Microsoft Viva vs Workday

2023. Workday unveils new HR-focused generative AI features



Workday, the enterprise management platform vendor, has unveiled a set of new generative AI features designed to enhance productivity and simplify business operations. Among the upcoming capabilities is the ability for Workday users to automatically compare signed contracts with those in the system, identifying inconsistencies. Additionally, the platform will enable the creation of personalized knowledge management articles and generate statements of work for service procurement. While most of these additions appear beneficial or at least benign, one feature raises concerns for this reporter: the AI-generated employee work plans. This tool will empower managers to swiftly compile summaries of employees' strengths and areas for improvement, drawing from various stored data sources such as performance reviews, employee feedback, contribution goals, skills, and employee sentiment, among others.


2023. Microsoft ditches Yammer brand and goes all-in on Viva Engage



Microsoft has officially announced the discontinuation of Yammer, the enterprise social network that it acquired over a decade ago for $1.2 billion. Despite Microsoft's previous efforts to promote Yammer by integrating it into its core Office suite, the company has shifted its focus towards developing alternative communication tools like Microsoft Teams. In 2019, Microsoft integrated Yammer with Teams, and two years later, it introduced Viva—an "employee experience platform" designed to serve as a modern corporate intranet. Over the past months, Microsoft has been actively enhancing Viva, and in the previous year, it launched Viva Engage as an evolution of the Yammer Communities app.


2022. Workday turns more modern and personalized with new interface makeover



Workday, a provider of services for managing people and finances, has announced a comprehensive interface redesign across its product line, aiming to modernize and enhance usability for all users, including frontline workers, managers, and IT professionals. The new interface offers a personalized experience tailored to each user's job role, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. This not only simplifies user tasks but also empowers companies to customize the platform to their specific needs. One example of Workday's integration with other systems is its existing integration with Slack. Instead of using the Workday application to request time off, employees can now make the request directly within Slack, automatically routing it to their manager for swift approval. This integration streamlines the process and improves overall efficiency.


2022. Microsoft wants to add Stories to corporate portals



Microsoft is venturing into the enterprise realm by introducing Stories, a forthcoming feature within its Viva "employee experience" platform, aimed at bringing the popular snackable content format to the corporate world. While the Stories format, known for its ability to captivate audiences, may seem contradictory to the productivity-focused mindset of corporate customers subscribing to Viva, Microsoft claims otherwise. The company argues that there is a genuine interest in ephemeral photo and video slideshows within the workplace. According to Microsoft, these Stories provide a "fun, familiar way" for employees to maintain connections with their colleagues.


2022. Microsoft is elevating Viva from pure employee portal to job support platform starting with sales



When Microsoft introduced Viva last year, it positioned the platform as an employee portal where individuals could access information such as parental leave policies and other internal communications related to company culture and policies. However, it appears that Microsoft has grander aspirations for Viva beyond being a typical employee intranet that provides essential employee information. Today, Microsoft announced the introduction of the first of potentially multiple job-specific features within Viva, beginning with sales. This tool is built on Office 365 and optimized for Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM. By associating a customer's name or contact, Viva Sales can automatically retrieve documents, spreadsheets, presentations, emails, and other relevant materials into the CRM tool. It allows sales professionals to utilize the tools they already utilize and cherish on a daily basis, including email systems like Outlook, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Teams. Microsoft will offer Viva Sales at no cost to its Microsoft Dynamic 365 customers.


2021. Workday to acquire external workforce management startup VNDLY for $510M



Workday plans to acquire VNDLY, a startup valued at $510 million, which specializes in assisting companies with managing their external workforce personnel. Workday is renowned for its capabilities in finance and human resources management, and VNDLY perfectly complements the latter category by providing software designed to streamline contractor management. This feature becomes especially valuable during times when filling full-time job positions proves increasingly challenging. By joining forces, these two companies will enable customers to efficiently oversee both internal and external workers through a unified interface, eliminating the need for HR personnel to switch contexts based on worker types. Moreover, customers will gain the ability to proactively plan for their workforce requirements while effectively addressing compliance and risk factors associated with managing different types of workers.


2021. Microsoft launches employee experience platform Viva


Microsoft has introduced Viva, a new "employee experience platform" that reimagines the traditional intranet sites commonly provided by large companies to their employees. Viva encompasses essential features such as internal communication access, seamlessly integrated with SharePoint, Yammer, and other Microsoft tools. Moreover, Viva offers team analytics capabilities and integrates with LinkedIn Learning and other training content providers, including SAP SuccessFactors. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced Viva Topics, a feature designed for internal knowledge sharing within organizations. With Viva, Microsoft aims to enhance the overall employee experience by providing a comprehensive and integrated platform.


2021. Workday nabs employee feedback platform Peakon for $700M



Workday has announced its acquisition of Peakon, an employee feedback platform, for $700 million. As organizations grow in size and geographic reach, it becomes increasingly difficult for managers to have a comprehensive understanding of their company's dynamics. Peakon addresses this challenge by utilizing weekly surveys to gather targeted feedback on various aspects of the organization. By emphasizing the importance of quality data, Peakon has facilitated the asking of over 153 million questions since its establishment six years ago. This acquisition aligns with Workday's commitment to enhancing its capabilities in employee engagement and feedback analysis.


2019. Workday to acquire online procurement platform Scout RFP for $540M



Workday has recently finalized an agreement to acquire Scout RFP, an esteemed online procurement platform, for a significant sum of $540 million. This strategic acquisition serves as a valuable expansion to Workday's existing procurement solutions, namely Workday Procurement and Workday Inventory. Workday is dedicated to becoming a comprehensive, all-encompassing player in the cloud back-office arena, and addressing the gap in procurement has been one of their major priorities. As part of their broader vision for the future of Cloud ERP, Workday strategically invests in portfolio companies that complement their core offerings. In today's definition of ERP, various essential components such as finance, HCM (human capital management), projects, procurement, supply chain, and asset management are included, and Workday is committed to delivering a holistic solution covering these key areas.


2018. Workday acquired financial modelling startup Adaptive Insights



Cloud-based HRM service Workday is set to acquire Adaptive Insights, a leading provider of cloud-based business planning and financial modeling tools, for a substantial sum of $1.55 billion. This strategic move by Workday aims to position itself as the primary destination for comprehensive back-office services catering to its business clientele. Workday plans to seamlessly integrate Adaptive Insights' robust suite of tools into its existing platform, offering an all-encompassing solution to its customers. With a vast customer base, Adaptive Insights has witnessed remarkable growth, mirroring the rapid expansion of cloud services and the emergence of business intelligence as a dedicated software category. This evolution has resulted in not only CFOs but also a multitude of in-house analysts relying on sophisticated data analytics to facilitate informed decision-making at various levels within organizations.