Workday is a company that provides cloud-based software for managing human resources (HR) and finances. They are working on a new system called the Workday Agent System of Record, which helps businesses keep track of their AI assistants. These AI assistants, also known as agents, help employees with different tasks. Workday is also developing new AI agents that can take on specific roles within a company.
David Somers, the chief product officer at Workday, said that managing AI agents is similar to managing employees. Businesses need tools to help with hiring, training, tracking performance, managing costs, and ensuring that everything follows company rules and regulations. The new system will provide these tools, making it easier for companies to use AI to support their work.
In September, Workday introduced an AI platform called Illuminate, which includes four AI agents: Recruiter, Expenses, Succession, and Optimize. Each of these AI agents is designed to help with different tasks. The Recruiter AI agent helps businesses find job candidates, recommend talent, and schedule interviews. The Expenses AI agent handles expense reports, making it easier to create, submit, and approve them. The Succession AI agent helps managers plan for future leadership changes by recommending successors and creating personalized development plans. The Optimize AI agent identifies problems in company processes, such as inefficiencies and delays, and suggests ways to improve them.
Workday believes AI agents should be able to take on specific roles within a company instead of just performing simple tasks. Most AI tools today follow strict step-by-step instructions to complete a job, but Workday wants its AI agents to be more flexible and capable of handling multiple skills. Workday’s CEO, Carl Eschenbach, believes that this shift from task-based AI to role-based AI will allow businesses to fully unlock the power of artificial intelligence. He explained that role-based agents may start with just one skill but will eventually learn multiple skills over time. This will make them more useful and help them provide better support to employees.
Along with the existing AI agents, Workday has announced new AI agents that will assist with contracts, payroll, financial auditing, and company policies. The contract agent will analyze legal agreements to find important details, such as risks and opportunities. The payroll agent will identify errors in payroll data, automate payroll processes, and ensure that payments are accurate and follow company rules. The financial auditing agent will help businesses track financial transactions, balance company accounts, and review internal financial controls. The policy agent will provide employees with company policy details whenever they have questions or need guidance while working.
All Workday AI agents, as well as third-party AI agents, will be available through the Workday Marketplace. This means businesses can easily find and use AI agents that fit their needs. The new Workday Agent System of Record and role-based AI agents are still being developed, but Workday expects them to be ready later this year. These AI tools aim to make work easier for HR, finance, and business leaders by handling important tasks efficiently and accurately, allowing employees to focus on more complex and creative work.
Workday’s new AI system is designed to help companies work smarter. Many businesses struggle with time-consuming tasks such as hiring new employees, managing expenses, and ensuring payroll is correct. AI agents can take on these tasks, allowing human employees to focus on more important work. Workday’s system will not only help businesses manage AI agents but also improve the way employees interact with AI tools.
The Workday Agent System of Record is like a management system for AI agents. Just like companies have tools to manage employees, they will now have tools to manage AI agents. This includes onboarding new AI agents, defining their roles and responsibilities, tracking their performance, and ensuring they follow company rules. The system will also allow businesses to predict costs and plan budgets related to AI agents, ensuring that they are being used in the most efficient way possible.
One of the most exciting parts of Workday’s new AI strategy is the development of role-based AI agents. These agents are different from traditional AI tools, which follow a strict set of instructions. Instead, role-based AI agents will have the flexibility to learn new skills and perform multiple tasks within a business. For example, a payroll AI agent may start by checking payroll data for errors but later learn how to automate payroll reports and provide insights into employee salaries. This flexibility makes AI agents more useful and allows businesses to get more value from their AI investments.
Workday’s CEO, Carl Eschenbach, believes that AI agents should not be limited to just one task. Instead, they should evolve over time and gain new abilities, just like human employees do. This approach will make AI agents more effective at supporting employees and helping businesses run more smoothly.
The new AI agents announced by Workday are designed to improve specific business functions. The contract agent will help businesses manage contracts by analyzing documents and highlighting important information. This can help companies make better business decisions and avoid legal risks. The payroll agent will make payroll processes smoother by identifying errors and ensuring that employees are paid correctly and on time. The financial auditing agent will help businesses track financial transactions, reconcile accounts, and ensure that company finances are in order. The policy agent will help employees understand company rules by providing clear information whenever they need it.
By introducing these AI agents, Workday is making it easier for businesses to integrate AI into their daily operations. Instead of relying on human employees to do repetitive tasks, AI agents can take over these responsibilities, freeing up employees to focus on more strategic work. This can lead to greater efficiency, cost savings, and improved decision-making within organizations.
Workday is also making its AI agents available through the Workday Marketplace. This means businesses can choose the AI agents that best fit their needs and easily integrate them into their existing systems. The Workday Agent System of Record and the new role-based AI agents are still in development, but Workday expects them to be available soon.
In summary, Workday’s new AI tools are designed to help businesses manage AI agents and improve workplace efficiency. The Workday Agent System of Record will give businesses a way to track and optimize their AI agents, ensuring they are used effectively. The new role-based AI agents will go beyond simple tasks and take on more complex responsibilities, making them more useful for businesses. By leveraging these AI tools, companies can save time, reduce costs, and improve their overall operations. Workday’s focus on AI innovation shows its commitment to helping businesses work smarter and more efficiently in the future.
