AI, New Use Cases Reshape U.S. Workday Deployments

Enterprises in the U.S. are expanding their use of Workday, transforming it from a human resources system of record into a platform that supports financial, operational and workforce agility, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

The 2025 ISG Provider Lens Workday Ecosystem report for the U.S. finds that Workday adoption has reached a new stage of maturity as enterprises apply the platform to more functions. Organizations are using Workday to modernize finance, implement data-driven strategies and enhance employee experiences. With these changes, they are positioning Workday as a core element of long-term enterprise transformation.

“U.S. enterprises are investing in Workday as a flexible foundation for financial visibility, workforce transformation and innovation,” said Stacey Cadigan, partner, ISG Human Capital Management and Enterprise Transformation. “This evolution is turning Workday into a central platform for managing people and money.”

Transformations of Workday driven by financial management needs are accelerating across U.S. organizations, the report says. Companies are replacing legacy financial systems with Workday Financial Management to gain real-time insights and improve planning and analysis. This embeds Workday deeper into strategic decision-making and may elevate the role of the CFO in modernization initiatives.

U.S. enterprises are beginning to take AI use within Workday from experimentation to practical application, the report says. Organizations are using AI and machine learning to automate workflows, streamline talent acquisition and make operations forecasts. Agentic AI is a growing part of this trend, with agents being designed to perform multistep tasks such as candidate sourcing and scheduling, reducing administrative workloads. Workday AI initiatives are creating immense demand for services to help companies implement AI features and ensure their data is clean and structured to ensure reliability.

Companies are also shifting from rigid, job-based roles to skills-based talent strategies and using Workday features to transform their approach, the report says. For example, Workday Skills Cloud is being used to map current capabilities, predict future needs and build internal marketplaces. Organizations are changing workforce practices to improve agility, close skills gaps and enhance retention. Through Workday’s consumer-grade engagement features, companies are offering employees more personalized digital journeys.