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Brian Sommer

Part Two - Workday Technology Summit

By Brian Sommer | August 24, 2010, 9:01am PDT

Summary: More on the Workday Technology Summit including information re: an iPad analytics application, Workday Labs interest areas and the role of social media in Workday applications.

Monday afternoon, we were treated several briefings re:

- Workday’s UI (User Interface)
- use of in-memory database technology
- how Workday integrates with customer and third party applications, and,
- the business intelligence functionality in the software.

Co-CEO Aneel Bhusri surprised the attendees with his discussion about a new development Workday is undertaking to create an iPad tablet based solution. This application would be in addition to the BI (Business Intelligence) Workday already possesses. The iPad analytics product would be targeted for CXOs and would be separately priced from other Workday solutions. The initial focus of the app would provide detailed KPIs (key performance indicators) about a business on a form factor that Workday believes will be of interest to CXOs. The company expects to team with major consultancies to populate the solution with appropriate business and vertical KPIs. Aneel also indicated that this solution will also be available on desktops.

There was also another conversation at the event that involved the desire of Fortune 500 firms wanting to use certain social network technologies (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter). Some of the analysts present volunteered that many large firms lock down users’ devices and personal computers to prevent access to these sites. One Workday executive indicated that some of their customers have strongly indicated that they would not support this technology. Other analysts encouraged Workday to rollout the capability but make it optional. This exchange is a bit problematic for me as I’ve been briefed by many HR and Talent Acquisition technology firms that make extensive use of the social network technologies (e.g., JobVite, Selectminds, etc.). I’ve seen the customer lists of these firms, too, and I believe many firms are already incorporating social technologies into their Human Capital and ERP solutions. I guess this area warrants more research.

Later in the day, we received a briefing re: Workday Labs. That briefing showed a number of technologies and capabilities Workday is investigating for future products and product enhancements. There was lots of activity re: Microsoft Pivot and Office integration; Apple iPod and voice dictation integration with Workday performance evaluations; more cell phone integration; etc. Within these teasers, social media integration within Workday was quite evident. So, one must conclude that the interest and desire is there within Workday to tie their technology to social media but the timing (and risk concerns) may be an issue at the moment.

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Workday Technology Briefing - part 1

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Workday, Pricing, Business Intelligence, Tools & Techniques, Social Networking, Databases, Enterprise Software, Marketing, Software, Data Management, Management, Online Communications, Advertising & Promotion, Brian Sommer

Brian is currently CEO of TechVentive, a strategy consultancy serving technology providers and other firms. He is also a research analyst with Vital Analysis.

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Brian Sommer

I am co-owner of TechVentive, Inc. The company has been engaged on numerous consulting engagements, often for technology firms, service firms and litigators. As a general rule, I do not write about current clients of TechVentive. Should that occur, I will note this in blogs. Readers should assume that I have had client relationships with many ERP and other technology providers. Some of these relationships may be quite small and short-lived while others more significant. One of TechVentive's business units publishes research reports about technology providers. As a result, this business receives small amounts of revenues from a wide variety of software firms, software buyers and others when they purchase copies of reports. Some firms do secure reprint rights to these reports. None of these purchases, individually, represents a significant amount of total revenue for me and the nature of it is hard to predict where it will come from. I also provide some marketing strategy and/or market segmentation work for software firms as I have developed a unique database that segments the largest 4000+ technology buyers in the world. Many technology firms periodically engage me for unique views into this database for future marketing campaigns. I do not blog about these efforts and do not blog about client firms while they are active clients unless some pressing news story erupts. If that event occurs, I will indicate any perceived or real conflict of interest. Occasionally, I will develop unique intellectual property pieces for technology or service providers. If I should blog about a vendor with whom I have recently developed a special information product, I will note this in a blog to avoid any appearance, real or unintended, of bias. For the most part, I have no investments in technology firms. While I've been offered friends and family stock and other inducements in the past, I have steadfastly refused these. I used to be a partner with Andersen Consulting and had no ownership stake in the firm for many years. I frequently refer to this in my blogs and do not hide my prior association with the company. I did purchase a few shares of Accenture and Cognizant stock in late - 2008. I have sold some of those positions in late 2009. Readers should assume that most software conferences that I write about involved some measure of fees waived and/or travel reimbursement. I do not charge vendors to attend these events nor will I accept payment for same. I do get reimbursed for many speaking engagements. I generally note at the end of blogs whether the vendor reimbursed me for travel expenses. Generally, this includes airfare and hotel. I do not request, receive nor accept travel perks such as first class airfare.