HR-ON at Zukunft Personal Europe 2026: From Booth to Stage
Three days in Cologne with HR, AI and inclusion
From 15 to 17 September 2026, our German team exhibited with its own booth at Zukunft Personal Europe (ZPE) in Cologne for the very first time. For many in the HR industry, the fair is a regular fixture, but for HR-ON it was a first, and it was a great success!
HR-ON at Zukunft Personal Europe 2026
Our entire German HR-ON team was at booth L.86 in Hall 4.2, joined by our founder and CEO, Ali E. Cevik, as well as colleagues from Sales and Customer Success.
There was a lot of interest at the booth, and many visitors were getting to know HR-ON and our platform for the very first time. Three topics in particular came up again and again in our conversations:
- The flexibility of a modular HR system that can be tailored to each individual company and cover the entire employee journey, from recruitment to offboarding.
- How inclusion can be put into practice in recruitment.
- The growing importance of well-being in the German labour market.
Our purple HR first aid kit was also a big hit and quickly became something of a signature item, with many visitors taking one home.
On stage: Inclusion, compliance and AI in recruitment
On Thursday, it was our turn to take the Recruiting & Attraction Stage. Ali E. Cevik, Julia Gräßer and Bengü Aycicek put the spotlight on inclusion, compliance and AI in recruitment, three topics that are closely connected for us at HR-ON.
Ali opened with his own story and placed it within a broader narrative about how our view of work and employees has changed: from a time when work was largely about trading time for pay, to a working life where meaning, shared values and the opportunity to contribute play a bigger role.
“Technology is a means, not the goal,” says Ali E. Cevik, CEO of HR-ON.
Julia then focused on why inclusion also matters from a business perspective. Using examples such as job postings and the gender pay gap, she showed how inclusion can be made concrete and measurable. In Germany, the gender pay gap stands at 15.6%, compared with an EU average of 11.1%. She also highlighted why it makes sense to reach out to a broader pool of talent, especially in a labour market where qualified workers can be hard to find.
Bengü focused on the use of AI in recruitment and the new requirements under the EU AI Act. Her message was simple: “AI can amplify what is already there, but it should not make the decisions.”
After three days in Cologne
After three days at Zukunft Personal Europe, the German team is back in Denmark and Düsseldorf, energized and inspired. We had lots of great conversations and made many new connections, and we are looking forward to following up on them.
Didn’t make it to our booth? Read more about HR-ON and our solutions, including HR-ON Comply, our software for pay transparency, equal pay and inclusive job postings.
You might also like: Bias in recruitment: A practical guide to objective hiring
FAQ: HR-ON at Zukunft Personal Europe in Cologne 2026
What is Zukunft Personal Europe?
Zukunft Personal Europe (ZPE) is one of Europe’s largest HR trade fairs and is held every year in Cologne. The fair is a central meeting point for the HR industry.
What makes HR-ON's HR system stand out?
HR-ON is a modular HR system that can be tailored to each company’s needs. The platform covers the entire employee journey, from recruitment and onboarding to well-being and offboarding. We also offer support in both Danish and German.
What does the EU AI Act mean for the use of AI in recruitment?
AI systems used to sort, filter or assess candidates may be classified as high-risk AI. This means that companies using such systems must, among other things, address requirements for risk management, documentation, transparency and human oversight.
How are inclusion and compliance connected in recruitment?
The way a company recruits affects who feels included and chooses to apply for a position. At the same time, EU legislation sets requirements for transparency and documentation, among other things. As a result, inclusion and compliance are increasingly intertwined in recruitment.
