Cielo Tops HRO Today's 2025 Baker's Dozen Rankings Based on Client Feedback

HRO Today has published its annual Baker's Dozen rankings for 2025, identifying the top-performing HR service providers based exclusively on client feedback collected through comprehensive surveys. The rankings are determined by analyzing results across three critical subcategories: service breadth, size of deals, and quality of service. Using a predetermined algorithm that weighs questions and categories based on importance, HRO Today calculates scores in all three subcategories as well as an overall composite score.

This year's survey data was particularly robust, with over 450 usable surveys completed from 335 different client companies of the ranked providers. The methodology ensures that only organizations earning the highest ratings from their customers across all three evaluation criteria are included in the final rankings. HRO Today collects feedback annually through an online survey distributed directly to buyers through the HRO Today mailing lists and indirectly through service providers themselves.

The top five providers in the 2025 rankings are led by Cielo, followed by Korn Ferry, KellyOCG, Sevenstep, and PeopleScout, with Hudson Talent Solutions also ranking among the elite group. What distinguishes these rankings from other industry evaluations is that they are based solely on feedback from actual buyers of the rated services, rather than the opinions of HRO Today staff or editorial judgment. This client-centric approach provides HR leaders with authentic, data-driven insights when selecting service providers.

The Baker's Dozen rankings have become a critical resource for senior-level HR decision-makers who rely heavily on these evaluations across six different HR service categories. As properties of SharedXpertise Media, both HRO Today and HRO Today Global offer the broadest and deepest reach available in the HR industry through their magazines, research, e-newsletters, events, and social networks. The rankings' credibility stems from their objective, data-driven methodology that reflects real client experiences rather than subjective assessments.

For organizations seeking HR service providers, these rankings provide valuable benchmarking data that reflects actual client satisfaction across multiple dimensions of service delivery. The comprehensive survey approach ensures that the results represent a broad cross-section of the market, with participation from hundreds of client organizations evaluating their service providers. This year's results continue the tradition of providing HR leaders with reliable, client-validated information to support their vendor selection processes.