The Uncomfortable Truth About Workday Projects
- Patrick Mooney
- Oct 31
- 3 min read
Every Workday implementation begins with excitement — new technology, streamlined processes, and the promise of transformation. Yet many programmes stall or underdeliver. Not because of configuration errors or integration issues, but because the people side of change was underestimated.
Against this backdrop, Gartner reports that only around 32% of organisations achieve healthy change adoption among employees (Gartner, 2025).
Technology alone doesn’t drive transformation. Adoption does. According to Prosci, projects with excellent change management are 7x more likely to meet or exceed objectives (Prosci, 2023).
The most successful Workday programmes recognise that sustainable change is built on communication, engagement, and confidence — not just configuration.
The Bigger Picture: HR Transformation
HR functions are under more pressure than ever to deliver strategic value while modernising their operating model. Across industries, we’re seeing:
The rise of HR shared services and global hubs to deliver scalable, consistent support.
A growing gap between technology deployment and adoption — Despite rising HR technology investments, only 24% of organizations in a Gartner study reported achieving full ROI (Gartner, 2024).
A shift in workforce expectations — employees now judge HR not just by accuracy, but by experience, speed, and accessibility (Gartner, 2024).
A Proliferation of Change: Modernization has led to dozens of parallel initiatives — system rollouts, process standardization, policy harmonization, capability building, and cultural transformation. Employees and HR professionals alike face change fatigue as transformations overlap and accelerate.
In this context, Workday isn’t just a system. It’s the foundation of a modern HR ecosystem — and your people’s experience with it shapes their experience of HR itself.
Effective change management is the differentiator.
What “Change Management” Really Means in Workday
When HR leaders hear “change management,” they often think of communications plans or training sessions. In reality, it’s much more than that.
Effective change management is about preparing, equipping, and supporting people through transformation. It means understanding what’s changing for each audience — HR teams, line managers, and employees — and ensuring they have the clarity and tools to embrace it.
At Adoptigo, we see every Workday project as two parallel journeys:
The technical journey – configuring and deploying the platform.
The human journey – building confidence and capability across the organisation.
And it’s the second journey where success or failure is decided.
The Three Pillars of Workday Change Success
1. Building a Change Story – Creating the “why” before the “how”
Before new processes or dashboards are introduced, people need to understand the reason behind the change. Clear storytelling — anchored in business outcomes — builds trust and interest long before go-live.
2. Enabling Capability – Empowering users to perform with confidence
Training and job aids are only part of the solution. People need hands-on, role-specific support: quick-reference guides, bite-size videos, and accessible help channels embedded in their flow of work.
3. Sustainment – Making change stick after go-live
The Workday journey doesn’t end at go-live. Adoption needs to be reinforced through feedback loops, change champions, and ongoing learning.
How Adoptigo Helps HR Leaders Deliver Real Adoption
Adoptigo helps organisations achieve real digital adoption and measurable business outcomes through practical, proven change management.
Our three service tiers give HR leaders a flexible approach to embedding change:
Essentials – The foundations: readiness assessments, communication planning, and stakeholder mapping.
Adopt – Hands-on enablement through training design, digital learning, and change champion networks.
Transform – Sustained adoption through measurement, feedback, and continuous improvement.
Each tier is scalable and tailored to your programme’s maturity — helping you move from go-live readiness to long-term success.
What Good Looks Like
When change is managed effectively, HR transformation looks different:
HR leaders spend less time firefighting and more time leading.
Employees feel supported rather than overwhelmed.
The business sees faster ROI from its Workday investment.
In short, good change management doesn’t just enable adoption — it accelerates impact.
Let’s Talk About Your Workday Journey
If you’re planning or already delivering a Workday implementation, let’s talk about how change management can be your biggest success factor.
Adoptigo partners with HR leaders to make Workday transformation stick.
👉 Contact us to start your adoption journey today.
