One of the most crucial steps in this journey is developing a well-thought-out roadmap, a plan that not only guides the system’s deployment but also aligns it with business goals. An essential part of that roadmap is the automation of accounts payable (AP), which can be a game-changer in streamlining financial operations. I’ll walk through what I’ve used for real customers in your position in the past to develop an effective Workday Financials roadmap and why AP automation is key to driving success.
1. Define Clear Objectives and Outcomes
The first step in any successful Workday Financials implementation is to define clear objectives. What are the specific pain points or inefficiencies you’re hoping to address? Whether it’s improving financial visibility, streamlining operations, or reducing manual workload, understanding these goals upfront will guide the entire roadmap. As someone who’s been on the client side, I can’t stress enough the importance of focusing on your strategic priorities. By aligning your roadmap with these objectives, you ensure that your system isn’t just a tool but a driver for achieving broader business goals.
2. Assess Current Processes and Identify Opportunities for Automation
Before diving into the technicalities of Workday Financials, it’s essential to conduct a comprehensive assessment of your existing processes. Take a deep dive into your current accounts payable workflow, as well as other key financial processes, to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and manual tasks. This is where AP automation comes in.
AP automation can significantly reduce the time and effort spent on manual invoice processing, approval workflows, and data entry. By automating these tasks, you not only improve accuracy but also free up time for your finance team to focus on more strategic initiatives. Workday Financials’ AP automation capabilities can integrate directly with your broader financial processes, creating a seamless workflow that improves visibility and compliance across the organization.
3. Prioritize Integration with Other Systems
Workday Financials is designed to integrate seamlessly with other enterprise systems. When developing your roadmap, it’s crucial to prioritize how Workday will interface with your existing technologies. A robust integration strategy ensures that data flows seamlessly across departments, providing real-time insights and enabling cross-functional collaboration.
For example, when AP automation is integrated with HR systems, it eliminates data silos, improves data accuracy, and reduces the likelihood of errors. This alignment between systems is essential for ensuring that Workday Financials can deliver its full potential.
4. Set Realistic Milestones and Timelines
Workday Financials implementations and AP automation are complex initiatives that require thoughtful planning. Establish milestones and timelines that reflect the realities of your company’s current priorities, resource availability, and team capacity. Aligning your goals with what your team can reasonably support ensures sustained progress and reduces risk of burnout or rework. Focus efforts on the highest-impact areas first—like AP—while maintaining flexibility to adapt as your team builds experience and confidence with the platform.
During the initial phase, prioritize user training and change management. A smooth transition is key to maximizing adoption and ensuring that your finance team fully embraces the new system. Make sure to build in enough time for testing, as this ensures the system meets your specific needs and helps identify potential issues before going live.
5. Measure Success and Continuously Improve
Once Workday Financials is up and running, the work doesn’t stop there. Measuring the success of your AP automation and overall system implementation is crucial for understanding its impact on the organization. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as invoice processing times, time to close, and overall cost savings to gauge the success of the project.
Additionally, it’s important to build in regular reviews and improvements. The financial landscape is always changing, and your system should be agile enough to adapt to new business needs, regulatory changes, or market shifts. By continuously refining and optimizing your use of Workday Financials, you can ensure that your finance team remains equipped to drive business success well into the future.
A Roadmap to Success with Workday Financials
Developing a comprehensive roadmap for Workday Financials, including AP automation, is critical to ensuring a successful implementation and adoption. By setting clear objectives, assessing current processes, prioritizing integration, and focusing on realistic milestones, you can build a system that streamlines operations, improves efficiency, and provides valuable insights for decision-making.
As someone with a background in financial leadership, I understand how critical thoughtful planning and execution are to achieving long-term success with Workday. At TopBloc, we partner with organizations to navigate their digital transformation, helping them unlock the full value of Workday Financials. Whether you’re focused on modernizing core financial processes, improving data visibility, or driving efficiency through automation, we can help you develop a roadmap that aligns with your goals and maximizes your investment.
Angela Hale, VP of Customer Experience, Office of the CFO
Angela Seelig Hale brings over 25 years of experience leading Finance and Accounting functions in mid-market and large enterprise organizations. Angela has deep expertise in financial system implementations across various ERP systems, including Workday. She has firsthand experience leading complex, global implementations for large enterprises.
