Benny Button Named “Workforce Analytics Solution Of The Year” In 2026 HR Tech Breakthrough Awards Programme

Australian-developed Platform Transforms Live Human Signals Into Actionable Workforce Intelligence

By Julius Ewudo, Cyber Era NG ASEAN Region Representative

At a time when employers are grappling with burnout, psychosocial risk and the pressure to sustain performance, Australian workplace wellbeing and performance company Benny Button has been named ‘Workforce Analytics Solution of the Year’ in the inaugural HR Tech Breakthrough Awards programme conducted by Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership.

The Benny Button platform delivers HR analytics that help individuals and organisations better understand what drives wellbeing and performance in their people—and how to embed both into everyday work life. Its Check-in tool introduces a new category of data: live human signals captured through a simple, repeatable process. Employees complete a four-slider Check-in in under 30 seconds, generating continuous data across wellbeing and performance.

The platform’s AI Leader Companion adds real time support for leaders, answering questions and providing practical evidence-based guidance tailored to the needs of their people. The AI-powered assistant helps leaders understand data, prepare for meetings and adapt their leadership approach based on team trends.

The approach has already been adopted by REA Group, one of Australia’s leading ASX-listed digital businesses. More than 2,000 Check-ins have been completed as part of REA Group’s leadership rhythm, with the initiative expanding from an initial pilot into an ongoing leader-led approach to wellbeing and performance. Leaders reported that the Check-in helped surface emerging pressures earlier, enabled more meaningful conversations and provided timely insights to support better people decisions.

“We’re seeing a remarkably strong relationship between wellbeing and performance. Across more than 14,000 Check-ins, 82 per cent of people experiencing high wellbeing also report high contribution, compared with just 11 per cent when wellbeing is low,” said Co-Founder and Director of Benny Button Dr Adrian Medhurst. “What is equally encouraging is hearing that leaders value the simplicity of the Check-in and the way it helps spark more meaningful workplace conversations. It shows that a simple tool, used consistently, can generate powerful insight and make a genuine difference to how leaders support their people.”

The HR Tech Breakthrough Awards programme is produced by Tech Breakthrough, the organization behind more than a decade of recognition programmes spanning AI, cybersecurity, fintech, digital health, cleantech, edtech, and other technology sectors. The inaugural HR Tech Breakthrough programme evaluates solutions across the full spectrum of human resources and workforce technology, from talent acquisition and onboarding to performance management, employee experience, workforce analytics, and beyond. The 2026 programme drew nominations from companies across more than 15 countries, reflecting the global scope and pace of innovation in HR technology.

“Benny Button is redefining workforce analytics by transforming it from retrospective reporting into actionable intelligence. Traditional HR analytics rely on lagging indicators such as turnover, absenteeism, and annual survey results, leaving leaders to study passive dashboards instead of active decision-making tools based on real-time data,” said Managing Director at HR Tech Breakthrough Steve Johansson. “This is not traditional HR analytics, but a live operating system for understanding and improving workforce performance. Benny Button delivers real-time, high-frequency data that combines human insight with analytics to enable immediate, leader-level action.”