Programs recognize software providers and innovative sourcing partnerships driving business and IT transformation

STAMFORD, Conn.: #AI--Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm, has announced the winners of the 2026 ISG Software Innovation Awards™ and the ISG Paragon Awards™ for North America.

The winners of both programs were recognized at the 2026 ISG Sourcing Industry Awards gala dinner on Thursday, September 24, at the Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa in Dallas. The ISG Software Innovation Awards celebrate software providers whose innovations drive business and IT transformation, and the ISG Paragon Awards recognize the use of new approaches and technologies in sourcing industry partnerships.

ISG Software Research analysts selected the following winners of the 2026 ISG Software Innovation Awards for North America:

Overall Software Innovation: The digital innovation that most successfully maximizes the value of people, processes, information and technology

• Winner: SoundHound AI

Artificial Intelligence Award: The software provider that best exemplifies innovation in technologies supporting analytics, data intelligence, data platforms, generative AI, governance, machine learning and AI, operations and streaming and events

• Winner: Celonis

Business and Technologies Award: The software provider that best exemplifies innovation in technologies supporting customers and CX, digital business and workplace, employees and HCM, office of finance and accounting, office of revenue and supply chain and operations

• Winner: Legion Technologies

Industries Award: The software provider that best exemplifies innovation in technologies supporting automotive, CPG & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, public sector, media & telecom or travel & hospitality

• Winner: Minitab, LLC

Information Technology Award: The software provider that best exemplifies innovation in technologies supporting ADM & DevOps, cloud & infrastructure, compute, edge, network & IoT, cybersecurity, intelligent automation, IT management & operations, observability and platforms

• Winner: Veeam

The 2026 ISG Paragon Awards for North America reflect a new methodology, recognizing five subcategories of winners within each award category. As AI reshapes business operations, ISG research finds enterprise clients are seeking more innovation, broader service scope and increased output from their provider partnerships. Providers are extending their role beyond transaction delivery to help clients govern intelligent workflows, improve industry-specific performance and demonstrate measurable business outcomes.

To reflect these broader enterprise expectations and provider roles, the new methodology recognizes partnerships for unique contributions to innovation, impact, performance and culture, and for ownership, expertise or initiative on the part of an individual or small team. All winning categories carry equal standing.

"Congratulations to all the outstanding organizations honored at the 2026 ISG Sourcing Industry Awards,” said John Boccuzzi, Jr., partner and president, ISG Research. "This year, we are pleased to recognize a broader range of outstanding winners for our Paragon Awards, reflecting the increasingly consequential role providers play in driving enterprise transformation. Both the ISG Paragon Awards and the ISG Software Innovation Awards showcase and honor the wide-ranging applications of technology for tangible, enduring success.”

An independent expert panel of judges selected the following winners of the 2026 ISG Paragon Awards for North America:

AI Pacesetter: Substantial business impact through the adoption of AI

• Paragon Challenger - Bold Innovation & Change: HCLTech and Comcast Corporation
• Paragon Champion - Outstanding Business Impact: UST and Albertsons Companies
• Paragon Commendation - Excellence in Values & Culture: Sutherland Global Services Private and Hiscox US
• Paragon Contender - Consistent High Performance: IBM Consulting and Providence
• Paragon Standout - Exceptional Individual Contribution: Tiger Analytics and Takeda Pharmaceuticals America

Excellence: Outstanding delivery by a service provider

• Paragon Challenger - Bold Innovation & Change: Coforge and IAT Insurance Group
• Paragon Champion - Outstanding Business Impact: Unisys and Cushman & Wakefield
• Paragon Commendation - Excellence in Values & Culture: LTM and PHINIA
• Paragon Standout - Exceptional Individual Contribution: GEP and Monogram Foods

Innovation: Imagination and entrepreneurial spirit in helping organizations future-proof their businesses and better serve clients

• Paragon Challenger - Bold Innovation & Change: Infosys and Citi
• Paragon Champion - Outstanding Business Impact: IBM Consulting and Fortitude Life and Annuity Solutions, Inc.
• Paragon Contender - Consistent High Performance: Ensono and a Rail-based Transportation Company
• Paragon Standout - Exceptional Individual Contribution: UST and Sanofi

Partnership of the Year: A high-performing partnership that drove exceptional business outcomes

• Paragon Challenger - Bold Innovation & Change: Bahwan Cybertek (BCT) and Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI)
• Paragon Champion - Outstanding Business Impact: Techwave Consulting and Waymo
• Paragon Contender - Consistent High Performance: Mphasis Corporation and Corebridge Financial
• Paragon Standout - Exceptional Individual Contribution: Mastek and Cort

Transformation: The successful transformation of an organization or key business function

• Paragon Challenger - Bold Innovation & Change: HTC Global Services and American Family Insurance
• Paragon Champion - Outstanding Business Impact: Cognizant Technology Solutions and EmblemHealth
• Paragon Commendation - Excellence in Values & Culture: LTM and Carrier
• Paragon Contender - Consistent High Performance: Infosys and Prime Therapeutics
• Paragon Standout - Exceptional Individual Contribution: Marlabs and gategroup

The September 24 gala dinner also recognized winners of the ISG Provider Lens Awards, honoring outstanding performances by providers featured in ISG Provider Lens studies, and the ISG Star of Excellence awards, which recognize excellence in provider delivery based on enterprise client feedback. Full details are available on the award website.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data and research, in-depth knowledge and governance of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,500 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

Fonte: Business Wire