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With AI shifting the world of work, it’s never been more important to upskill your workforce. Taking an employee-centric approach is key to realising the benefits of AI adoption.
The world of work is undergoing seismic shifts, with AI transforming how work gets done. Organizations must strategically embrace AI to thrive, but leaders face the challenge of guiding teams to capture results while unlocking human potential. This is critical as 47% of C-suite leaders cite talent skill gaps as a reason their organizations are too slow in releasing generative AI tools.
Workday is applying its AI innovation, which transforms HR and finance for customers, to its internal operations. To equip all employees, from seasoned experts to those in less technical roles, we launched EverydayAI. This is our largest learning and development effort ever, designed to upskill nearly 20,000 employees and evolve the culture with an AI-first mindset.
Driven by Data and Employee Insights
Our people-centred, enterprise-wide approach to AI adoption is rooted in research and data. The majority of our employees use internal AI tools daily, experiencing clear benefits like boosted productivity, new insights, and enhanced creativity. EverydayAI is built on this momentum.
Insights from Workday People Analytics and focus groups revealed key factors for increasing employee comfort and confidence with AI:
Time and permission to experiment: Managers who encourage direct reports "to explore and make mistakes" see increased motivation and willingness to use AI.
The power of peers: Peer-to-peer guidance, such as leaders inviting team members to demo their own AI use cases, has a significantly larger impact than generalized training.
Leader guidance: Employees seek clear direction on when and where to use AI tools effectively.
Tailored messaging: Messaging must address reservations about reliability and accuracy, especially in functions sensitive to the nature of their work.
Foundation for Success
Successful AI adoption across any organization requires these foundational elements:
Mindset and culture shift: This is a fundamental change in how business is done, not a one-off training. Leaders must explain the bigger picture—why AI matters for the future and how it will make jobs better—and foster accountability by introducing individual AI goals.
Continuous learning and curiosity: In the age of AI, leaders should focus on empowering employees to experiment, connect with peers, and build new skills. Enable leaders with messaging that fosters curiosity, and showcase employees doing innovative things with AI.
Strong HR and IT partnership: Adoption is a team effort. HR brings the understanding of people's needs, and IT delivers the technological backbone. A shared roadmap between these two teams ensures the right tools are in the right hands with the necessary support.
Leading Teams into the Future
While AI offers incredible opportunities, people ultimately drive success. By focusing on employees, investing in their growth, and using AI as a galvanizing force, you can build a future where technology helps you achieve amazing things.
At Workday, we’re not just adapting to the age of AI; we’re leaning into it together. Read our global report Elevating Human Potential to find out how AI is transforming work, learning and skills development.
