KEY TAKEAWAYS: Covington-based Netchex launched Mesh, an AI-powered HR platform for deskless workforce management. The platform includes six AI assistants that automate payroll, scheduling, compliance and other HR workflows. Employees and managers can access Mesh through ChatGPT and Claude for tasks including PTO requests and payroll information. Netchex serves more than 7,500 businesses nationwide and is rolling out Mesh through an early access program.   Covington-based Netchex has introduced a new artificial intelligence platform designed to automate payroll, scheduling, compliance and other human resources tasks for businesses with deskless workforces, marking the company’s latest investment in AI-powered workforce management. The platform, called Mesh, is being rolled out to Netchex customers through an early access program, according to the company. It features six AI “teammates” that monitor payroll, scheduling, timekeeping and HR workflows, completing routine tasks and identifying potential issues while requiring human approval for sensitive decisions. Netchex said the platform is aimed at industries such as restaurants, hotels, automotive dealerships and healthcare practices, where most employees do not work at desks and HR teams often manage payroll, scheduling and compliance with limited staff. The company said Mesh includes AI assistants dedicated to payroll, employee onboarding, compliance, workforce analytics, employee self-service and customer support. According to Netchex, the system is designed to proactively identify issues such as missing timecards, expiring certifications and payroll discrepancies rather than waiting for users to submit requests. Mesh builds on Netchex’s acquisition of Mesh.ai, a Y Combinator-backed artificial intelligence startup. Following the acquisition, the company expanded the technology to support a broader range of HR and workforce management functions. “Our mission has always been to build the best software and support for deskless industries. AI teammates are how we keep delivering on that, giving every operator the bench strength that used to be reserved for companies ten times their size,” CEO Abhinav Agrawal said in a statement. Chief Product Officer Saurabh Nangia, founder of Mesh.ai, said the platform is designed to connect payroll, scheduling, timekeeping and HR data into a single workflow, allowing businesses to identify operational issues before they become larger problems. Netchex also said employees can use Mesh through ChatGPT and Claude to request paid time off, swap shifts and access pay stubs. Managers can review overtime trends and approve requests, while administrators can perform payroll audits and generate workforce reports. The company said human approval is required before sensitive actions are finalized. According to Netchex, customers participating in the early access program have reported cutting payroll corrections by double-digit percentages and reclaiming about half of the administrative time typically spent on Mondays, though the company noted those figures are directional and have not been independently audited. The launch comes as businesses increasingly adopt AI-powered workplace tools. Netchex cited Gartner projections that 40% of enterprise applications will incorporate task-specific AI agents by 2026, up from less than 5% in 2025. Founded in 2003, Netchex is headquartered in Covington and provides payroll and human capital management software to more than 7,500 businesses nationwide. ...read more read less