Deel Unveils Akai By Deel, An AI-Powered Platform To Automate Operations Workflows

Created as Deel’s own solution, Akai runs 100% of Deel’s operations and is now made available for ops teams everywhere.

Auckland, NZ, 12 May, 2026 – Deel, today launched Akai By Deel, an agent platform built to automate operational workflows. Unlike static automation tools, Akai runs by using AI agents that can learn, execute, and improve workflows for repetitive tasks.

Ops teams spend hours to process payments across multiple portals, file compliance submissions, reconcile FX reports, and keep data in sync across systems that don't talk to each other. At scale, it's relentless – and most of it still happens manually. What ops teams actually need is automation they can build themselves, that runs on any system, learns from every run, and keeps humans in control.

Deel faced the same challenge while managing payroll, payments, and compliance operations for millions of workers globally. Existing tools could not support the scale, complexity, and compliance requirements involved, leading Deel to build Akai internally. Today, thousands of workflows are already running across 100% of Deel's operations teams – Finance, Tax, Treasury, Benefits, and HR. The impact has been fundamental:

• 100,000+ cases handled automatically every month
• Over 91,000 hours saved every single month
• 8,000+ hours of payment processing—now background tasks
• Reconciliation that took 20+ days—now done in minutes
• 100% automation in areas that could not be reached through years of coding

Built for teams that need it most

Akai is designed to work for any ops team that runs repetitive, high-volume workflows across any system. More importantly, Akai builds an interconnected system of agents that reaches into any portal or platform, shares context, and gets smarter with every run. It’s a system that accumulates ops team's playbooks and gets more capable over time, allowing it to make the biggest impact in some key verticals:

Cross-border payments & PSPs: Process payout batches across multiple banking portals without daily manual logins. Automate FX reconciliation and settlement reports on a schedule.

Tax & regulatory compliance: File government portal submissions on time, every time. Scale filing volume without scaling headcount.

Logistics & supply chain: Automate data entry across customs portals, carrier booking systems, and warehouse platforms that don’t connect. Bridge fragmented ops stacks post-acquisition without waiting for an integration project.

Now a standalone platform built for operations teams to do more, Akai gives businesses a way to scale without adding headcount, handling greater volume, complexity and market reach while keeping operations lean. Owned by the team that defines the workflows, Akai does not require coding or IT support to run effectively across processes. It has also been tested across more than 100 countries and is GDPR-compliant, with compliance and security built in from the start.

For more information on Akai by Deel, visit here.

Businesses can request early access to Akai by Deel here.

About Deel

The way the world works has changed – and Deel has built the standard to power it all. We make it effortless to hire, manage, pay, and equip any worker, anywhere. Deel is one platform for payroll, HR, benefits, mobility, performance, and device management across 150+ countries. Built on owned infrastructure, powered by AI, and supported by thousands of local experts, Deel helps businesses scale smarter, faster, and more compliantly. Trusted by 37,000+ customers, and created to become a global brand people love. Learn more at deel.com

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