Effortless Integration: Workday and Salesforce Combine Data with AI by Year’s End 

Workday and Salesforce are two powerful applications. Workday focuses on HR and financial tools, while Salesforce is known for its CRM platform. Currently, they collect data separately. However, this is about to change. By the end of the year, users will be able to query and analyze data from both applications as if it is on a single platform.

Common Data Foundation with AI

A new common data foundation will be used. It will utilize an AI agent to access the data and answer user queries without copying the data. This method allows data to be shared without duplication. It will improve data security and consistency by ensuring users access the same, up-to-date information.

Key Features and Benefits

David Somers, Chief Product Officer at Workday, and David Schmaier, Chief Product Officer at Salesforce, shared some use cases:

1. Automated Training Enrollment: If a sales professional needs specific product training, the AI agent can automatically enroll them in relevant training sessions. This uses data from Salesforce’s CRM and Workday’s HR system to provide a training path.
2. Integrated Financial and CRM Data: Workday financial data can be integrated with CRM data from Salesforce. This creates a comprehensive view of financial performance and customer interactions.

Zero Copy Partner Network

Workday has joined the Salesforce Zero Copy Partner Network. This makes Workday the first SaaS provider in this network. Schmaier said, “We see this as the future where these apps are not silos but come pre-integrated at the data level.”

Integration with Slack

The integration also includes Slack, which will serve as a conversational interface for users to access financial and HR records. Workday already has an integration with Slack, allowing users to onboard employees through Slack. Schmaier mentioned, “People, AI, and automation can all come together in Slack.”

Industry Expert Insights

R “Ray” Wang, an analyst at Constellation Research, noted, “In many companies, these systems don’t talk together unless you buy from one vendor.” But under the Workday and Salesforce agreement, they are “doing the work of integration” and the “hard work of integrating data and business processes.”

With the AI agent, users can ask questions like:

• Which campaign provided the most profitability?
• Which service requests affect manufacturing operations the most?
• What hiring trends are improving customer satisfaction?

Personalized AI-Powered Agents

Somers added that the partnership focuses on delivering personalized AI-powered agents. The first of these agents will target employee self-service for tasks such as onboarding, health benefits, and enrollment in career development.

Additionally, Salesforce Einstein AI will enhance data analysis and provide deeper insights through the integration.

Conclusion

This integration between Workday and Salesforce represents a significant advancement. By the end of the year, users will benefit from a seamless experience, accessing and analyzing data from both platforms with the help of AI. This will enhance efficiency, security, and consistency in data management, providing valuable insights and streamlining processes across HR, finance, and CRM functions. 

Additionally, users interested in using these powerful tools should explore the available Salesforce Pricing Plans to find the best fit for their business needs.