Workday's chief people officer shares how the tech giant got 79% of its employees to use AI

Ashley Goldsmith from Workday reveals how the enterprise software company successfully boosted AI adoption from reluctant employees to 79% company-wide usage through strategic engagement initiatives.

Many companies struggle with AI adoption despite significant investments, but Workday tackled this challenge head-on when internal research showed employees were hesitant to use AI tools due to unclear use cases. The company launched "Everyday AI," a program featuring employee-led demonstrations, gamification through peer recognition, and manager resources to encourage experimentation and learning.

• Workday achieved 79% employee AI adoption by focusing on real employee experiences rather than generic training sessions
• HR teams saw a 12% workload reduction through AI recruiting agents, allowing more time for meaningful candidate interactions
• AI-powered analysis of employee feedback through sentiment tools enabled actionable insights and initiatives like flexible work programs
• A "Shark Tank" style competition encouraged HR staff to showcase creative AI applications for $1,000 prizes