What: Workday has introduced the "Agent System of Record," a platform designed to register, manage, train, and integrate enterprise AI agents, offering businesses a centralised solution to handle their growing "digital workforce."

Why it is important: With companies deploying increasing numbers of AI agents, Workday’s solution simplifies governance, enhances security, and ensures seamless integration into existing workflows, addressing critical concerns like data privacy and operational efficiency in the age of enterprise AI. As the use of AI agents grows across enterprises, Workday has launched the "Agent System of Record" to streamline their management. This platform allows businesses to register, provision, and train AI agents while integrating them into the Workday Assistant for smoother operations.

The system enables companies to define agent-specific privileges, create security groups, and customise workflows through Workday Extend, functioning as a governance and innovation hub for AI agents. By offering a unified framework, Workday positions itself as a vital player in enterprise AI, ensuring customers can securely adopt and manage AI tools without risking data security or operational chaos. This move not only solidifies Workday's relevance in enterprise tech but also empowers developers and IT staff to tailor AI agents for unique business needs, reinforcing its value amid the evolving AI landscape.

IADS Notes: Workday's AI Agent System of Record launch comes at a critical moment in retail's AI transformation journey. As of January 2025, while 87% of retailers implementing AI are seeing revenue increases of 6% or more , the industry faces significant challenges in scaling these technologies, with only 10% successfully expanding their AI applications . The platform addresses crucial security concerns, particularly relevant as 76% of executives acknowledge the need for improved AI cybersecurity measures .

This solution is timely, as retailers currently lose 4.5% of gross sales due to inefficiencies , while successful implementations like Walmart's processing of 850 million product data points demonstrate the potential of well-managed AI systems. The platform's focus on integration addresses a critical pain point, as nearly half of retailers struggle with data accessibility and connecting data silos . With the global generative AI market reaching USD 79.8 billion in 2024 and 67% of executives considering AI systems as part of their transformation strategy , Workday's solution could bridge the gap between AI adoption ambitions and successful implementation.

Workday makes a play to manage your AI agents