This year's Workday Rising in Las Vegas was incredibly exciting. As someone who has the privilege of immersing myself in the dynamic Workday ecosystem with our clients every day, I found the event particularly inspiring. There’s just something about gathering more than 30,000 people – in-person and virtually – to share knowledge, exchange ideas and explore the latest innovations. The energy and enthusiasm were palpable, and I'm eager to share my top five highlights from this transformative experience.
1. AI: The catalyst for continuous innovation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the star of the show, sitting prominently at the top of nearly everyone’s agenda for growth. AI isn't just a buzzword; it's the driving force behind the innovation we need to stay ahead. In today's fast-paced, always-on world, resting on our laurels – and relying on what’s always worked – is no longer an option. This is exactly why PwC is committed to helping our clients push the boundaries of what's possible with Workday, leveraging AI to help unlock new capabilities and solutions.
Consider this: AI isn't just about automation; it's about augmentation. It's about enhancing human potential and enabling us to think bigger and bolder – and clearing the time necessary for these big ideas to take shape.
For example, in PwC’s newly released 2024 Cloud and AI Business Survey, we identified the top 12% of companies already reaping rewards from AI and cloud investments. During our Workday Rising session, “GenAI and the Future of Finance on AWS,” we explored this notion further, challenging attendees to create data and AI-enabled solutions for industry-leading opportunity areas. This inspired deep dives into practical AI applications, fostering lively discussions and innovative thinking among participants.
The bottom line: Responsible AI, scalable AI is shaping a future we're excited to be a part of, and Workday is the ideal collaborator to help us get there.
2. Global expansion: Navigating new markets
Workday is one of the global powerhouses. The company's push into diverse markets is a testament to its strong and versatile platform. Being at the forefront of this global expansion is motivating for us at PwC. We relish the opportunity to help new markets and organizations experience the transformative power of Workday.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to Gartner market share research, Workday had the largest market share in 2023 for ERP Worldwide SaaS revenue at 19.6%, highlighting growing demand for its solutions worldwide. This global reach allows us to bring our industry-leading knowledge to new clients, helping them navigate the complexities of different markets and regulatory environments. It's a thrilling journey, and we’re just getting started.
3. Workday financials: Gaining even more momentum
One key growth area is Workday financials, which offers advanced financial management tools on a flexible, cloud-based platform. Our PwC transformation team helps clients increase these capabilities by streamlining processes, gaining deeper insights and driving efficiency.
A prime example is Workday’s Security and Controls, which helps empower clients to automate controls where possible and swiftly respond to new regulations. A holistic approach to identifying risks early in your Workday journey and integrating controls within the system can help pinpoint potential threats before they become problems. This approach also enables you to discover new opportunities and adapt to rapid changes.
Case in (financial transformation) point: Check out our work with Key Bank, one of America’s largest Workday finance transformations.
4. Industry Accelerator Program: Meaningful collaboration
At PwC, we believe in the power of co-creation. The Industry Accelerator Program is a shining example of this philosophy in action. This program blends Workday's HR and finance solutions with industry-leading insights and pre-configured offerings from global partners. It's designed to help customers speed up their digital transformation and see quicker results, tackling specific issues like project efficiency and staffing shortages.
Take, for example, our work with a healthcare provider grappling with physician compensation challenges. By teaming up with Workday, we've developed a solution that not only addresses this specific issue but also has the potential to be replicated and customized for other clients. This deep collaboration empowers us to build a stronger set of solutions that can be tailored to help meet the unique needs of various industries.
5. Skills-based workforce: Building tomorrow’s team
The future of work isn't just about technology; it's about people. A skills-based workforce is the cornerstone of a successful talent strategy, and starts with a strong talent architecture, which allows organizations to help both capture and cultivate skills.
Once you have a clear understanding of your workforce's skills, you can make strategic decisions about hiring and development. And it's not just about meeting today's needs; it's about anticipating future demands. With so many companies reinventing their business models, the ability to look ahead and identify the skills you should have in six months or even two years down the road is invaluable.
A well-curated skills database acts as your organization's headlights, providing much-needed visibility into future needs.
The road ahead
I'm more excited than ever about what the future holds. By joining forces with Workday, we can help our clients navigate the complexities of today, and tomorrow’s, business landscape. Here's to a future of continuous innovation and strategic growth. Let's rise – and innovate – together. Cheers to the road ahead.
