Workday has introduced the Workday Agent System of Record to centralize the management of AI agents across organizations, including those developed by Workday and third parties.
The Agent System of Record is designed to help businesses address the growing complexity of AI agents by providing tools for governance, optimization and cost management. With this system, companies can onboard AI agents, define their roles, track their impact and ensure compliance through a single platform.
“The workforce of the future will include both humans and AI agents, and businesses that don’t learn to manage this incredibly complex reality will fall quickly behind,” said Aneel Bhusri, co-founder and executive chair of Workday.
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“We believe no company in the world is better positioned than Workday to usher in this new era of workforce management in a trusted, ethical way. Our deep understanding of human skills and roles naturally extends to managing digital labor. The future is here, and just like with the transition to the cloud, we’re ready to help our customers get there first.”
Carl Eschenbach, CEO of Workday also emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting the evolving workforce: “We believe that humans and agents should peacefully coexist in a way that amplifies human performance.
“As the system of record for more than 10,500 organizations around the world, there is no one better than Workday to manage every part of the workforce – employees, contingent workers and agents – on our trusted platform.”
Workday’s Agent System of Record leverages the company’s 20 years of expertise in human capital management to offer businesses:
- Centralized Management: Providing transparency into the impact and effectiveness of AI agents.
- Streamlined Onboarding: Accelerating the deployment of new agents with clearly defined roles and secure data access.
- Cost Optimization: Enabling budgeting and forecasting to ensure efficient AI agent deployment.
- Secure Deployment: Ensuring compliance with automated configurations and policy enforcement.
- Real-Time Monitoring: Tracking agent activity and costs while ensuring optimal performance.
New role-based AI agents
Workday has also unveiled role-based AI agents designed to transform key business processes. Unlike task-specific agents, these role-based agents possess a suite of configurable skills to support broader responsibilities.
The newly announced agents include Contracts Agents to analyze contracts to surface obligations and opportunities, driving business actions, along with Payroll Agents to Automate payroll audits, compliance monitoring and workflow management.
Workday’s announcement has also gathered the attention of industry leaders:
Swami Sivasubramanian, VP of data and AI at AWS, highlighted the importance of the platform: “With Workday’s Agent System of Record, organizations will be much better positioned to ethically manage all these agents. We’re excited to collaborate with Workday to reshape the future of work through agentic AI.”
R “Ray” Wang, CEO of Constellation Research, described the platform as a “significant step forward for the industry,” while Winston Weinberg, CEO of Harvey, called it a “game-changer for enterprise AI adoption.”
Workday’s Agent System of Record and new role-based agents are expected to launch later this year.
What it means for ERP insiders
Redefining workforce management for HR and IT leaders: For HR executives, CIOs and IT administrators, Workday’s new Agent System of Record marks a transformative step in workforce management. This platform is expected to reshape how they manage the interplay between human employees and AI agents in organization. By centralizing governance, tracking and compliance, this system offers tools to streamline onboarding, define agent roles and monitor performance in real-time. HR leaders can gain clarity into how AI supports human productivity, while IT teams can ensure secure and cost-effective deployments. Workday’s approach promises managing digital labor to become as seamless as managing human talent, promising a future where AI amplifies workforce efficiency without adding complexity.
Growing market for AI workforce solutions: The release of Workday’s Agent System of Record reflects broader trends in the enterprise AI market, which is projected to grow to $309bn by 2026, according to Fortune Business Insights. As organizations increasingly rely on AI to enhance productivity and decision-making, the need for governance and optimization tools has become paramount. Competitors such as ServiceNow, Oracle and SAP have also introduced AI management solutions, underscoring the rising demand for integrated platforms. Workday’s reputation in human capital management gives it a competitive edge, allowing it to extend its expertise into digital labor management.
Key criteria for selecting AI workforce platforms: When evaluating platforms like Workday’s Agent System of Record, end-users should prioritize scalability, compliance and integration capabilities. A successful solution must provide centralized management to oversee both human and digital labor effectively. Compliance with global regulatory standards is essential to ensure ethical AI usage and mitigate risks. Furthermore, the platform should integrate seamlessly with existing enterprise systems, minimizing disruptions while enhancing functionality. Transparency in AI agent impact and costs is another critical factor, empowering organizations to make informed decisions. As businesses navigate the complexities of AI adoption, selecting a provider with a proven track record and a commitment to ethical AI will be crucial for long-term success.
