Workday Expands Workday GO to Empower Midsize Businesses with Unified HR and Payroll Solutions

Workday Expands Workday GO for Midsize Businesses

Workday, Inc. has unveiled significant enhancements to its Workday GO platform, aiming to empower midsize businesses with comprehensive solutions for managing human resources and financial operations. The announcement was made at the Workday Rising EMEA conference in Barcelona on November 19, 2025. This move comes in response to the challenges faced by midsize businesses, which comprise a staggering 90% of companies globally and are vital for economic stability, accounting for about 70% of job creation and global GDP.

Bridging the Technology Gap

With many midsize organizations struggling with outdated systems and inefficient payroll processes, Workday GO aims to provide a single platform that combines cutting-edge HR, payroll, and AI capabilities. By integrating these functions into a unified solution, Workday GO simplifies the way organizations can operate, hire, and pay employees, regardless of their geographical location. Max Wessel, Workday's Senior Vice President of Growth, stated, “Midsize organizations are often forced to choose between powerful technology and practical simplicity. Workday GO changes that equation.”

Workday GO allows businesses to scale confidently, offering a predictable pricing structure and a straightforward implementation process. Denise Trentin, Manager of Global HR Projects at Master Builders Solutions, highlighted the platform’s efficacy by noting their rapid transition from initialization to deployment in just 42 working days. This efficiency illustrates how streamlined HR processes are essential for supporting a global workforce.

A New Global Payroll Experience

One of the standout features of the enhanced Workday GO is the introduction of Workday GO Global Payroll, specifically designed to make payroll processes less complex for businesses expanding into new markets with various compliance regulations. By building a robust partnership with Remote, Workday is delivering a seamless payroll solution that simplifies the hiring and payment processes for international teams. Job van der Voort, CEO of Remote, emphasized how this collaboration mitigates one of the largest barriers to global expansion: the fragmented hiring and payroll systems.

Partner Network for Comprehensive Support

To further aid organizations in their growth without the associated complexities, Workday has announced the creation of the Workday GO Partner Network. This ecosystem will connect customers to an array of payroll, benefits, and deployment partners, providing a cohesive experience through one reliable relationship and centralized contracts. Initial partners include notable firms such as Benefit Harbor, BNB, HR Path, and others, all dedicated to helping businesses expand efficiently.

Enhanced Deployment Capabilities

Accompanying these updates is the introduction of an AI-powered Deployment Agent. This tool is designed to streamline the implementation process, effectively reducing setup time by 25%. By guiding teams through each step, the Deployment Agent helps customers achieve live operations faster, allowing them to start realizing value from their investment sooner.

AI-Powered Support for Efficiency

Workday GO also integrates embedded Workday Illuminate agents from day one, enabling organizations to automate manual tasks and improve operational efficiency. With AI tools like the Payroll Agent and the Business Process Optimize Agent, users can focus more on strategic initiatives rather than routine processes.

Availability

The next version of Workday GO, featuring Global Payroll, the Deployment Agent, and the Workday GO Partner Network, is set for release in February 2026 across multiple markets including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Germany, and France. Additional markets are expected to follow, broadening the impact of Workday GO on midsize organizations worldwide.

Conclusion

Workday’s expansion of the Workday GO platform represents a crucial step towards leveling the playing field for midsize enterprises. By providing access to advanced HR and payroll technology, these businesses can now operate with the same efficiency and effectiveness as larger counterparts, ultimately fostering growth and innovation in industries across the globe.