Planning for Releases — Planning Continuity
Workday® releases and updates happen regularly, bringing new features, enhancements, and AI-driven capabilities. While these improvements offer tremendous value, careful planning is essential to maintain continuity and ensure smooth adoption across HR, Finance, Payroll, and operational processes.
1. Understand the Impact of Each Release
Before a new release, organisations must assess how updates affect workflows, integrations, and user experiences. Identifying areas of impact early allows teams to prioritise testing, allocate resources effectively, and minimise disruption.
2. Engage Stakeholders Across Functions
Successful release planning involves collaboration across HR, Finance, IT, and Operations. By involving key stakeholders, organisations ensure that all teams understand changes, align objectives, and prepare for adoption.
3. Leverage Sandbox Environments
Testing new functionality in sandbox environments allows teams to validate processes, identify issues, and refine configurations before updates reach production. This proactive approach reduces risk and ensures operational continuity.
4. Communicate and Train Users
Clear communication and targeted training are critical. Providing employees with guidance, documentation, and hands-on support helps them navigate changes confidently, maximising adoption and minimising errors.
5. Build a Continuous Improvement Loop
Release planning is not just about managing updates — it’s an opportunity to optimise processes, refine workflows, and enhance overall efficiency. Post-release reviews capture lessons learned and feed into the next cycle, fostering continuous improvement.
Final Thought
Planning for Workday® releases ensures that organisations maintain operational continuity, empower users, and unlock the full potential of new features. With structured planning, proactive testing, and clear communication, every release becomes an opportunity to strengthen systems, support teams, and drive smarter business outcomes.
