What is Workday's People-Centric AI Implementation Strategy?

AI implementation is a high priority for the C-suite, according to the 2025 C-Suite Survey by Thomson Reuters.

The survey reveals a disconnect between strategy and execution when it comes to successful AI adoption and implementation. While it found 82% of the 200 CEOs who participated claim their organisations use AI solutions, only 34% say they have equipped employees with the necessary tools. This highlights a major hurdle in digital transformation efforts.

Further research from Boston Consulting Group indicates that a primary challenge for companies implementing AI is down to “people-related issues” which can include staff caution over the introduction of the technology.

Workforce management platform Workday has developed a people-centric approach to navigate these barriers, with the innovative strategy resulting in 79% of its employees using AI in their roles.

Workday found through internal research that employees were not using AI because they were unsure of when it was appropriate to do so. To address this, the company devised and rolled our a programme known as ‘Everyday AI’, designed to encourage staff to experiment with the tools.

Overcoming AI adoption barriers

The ‘Everyday AI’ programme has seen “huge adoption and real enthusiasm” within the business, explained Ashley Goldsmith, Workday’s Chief People Officer (CPO).

The initiative was launched with a company-wide meeting in April led by Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach, who opened the session by discussing his own use of AI before inviting employees to share their experiences.

Discussing the launch, Ashley told HR Brew she deliberately focused the event on employees to “engage and inspire” them rather than delivering general AI training.

The approach proved effective, with Workday reporting in June that over a quarter of employees were using the technology.

Rani Johnson, Workday Chief Information Officer (CIO), says: “We’ve embraced its power to foster innovation and, most importantly, to make work more meaningful for everyone.”

Workday plans to build on this initial success with new tools, including a peer recognition feature for AI use and resources for managers to help them activate AI within their teams.

Applying functional AI in human resources

The HR team at Workday has been an early adopter of these new AI techniques.

Ashley says: “We want to take full advantage of and maximise all the efficiency and productivity, and assistance that we can gain from within these tools.”

One of the key tools her team has adopted is the ‘Workday recruiting agent’, which helps to streamline the process of sourcing and selecting candidates.

The introduction of the agent led to a 12% decrease in recruiters’ workloads, and Ashley says it has resulted in “getting really good quality candidates”. The feedback from interviews has also been positive.

“Everybody feels like it was a great use of their time to interview, because their thoughts were heard” she added.

Another tool the HR team has implemented is ‘Peakon’ a technology that analyses thousands of employee comments to provide insights.

Ashley believes this tool is “truly transformative”, saying: “I think, in the world today, where we know trust is critical and changes at breakneck speed, it’s harder to continue to stay in touch with your employees. To build and keep trust at that speed, listening is so incredibly important.”

A framework for AI implementation

Workday aims to provide a model for other companies looking to implement AI across their organisations. Rani says: “We believe that our experiences and strategies can provide valuable guidance for other leaders as they navigate the complexities of the AI landscape.”

She suggests a three-pillar framework for other businesses to follow: 

• Building awareness and excitement
• Empowering AI champions
• Functional AI and responsible implementation

This structured approach to adoption from both a performance and employee well-being perspective could prove beneficial.

Ashley continues to encourage her team to find new applications for AI, explaining that “I think if we all follow the advice we give others, it really does work."