Workday Introduces Workday Data Cloud to Unlock the Power of People and Money Data and Accelerate AI-Powered Innovation

Rhea-AI Summary

Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY) has announced the launch of Workday Data Cloud, a groundbreaking data layer designed to unlock the strategic value of HR and finance data. The platform will enable organizations to connect their workforce and financial information with existing analytics platforms through partnerships with Databricks, Salesforce, and Snowflake.

The solution introduces four key components: Workday Data Lake for centralized data access, Workday Data Connect for zero-copy data sharing, Workday Live Data Query for direct SQL access, and Workday Prism for data integration. This infrastructure will allow real-time access to insights and eliminate the need for costly data exports and duplicates.

The platform will be available to early adopters in H1 2026, with general availability later that year.

Positive

• Zero-copy data sharing eliminates costly data exports and duplicates
• Real-time access to HR and finance data insights through partnerships with major platforms
• Enhanced data integration capabilities for better decision-making and AI innovation
• Unified view of workforce, financial, customer, and operational data in one ecosystem

Negative

• Extended timeline to general availability (not until late 2026)
• Initial limited access to early adopters only in first half of 2026

Insights

Enterprise Software Analyst

Workday's new Data Cloud creates significant competitive advantage by enabling seamless data integration with major platforms, enhancing AI capabilities and customer value.

Workday's announcement of its Data Cloud represents a strategic evolution in enterprise data architecture that addresses a fundamental challenge in the enterprise software market. The new offering creates a zero-copy data sharing architecture between Workday's core HR and financial data systems and major data platforms including Databricks, Salesforce, and Snowflake.

What makes this technically significant is the shift away from traditional ETL (extract, transform, load) processes that create data silos, latency issues, and governance challenges. By leveraging Apache Iceberg connections, Workday is essentially creating a federated data layer that maintains a single source of truth while enabling cross-platform analytics without duplicating data.

The business impact is substantial. Organizations have historically struggled to connect workforce and financial data with customer and operational data - creating blind spots in decision-making. For example, correlating employee engagement metrics with store performance data or linking financial forecasts with sales pipeline information typically required complex, costly integration projects that delivered stale insights.

The four core components - Workday Data Lake, Data Connect, Live Data Query, and Prism - create a comprehensive data ecosystem that positions Workday as not just an application provider but a strategic data platform. The SQL access capability is particularly valuable as it allows data science teams to work with Workday data using familiar tools rather than requiring specialized knowledge.

The 2026 availability timeline indicates this is a forward-looking announcement that won't impact immediate financial results, but it demonstrates Workday's commitment to enhancing its enterprise AI platform capabilities. By creating this open data ecosystem with major analytics platforms, Workday is strengthening its competitive moat while addressing the increasing demand for AI-ready, connected data architecture in the enterprise.

Partnerships with Databricks, Salesforce, and Snowflake to Help Organizations Put HR and Finance Data to Work – Creating an Open and Connected Data Ecosystem

Workday Data Cloud Will Unify People and Money Data with Customer, Market, and Operational Data to Create a True Strategic Advantage

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Workday Rising 2025 -- Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), the enterprise AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, today announced Workday Data Cloud, a new data layer that will help organizations unlock the strategic value of their HR and finance data by connecting it to their existing analytics platforms and operational systems. Customers will get rich, secure, real-time access to insights – turning workforce and financial information into action faster than ever.

Workday also announced that it is partnering with Databricks, Salesforce, and Snowflake to give customers direct, zero-copy access to their core HR and finance data within the platforms they already use and bring that customer and business data into Workday with the same zero-copy approach. This will eliminate the need for costly data exports, bulky reports, and stale duplicates – just clean, governed data at work.

For example, a retailer could combine Workday data on employee engagement with Snowflake data on store performance to help them understand which teams are driving the most sales. Or finance teams will be able to unify Workday's financial data with market, risk, or sales data in Databricks to power real-time forecasting and scenario planning. Additionally, HR leaders will be able to enrich retention and performance insights from Workday with product sales data, sales team KPIs like sales quota attainment, or operational metrics like case resolution times from Salesforce – enabling real-time employee insight linked to business outcomes. This will help data teams build more accurate predictive models, automate insights across departments, and drive innovation – all using trusted, governed, and current data at the core.

"Too often, the most valuable data inside organizations is locked away – hard to access, slow to move, and costly to connect," said Gerrit Kazmaier, president of product and technology, Workday. "With Workday Data Cloud and our zero-copy approach, customers will finally have simple, secure, and open access to their most trusted data – fueling a new generation of AI-powered innovation."

Workday Data Cloud will provide a set of capabilities that enable organizations to securely connect and analyze HR and finance data in context with customer, market, and operational data. Together, these features will help ensure leaders have timely, governed insights to guide decision-making and accelerate AI innovation.

