Eightfold Deployment: Initial Demo

Eightfold Initial Demo is critical for creating enthusiasm and securing buy-in from key stakeholders.

These will likely include Senior HR executives, talent acquisition leaders, Finance and the IT organisation. Involving end users and business leaders early in the selection process is a best practice.

Gartner notes that engaging recruiters and hiring managers during vendor evaluations and demos ensures the solution meets real needs and builds early support.

Ubisoft followed this approach by “starting with the why.” They gathered employee feedback that highlighted a need for better internal career paths before selecting Eightfold to address that gap.

What happens during the initial demo?

During the demo, focus on the organisation’s pain points and objectives rather than showcasing flashy features. Tailor the demonstration to show how Eightfold deployment solves specific challenges such as reducing time-to-fill, improving inclusive hiring, enhancing internal mobility, or managing high applicant volumes.

Eightfold Initial Demo Case Examples

At Vodafone, leadership prioritised candidate experience and AI-driven insights. Their demo and discussions focused on how Eightfold could “treat candidates like customers” and manage 500,000 applications a year.

Similarly, AstraZeneca’s talent leaders stressed ethics and fairness in AI. They established principles to ensure any new AI recruiting tool, including Eightfold, would deliver fair and unbiased outcomes. Aligning the demo with strategic priorities helps convince stakeholders that the platform will be deployed effectively.

When should you secure executive buy-in?

Secure executive sponsorship early. Support from senior leadership, such as the CHRO, Head of TA, and CIO, is essential for resourcing and driving change. Industry experts emphasise that visible leadership endorsement makes adoption smoother.

In practice, this means having an executive champion present at the demo to articulate the vision, such as how AI-driven talent analytics support the company’s growth strategy.

Many enterprises run multiple demos or workshops: an initial high-level demo for executives to gain approval, followed by deeper technical sessions for HRIT and IT teams, and hands-on trials for recruiters.