Workday announced the latest version of its software as a service (Saas) platform for human resource (HR) and financial management this month, with a completely new user interface (UI). It is also the first release on Workday’s new single code line approach for both development and delivery.
The changes to the interface – the fifth major UI enhancement in the company’s nine-year history – are in response to user demand for more consumer-like computing experiences in the enterprise, executives said. The single code line approach will allow companies to preview new functionality to give feedback to Workday and prepare users for the changes, they noted. While customers have a window to voluntarily “opt-in” to the new version, all Workday users will be moved to the latest version by the end of April 2014.
While there is a cult-like interest in Workday as an alternative to old HR and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, it remains to be seen if companies can truly use Workday in a meaningful way, particularly if they cannot manage change amidst the very changing nature of work and their workforces very well.
