Workday’s latest global study highlights an uncomfortable truth

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing how work gets done. From automating routine tasks to accelerating decision-making, AI is delivering clear productivity gains across industries.

But new research from Workday reveals a critical reality:

AI is saving time — yet many organizations are losing value to rework, low-quality output, and outdated job structures.

According to Workday’s global study, Beyond Productivity: Measuring the Real Value of AI:

  • 89% of companies have not updated job roles to reflect AI capabilities

  • Only 14% of employees consistently experience positive outcomes from AI usage

This gap between technology adoption and organizational readiness is where digital transformation either succeeds… or stalls.

The AI Productivity Paradox

While employees are using AI tools more frequently, much of the time saved is being absorbed by:

  • Fixing inaccurate or incomplete AI outputs
  • Rewriting content
  • Verifying results
  • Working around processes designed for a pre-AI world

In short, organizations are gaining speed — but not always gaining quality or impact.

AI increases capacity. But without modern roles, new skills, and redesigned workflows, that capacity rarely converts into sustainable business value.

What High-ROI Organizations Managed Differently

As a Workday Partner, we consistently see stronger results when organizations treat AI as a workforce transformation initiative — not just a technology rollout.

The highest-performing organizations focus on four key areas:

1. Investing in Employee AI Skills

Training employees to use AI effectively, responsibly, and confidently is essential
to reducing rework and improving output quality.

2. Redesigning Outdated Job Roles

AI changes how work is performed. Roles and responsibilities must evolve accordingly
to avoid friction, duplication, and inefficiencies.

3. Integrating AI Into HR & Finance Workflows

AI delivers the most value when embedded directly into core business processes
— not used as a disconnected tool.

4. Prioritizing Quality Over Pure Automation

Automation without accuracy creates risk. Successful organizations optimize for reliability,
governance, and measurable outcomes.

Read the Full Research

“Beyond Productivity: Measuring the Real Value of AI”
Source & credit: Workday, Inc.

We encourage business leaders to read the full report to explore detailed findings and recommendations.

Choosing the Right Workday Automation Partner

Selecting the right Workday automation partner is critical to achieving sustainable, enterprise-grade automation success. Beyond technical expertise, factors such as Workday platform knowledge, industry experience, and long-term support capabilities play a major role in determining project outcomes.

Leading Workday automation partners focus on business transformation, not just task automation. They help organizations redesign processes, improve data quality, and embed intelligence directly into HR and Finance workflows — ensuring automation delivers measurable and lasting value.

To achieve real business outcomes, organizations should partner with providers that offer:

  • End-to-end Workday automation services (Workday Extend, integrations, orchestration, and reporting)

  • AI consulting and implementation within the Workday ecosystem

  • Process discovery, redesign, and optimization for HR & Finance

  • Seamless ERP and CRM integration with Workday

  • Ongoing support, monitoring, and governance for automated workflows

Leading Workday automation partners help organizations move beyond isolated automation initiatives and toward a connected, intelligent digital operating model — where automation improves accuracy, employee experience, compliance, and decision-making.

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