Workday Adaptive Planning Blog - Where People Who Plan Come to Learn

But that’s how people are: Conditions change, winds shift, and new realities require new habits and perceptions. The same is largely true for businesses—or at least those that want to survive and thrive amid historic disruption. In 2020, the unexpected became the status quo. And companies of all sizes and in every industry have pivoted to navigate this enduring stretch of volatility. It has made business agility a business imperative.

How to recalibrate and plan for a new normal

March 2, 2021

Watch teachers go about their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and you’ll see a lesson in adaptability. In virtually no time at all, educators went from teaching students in a classroom to running classes from their kitchens, basements, and living rooms. For millions of educators worldwide, this is their new… Read More

Ready to make planning a more collaborative process?

Workday Adaptive Planning

February 25, 2021

When it comes to business, collaboration is vital. After all, no single department can do its job for long without the other departments pulling their own weight. Sales is no good if shipping can’t deliver; marketing falls flat if customer service keeps alienating users; everything grinds to a halt if… Read More

The remote workforce is here to stay. At the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, organizations worldwide either mandated or encouraged working from home. And now, the total global percentage of remote employees is expected to double in 2021, and 76% of employees worldwide say they want to continue to work from home.

Data-driven workforce planning = business agility

Workday Adaptive Planning

February 23, 2021

The remote workforce is here to stay. At the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, organizations worldwide either mandated or encouraged working from home. And now, the total global percentage of remote employees is expected to double in 2021, and 76% of employees worldwide say they want to continue to… Read More

Determining the causes of budget variances is an effective way to avoid similar missteps in the future, as well as during times of disruption. But many businesses struggle to understand the causes of variances and to define a process that will turn out accurate forecasts every quarter. According to a survey of CFOs, only one in four CFOs met their sales forecasts for that period.

3 steps to more reliable financial forecasting

Gary Cokins

February 18, 2021

When a company fails to meet its financial targets, business leaders want to know why. Was it the pandemic? Did sales underperform? Did operations overspend? Were their purchases more expensive than expected? Was productivity below established standards? Did finance develop a forecast that was wrong from the start? Determining the… Read More

Financial planning is never a simple process. But in an unpredictable business landscape like today's, finance teams often find themselves struggling to predict an uncertain future.

Now’s the time for driver-based rolling forecasts

Workday Adaptive Planning

February 16, 2021

Financial planning is never a simple process. But in an unpredictable business landscape like today’s, finance teams often find themselves struggling to predict an uncertain future. From sales revenues to resource requirements, FP&A teams need sound and valid business information to create accurate and actionable financial projections. But the factors… Read More

As businesses work to emerge from a period of historic disruption caused by the pandemic, now is a natural time to take stock of what’s happened so far and to anticipate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. For companies on the road to recovery, this means recalibrating sales goals and strategies, forecasting hiring through the end of the year, and aligning expenses with cash flow.

On the road to recovery? Check your business agility.

Workday Adaptive Planning

February 10, 2021

As businesses work to emerge from a period of historic disruption caused by the pandemic, now is a natural time to take stock of what’s happened so far and to anticipate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. For companies on the road to recovery, this means recalibrating sales goals… Read More

As a finance leader, you’re intimately familiar with your company’s data and KPIs. But guess what? Most of your board members aren’t—and they don’t want or need that level of detail. What do they want? Like your CEO, board members are searching for trusted, strategic deputies who can provide high-level, holistic insight that helps them navigate the swirling currents of today’s business world

5 tips to deliver stronger, more meaningful board reports

Workday Adaptive Planning

February 8, 2021

As a finance leader, you’re intimately familiar with your company’s data and KPIs. But guess what? Most of your board members aren’t—and they don’t want or need that level of detail. What do they want? Like your CEO, board members are searching for trusted, strategic deputies who can provide high-level,… Read More

Looking back on 2020, one thing the year showed us is that the world can change quickly, dramatically, and in some ways, permanently. Business leaders have navigated a lot over the years—such as the global financial crisis of 2008—and despite the significant impact of those challenging times, much returned to normal once we were through them. This time feels different.

How finance teams can help their companies navigate 2021

Robynne Sisco

February 4, 2021

Looking back on 2020, one thing the year showed us is that the world can change quickly, dramatically, and in some ways, permanently. Business leaders have navigated a lot over the years—such as the global financial crisis of 2008—and despite the significant impact of those challenging times, much returned to… Read More

You want full business partner participation in planning, budgeting, and forecasting but you struggle to engage other departments in the process. Does this sound familiar? We thought so. But don't fret. Here are five tips to spark cross-functional engagement and build confidence in the financial planning process.

How to engage other departments in the planning process

Workday Adaptive Planning

February 2, 2021

Historically, planning has been deeply rooted within finance. But with Covid-19 and the economic uncertainty in its wake, forward-thinking organizations are starting to link all plans across the company. Why? A holistic view of the business speeds decision making and provides the agility needed to survive and thrive in today’s… Read More

Gone are the days when business leaders were narrowly focused on just the net cash flow or balance sheet. Modern finance pros are asked to track not only a lengthy list of metrics, but also KPIs beyond the traditional finance arena. The old adage is, “You get what you measure.” When managers are held accountable for attaining or exceeding KPI targets defined by the executive team, their actions and decisions become aligned to the executives’ strategy.

KPIs are key when creating a driver-based budget

Workday Adaptive Planning

January 28, 2021

Gone are the days when business leaders were narrowly focused on just the net cash flow or balance sheet. Modern finance pros are asked to track not only a lengthy list of metrics, but also KPIs beyond the traditional finance arena. The old adage is, “You get what you measure.”… Read More