How Workday® Finance Operations Could Evolve with the acquisition of Sana
Workday®’s acquisition of Sana in September 2025 is more than corporate news — it represents a potential transformation for Finance operations teams. While HR operations may experience the most immediate day-to-day impact ([read more here]), Finance functions stand to gain in efficiency, insight, and compliance across their processes.
Who is Sana?
Founded in 2016, Sana is a leading AI company specialising in enterprise knowledge and learning solutions. Its core offerings are:
- Sana Learn – An AI-native learning platform that accelerates content creation, course generation, and personalised employee training.
- Sana Agents – No-code AI assistants that automate routine tasks, provide proactive insights, and operate within secure, compliant frameworks.
With over a million users globally, Sana’s tools have already proven their value at scale. Now integrated into Workday®, they have the potential to enhance Finance operations as well as HR.
Implications for Finance Operations
1. Accelerated Access to Financial Knowledge
Sana’s AI search enables Finance teams to locate policies, procedural guides, and historical transaction data instantly, reducing time spent on manual research and improving the speed of audits, reconciliations, and reporting.
2. Automation of Repetitive Processes
Routine Finance workflows — such as generating dashboards, reconciling accounts, monitoring expense approvals, or tracking compliance tasks — can be automated with Sana Agents. This not only saves time but also improves consistency and reduces the risk of errors.
3. Proactive Insights for Better Decision-Making
By combining Workday®’s financial data with AI-driven insights, Finance operations teams can:
- Detect trends or anomalies in spending and revenue.
- Receive early alerts on compliance or operational risks.
- Identify opportunities to optimise budgets, forecasts, and financial workflows.
4. Enhanced Learning and Upskilling
Sana Learn can accelerate onboarding and continuous learning for Finance staff by:
- Quickly producing targeted content on regulations, processes, or system updates.
- Delivering personalised learning pathways for accountants, analysts, and payroll specialists.
- Reducing time-to-competence for new hires or cross-functional rotations.
5. Security and Compliance Assurance
Financial operations involve sensitive data, and Sana’s AI operates within Workday®’s secure Agent System of Record. This ensures that automated processes remain auditable, compliant, and governed, allowing Finance teams to leverage AI confidently.
Bottom Line
While HR operations may see the most immediate, visible impact ([read more here]), Finance operations can benefit from improved efficiency, smarter insights, and stronger compliance controls. By automating routine tasks, gaining faster access to knowledge, and using AI-driven insights, Finance teams can spend more time on strategic decision-making — strengthening the organisation’s financial performance and responsiveness.
Call to Action
Curious how these changes could impact your Finance operations or Workday® projects? Get in touch with us at Clientside to explore how expert support, service delivery, and AI-driven tools can accelerate your Workday® success.
