadian headquarters at (416) 987-2987 or toll-free (866) 748-7066 (4110 Yonge Street, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2P 2B7), customer service at (855) 432-9367, or email at enduserhelp@dayforce.com. The company's website at www.dayforce.com provides comprehensive resources including product information, customer support portal, and contact forms. For sales inquiries, you can reach out through the Contact Dayforce Sales page on their website.

### Is Dayforce hiring?
Yes, with over 9,600 employees globally and continued growth, Dayforce regularly hires for positions across engineering, product, sales, customer success, and corporate functions. The company offers career growth programs including Top Talent development, Career Talk sessions, Career Pathing, tuition reimbursement, mentorship, and job rotation opportunities. Dayforce provides competitive benefits including flexible work arrangements (including work from anywhere programs for eligible roles), sabbaticals for tenured employees, and comprehensive health and wellness benefits. The company's culture emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and belonging with 74% of employees recommending Dayforce as a great place to work. Visit the Careers section at careers.dayforce.com to explore open positions.

### What's the latest news about Dayforce?
In November 2025, Dayforce stockholders overwhelmingly approved (88.4% of votes) the $12.3 billion acquisition by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, with transaction close expected in late 2025 or early 2026. In February 2025, the company reported strong full-year 2024 results including $1.16B in recurring revenue (up 20.7%), 6,876 customers (up 7.6%), and 7.62M employees on the platform (up 11.4%). The company was named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for the sixth consecutive year. In April 2024, Dayforce appointed Amy Cappellanti-Wolf as Chief People Officer. The February 2024 brand transition from Ceridian to Dayforce marked a significant milestone in the company's evolution.

### What is Dayforce's market position?
Dayforce holds a 3.3% mindshare in the Cloud HCM category as of August 2025, positioning it as a significant player behind market leaders Workday (17.9%) and SAP SuccessFactors (19.9%). The company serves 6,876 customers across 50+ countries with 7.62 million employees on the platform, demonstrating strong global reach. Dayforce has achieved Leader status in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for six consecutive years (2020-2025), validating its execution and vision. The company's 98.0% gross revenue retention rate and 20.7% recurring revenue growth indicate strong customer satisfaction and market momentum. The $12.3 billion Thoma Bravo acquisition valuation reflects confidence in Dayforce's competitive position and growth trajectory.

### What are Dayforce's future plans?
Following the expected late 2025/early 2026 close of the Thoma Bravo acquisition, Dayforce plans to accelerate product innovation and AI integration across the platform while operating as a private company. CEO David Ossip emphasized that Thoma Bravo's investment will help "grow our business, increase quantifiable value for customers, and further secure our position in AI as a generational software company." Key strategic priorities include expanding AI-enhanced capabilities for talent management and workforce optimization, deepening global compliance coverage, growing the customer base across enterprise and mid-market segments, and continuing platform unification to deliver seamless user experiences. The company will likely pursue additional strategic acquisitions to fill capability gaps and expand geographic reach while maintaining its focus on being the always-on people platform for the global workforce.

## Tags

b2b, saas, hr-tech, startup, enterprise, manufacturing, public

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*Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*