• Workday Data Lake: Will allow secure, easy access to a curated catalog of Workday business objects across Workday Human Capital Management (HCM), Workday Recruiting, Workday Payroll, Workday Learning, Workday Financial Management, Workday Spend Management, Workday Student, and more. This creates a single source of truth, reducing duplicated data and improving consistency across different applications. For example, customers will be able to streamline employee onboarding processes across HR, IT, and payroll, or sync financial data with project management data.
• Workday Data Connect: Will enable two-way, zero-copy data sharing between Workday and leading data platforms like Databricks, Salesforce Data Cloud, and Snowflake through a new Apache Iceberg connection. This will allow HR and finance data to be accessed in external platforms while bringing customer and market data into Workday, without duplication or complex integrations.
• Workday Live Data Query: Will provide direct SQL access to Workday's core business data allowing customers to access the data they need in minutes, not months. This will accelerate advanced analytics, support AI model development, and enable faster business insights. For example, a finance professional will be able to get an up-to-the-minute view of budget vs. actual spend to accelerate the financial close process.
• Workday Prism: Will extend Workday's data integration and transformation capabilities to support inbound zero-copy queries from external platforms. This will allow finance teams to enrich Workday financial data with market information in Snowflake's AI Data Cloud or in Databricks, or HR teams to connect performance data with customer outcomes from Salesforce Data Cloud – all while maintaining Workday's governance and security standards.

Comments from Workday Data Cloud Partners

"The partnership between Snowflake and Workday is a major step forward in how companies can leverage their most valuable asset: their data," said Christian Kleinerman, executive vice president of product, Snowflake. "By eliminating the friction of data silos, we are making it possible for customers to accelerate their AI innovation and achieve a faster return on investment. This means business leaders can get the right insights, at the right time, to make smarter decisions and gain a competitive edge."

"Customers consistently ask us for practical ways to realize the benefits of data and AI within their businesses. The core challenge has always been managing, governing, and unifying their data effectively," said Stephen Orban, senior vice president of product ecosystems and partnerships, Databricks. "By breaking down silos, this partnership enables customers to seamlessly enrich their data lakes with a trusted Workday data layer, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and smarter decision-making."

"To thrive in the agentic era, businesses need a unified view of their operations," said Narinder Singh, vice president, product management, Salesforce. "With Workday as part of our Zero Copy Partner Network, we are giving customers secure access to comprehensive HR, finance, and CRM data on our connected platform – providing the highly relevant, rich context needed to drive smarter agents and better outcomes for employees and customers."

Availability

Workday Data Cloud will be available to early adopter customers in the first half of 2026 and generally available later that year.

For More Information

• Register to attend Workday Rising sessions in the digital program:
  • The Workday Platform: Transforming Work with Agentic AI [25-KEY2], Sept. 16 at 8:45am PT.
  • Building on Workday | Workday Extend and Workday Orchestrate: Strategy and Vision [25-PSVIT1293], Sept. 16 at 4:40pm PT.
  • What's New: Workday Prism Analytics [25-ITWN1314], Sept. 17 at 2:20pm PT.

About Workday 
Workday is the enterprise AI platform for managing people, money, and agents. Workday unifies HR and Finance on one intelligent platform with AI at the core to empower people at every level with the clarity, confidence, and insights they need to adapt quickly, make better decisions, and deliver outcomes that matter. Workday is used by more than 11,000 organizations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 65% of the Fortune 500. For more information about Workday, visit workday.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding Workday's plans, beliefs, and expectations. These forward-looking statements are based only on currently available information and our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. If the risks materialize, assumptions prove incorrect, or we experience unexpected changes in circumstances, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements, and therefore you should not rely on any forward-looking statements. Risks include, but are not limited to, risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our most recent report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K and other reports that we have filed and will file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Workday assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Any unreleased services, features, or functions referenced in this document, our website, or other press releases or public statements that are not currently available are subject to change at Workday's discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all. Customers who purchase Workday services should make their purchase decisions based upon services, features, and functions that are currently available.

© 2025 Workday, Inc. All rights reserved. Workday and the Workday logo are registered trademarks of Workday, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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SOURCE Workday Inc.

FAQ

What is Workday Data Cloud and when will it be available?

Workday Data Cloud is a new data layer that connects HR and finance data with analytics platforms. It will be available to early adopters in H1 2026 and generally available later that year.

Which companies has Workday partnered with for the Data Cloud initiative?

Workday has partnered with Databricks, Salesforce, and Snowflake to provide zero-copy access to core HR and finance data within their platforms.

What are the main components of Workday Data Cloud?

The main components are Workday Data Lake for centralized data access, Workday Data Connect for zero-copy sharing, Workday Live Data Query for SQL access, and Workday Prism for data integration.

How will Workday Data Cloud benefit organizations?

It will provide real-time access to insights, eliminate costly data exports, enable better decision-making through unified data, and accelerate AI innovation while maintaining security and governance.

What types of data can be integrated using Workday Data Cloud?

The platform can integrate HR, finance, customer, market, and operational data, allowing organizations to combine employee engagement data with store performance, financial data with market insights, and retention metrics with sales data.