You’ve invested thousands or even millions in your new Workday platform, promising efficiency, insights, and a modern foundation for your organization. Whether you’re just starting out, deep in the thick of it, or already live, the ultimate goal remains the same: maximizing your return on that significant investment.

Yet, sometimes, the whispers begin: “It doesn’t work.” “Our old system was better.” Sound familiar?

It’s a common refrain, and often, Workday itself isn’t the culprit. When I hear these complaints, my first questions are always: What was the Workday system supposed to achieve? Why did you change from your old system in the first place? And critically, what were your success criteria and change management plans?

More often than not, the answer to that last one is a blank stare. The “criteria” was simply “anything better than what we had.” And even if goals existed, was there a robust plan to guide your people through the change? Did you truly communicate with users before, during, and after the project? What was their experience like?

Here’s the truth: Major software projects don’t start off wrong, but they can certainly end up in a challenging spot. The good news? It’s rarely unrecoverable. What it often needs is a strategic dose of “marketing” – winning the hearts and minds of your users. Show them the value this new Workday platform brings, both to their daily work and to the organization’s strategic objectives. Celebrate early wins, communicate how project goals were achieved and how you are working to continuously improve it. Most importantly, listen to feedback and act on it. Even acknowledging a pain point and outlining a plan to address it can turn skeptics into advocates.

Where Are You on Your Workday Journey?

If you’re just embarking on your Workday journey, you have a powerful opportunity to set the stage for success. Start with clearly defined project success criteria. As visualized in our infographic, clear goals dramatically increase project success rates. Communicate the value of this transformation early and often. Engage users throughout the process, showing them demos of Workday features and how it will genuinely improve their ability to do their jobs. Not everyone will buy in immediately. Some will naturally push back, perhaps feeling threatened or simply resistant to change. Listen to these concerns, acknowledge them, and deal with them early. If you don’t, some employees will undermine or even sabotage a project either directly or by spreading misinformation.

If you’re currently in the midst of your Workday implementation, maintaining momentum and managing expectations are paramount. Keep the lines of communication open, celebrate small victories, and proactively address emerging issues. User engagement isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuous dialogue. Our infographic highlights how high engagement drives positive user sentiment throughout implementation. Ensure your teams understand the “why” behind decisions and feel heard when challenges arise. This proactive approach can prevent minor bumps from becoming major roadblocks.

If you’ve already gone live with Workday and are facing user complaints or adoption hurdles, it’s not too late. It may require some strategic “marketing” to win the team over. Show users the value of the new Workday platform to both them and the organization. Share how project goals were achieved and how you are working to continuously improve it. Survey to find areas for improvement and, most importantly, address them. Even if it’s just an acknowledgment of the challenges and a clear plan for resolution. Our infographic details common post-go-live pain points and how to address them.

Ultimately, if you did your due diligence, you likely chose the right Workday platform. The real question is: did you actually set it up for success, and are you continuing to nurture that success? Don’t let your significant investment falter due to a lack of strategic planning, proactive management, or sustained user adoption.

Deitel Consulting specializes in helping organizations ensure their Workday projects not only launch successfully but also deliver sustained, measurable value, no matter where you are in your journey. Explore our interactive Workday Success Infographic. to see how we can help make your next Workday project your most successful one yet.