If you’re weighing up Workday as an ERP for your organisation, you’ve likely been drawn to the promises of a speedy, cost-effective implementation. But the reality is many customers end up underwhelmed at go-live.
So, why is this happening —and how can you avoid it?
For years, Workday was criticised for its drawn-out implementation timelines. Organisations, particularly medium-sized, were being put off by the prospect of a 6–12-month project with high costs. To address this, Workday introduced Launch– a deployment methodology promising a quicker and cheaper route to getting live.
However, there’s a catch, which is leaving customers leaving disappointed and frustrated.
Workday Launch deployments are significantly quicker, with timelines typically reduced to 3 – 6 months. So, where do the time savings come from?
Primarily from restricting the Design and Testing phases which means customers cannot customise their to-be configuration design beyond the prescribed methodology – without a change request to the contract, anyway. There is also very little opportunity to get sight of the to-be design before testing.
As a result, the Workday solution you go live with is basic in comparison and far removed from the feature-rich demos you would have likely seen during the sales conversations or at Workday Rising.
HR functions often set high expectations for a Workday Launch implementation, presenting it as the answer to a wide array of organisational challenges. While ambition is both important and necessary during a digital transformation, it’s crucial to set realistic expectations about what a Launch implementation can deliver.
It’s not a silver bullet; it’s the beginning.
A Launch deployment lays a solid, scalable foundation that empowers medium enterprises to optimise and improve their system over time. The good news is that optimisation partners like Preos can help. We see Launch for what it is – a starting point. It provides a solid foundation on which to optimise.
So, if you are an organisation considering Workday via Launch, my advice is to budget not just for the basics, but for follow-on optimisation in your Workday business case.
Keeping Workday running requires more support than expected.
Workday is sold as a cloud-based platform requiring minimal support due to automatic updates, outsourced infrastructure, low risk of downtime and a simplified security model which requires simple configuration and no complex development.
Yet, after going live with Workday it doesn’t take long for clients to realise, they need a solid support model to maintain functionality and—more importantly—to achieve any real return on investment.
Why Medium Enterprises often end up with ineffective support models.
The problem often starts with the choice of Workday Partner. Many medium enterprise customers are steered toward large system integrators (SIs) At some point before or during the implementation, the SI will deliver the unfortunate news that in fact, Workday does not look after itself and that a robust support model is required.
Often, the SI will then sell a multi-year Application Management Services (AMS) contract, explaining to the customer that having the same implementation consultants, with the knowledge of their configuration, is the right approach.
What they don’t explain is that an SI organisation often has two separate practices – implementation and AMS. This means that the consultants involved in your implementation are rarely part of your AMS or post-go-live support team assigned to your account.
Instead, you’re left with a transactional, ticket-based AMS model designed for large enterprises—one that’s rarely flexible enough to meet the needs of medium enterprises.
Large SIs provide transactional AMS through a ticket-based service. This may be well suited for large enterprise organisations with high-volume support needs. But is it a good fit for smaller organisations who want an agile partner who their HRIS team can talk to and learn from, without a ticket, ultimately becoming self-sufficient and less dependent on a third party?
Customers tell me, no. And that’s why medium enterprise customers are moving away from traditional AMS and opting for an alternative approach that is better value for money. For our clients, it’s Workday Enhancement Services.
Smarter alternatives to AMS
Workday Enhancement Services (WES) is a smarter alternative to traditional AMS. With WES, you get a dedicated, Workday-certified consultant who knows your organisation inside out—no ticketing, no frustrating delays. Our approach goes beyond basic support, building your internal capabilities so you’re less dependent on outside help. WES is about making Workday work harder for you, maximising the value of your investment and ensuring it drives real, measurable impact across your organisation.
Workday is a powerful tool, but getting the most from it requires a strategic approach – one that considers the long-term vision of your organisation beyond the initial go-live.
While options like Workday Launch promise speed, they often leave key capabilities untapped, making optimisation a necessary next step. By selecting the right support model, such as Workday Enhancement Services, medium enterprises can avoid the frustrations of conventional AMS and an underwhelming go-live.
See how IFCO are getting more from Workday with WES
“We’ve seen an evolution in our team, they feel more empowered, more productive, and they feel that there is a real partnership with their WES consultant”
– Stephen Barnett, Head of Global Reward and HRIS, IFCO 
