‘There's nothing better than being able to simplify’: Workday SVP tells us why effective AI usage can be a “superpower” for your business

The rise of AI is transforming numerous aspects of business operations, prompting organizations of all sizes to seek effective and efficient utilization of this technology. However, an effective AI strategy is crucial for maximizing success, according to Max Wessel, SVP Product at Workday. In an interview, Wessel emphasized that AI should ideally anticipate, advise, and react based on intention, which he says is completely dependent on context.

Workday, a pioneer in AI tools and services, boasts 20 years of context, encompassing over 1.4 trillion transactions on a single data model and business process framework. This unique position allows the company to understand business decision-making and provide advice and action accordingly. Wessel addressed the possibility of a 'SaaSpocalypse' - a revolution in the software industry brought on by AI agents and systems.

He explained that AI needs to deliver predictability and precision in outcomes while maintaining trust and reliability. To ensure lawful AI agents, Workday utilizes inherited permissions, enabling agents to only perform actions authorized by the user.

Wessel believes that the company is ideally positioned to benefit from AI, as its offerings demand trust, reliability, and enterprise context. With a robust and stable platform, Workday has the potential to reinvent itself by automating ancillary services that were not previously considered. However, the growing use of AI has raised concerns about job displacement, particularly in areas like HR and business development, where the company has a strong presence.

Wessel asserts that the goal is to have AI agents work alongside humans, taking over time-consuming or tedious tasks, and freeing up human workers to focus on high-value and desired work.

AI-native individuals entering the workforce, who approach problems differently than those who graduated 15 years ago, are highly valued by Wessel. He advises businesses to embrace diversity in hiring, incorporating workers with varied skills and knowledge, including AI natives. Wessel believes that AI will lead to both job creation and destruction, and over time, new jobs will emerge to replace those automated away.

Workday's recent acquisition of Sana exemplifies their commitment to delivering an AI-native user experience, as they strive to help customers transform their workforces inside and outside the Workday environment.