Getting ChatGPT to Work with Workday: Our Successful Experiment

Editor’s note: I was talking to a colleague last week about how aggressively the ChatGPT bandwagon is still rolling. And that the late January launch reminded her of when Google first hit the scene in ‘98. Except that ChatGPT collected a million users in about a week, and it took Google nearly six months to hit the same milestone.  

With all the articles out there on why ChatGPT will entirely change business, and specifically HR (Josh Bersin published a good podcast today on the coming GPT Revolution), we wanted to dive into some practical HR applications. 

Good news for us, Skillcentrix’s CTO, Josh Lumbreras, downloaded Open AI’s interface last December and has been sending me bi-weekly ideas on how we can leverage the AI for clients and prospects.   

So, it was no surprise when he sent a note earlier this week, with an idea for an article on practical applications for Workday clients on how to use ChatGPT in their daily lives, and in their existing tenants.  

Here’s Josh’s first experiment in integrating ChatGPT with Workday to change bank account information, plus a few other practical applications and integration instructions. 

ChaptGPT and Workday: A Primer  

Workday HR software is a cloud-based human resources management system that is designed to help businesses streamline their HR processes. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is an AI-powered chatbot that can be used to engage with customers, answer their questions, and provide support.  

The integration of ChatGPT with Workday can help to improve the user experience for employees, reduce the workload of HR staff, and increase the efficiency of HR processes.  

One way that Workday software can be used with ChatGPT is to provide employees with a self-service platform to access HR-related information. For example, ChatGPT could be integrated with the Workday system to allow employees to check their time off balances, change their bank account information, and update their contact information.   

It can assist with any HR-related queries or concerns they may have, helping to reduce the workload of HR staff and empower employees to manage their own HR-related tasks. 

Similarly, ChatGPT can provide real-time assistance to employees who are navigating the HR system. For example, an employee might have a question about how to enroll in a benefits plan or update their skills profile.  

By integrating ChatGPT with Workday, employees could simply ask their questions in natural language and receive a response from the chatbot, which could provide guidance and support. In addition, ChatGPT could be used to collect feedback from employees about their experience with the Workday HR system. This could help to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the system is meeting the needs of employees. 

My First Chat GPT Workday Experiment: Changing Bank Account Details  

I wanted to test my hypothesis, So I asked the bot about the specific process for changing your bank account information in Workday. (Results may vary depending on your organization’s configuration and policies), but here are the general steps ChatGPT told me to follow: 

1. Log in to Workday with your username and password. 
2. Click on the “Pay” icon on your dashboard. 
3. Under the “Payment Elections” section, click on the “Edit” button. 
4. Select the bank account you want to change and click on the pencil icon to edit it. 
5. Make the necessary changes to your bank account information. 
6. Save your changes by clicking on the “Submit” button. 
7. Alternatively, your organization may have a specific process for changing your bank account information, such as submitting a request to HR or payroll. If you’re unsure about the process, you can reach out to your HR or payroll representative for assistance. 

I have to say that it was pretty good!  

Broader Applications for ChatGPT in Workday  

Those tasks mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine the possibilities around improving the way we work and collaborate in areas like: 

• Recruitment and Selection – ChatGPT can be used to automate the initial screening process of job applicants. Candidates can interact with ChatGPT to answer questions related to their qualifications, experience, and other relevant details. The ChatGPT can then analyze their responses and provide a shortlist of candidates for further evaluation. 

• Onboarding and Training – ChatGPT can be used to provide new employees with an interactive onboarding experience. They can ask questions related to company policies, procedures, benefits, and other relevant information. Additionally, ChatGPT can provide training modules for employees, guiding them through the process and answering any questions they may have. 

• Job Descriptions –  ChatGPT could be used to create very specific job descriptions to help capture skills more efficiently.  In response, your skills cloud or talent marketplace training and job recommendations would be greatly improved   

• Data Management: ChatGPT can assist with data management tasks, such as updating employee records, making mass updates, generating reports, and analyzing HR-related data. 

 How to Integrate 

Integrating ChatGPT with Workday would involve building an integration that allows the two systems to communicate with each other. There are a few ways you can approach this, depending on your specific use case and technical expertise. 

One approach is to use Workday’s REST API to send and receive data between the two systems. You would need to build a custom integration that can interface with the API and pass information back and forth. This could be done using Workday Studio or Extend and would require knowledge of web services and API development. 

Another approach is to use a third-party integration platform, such as Zapier or Workato, to connect ChatGPT and Workday. These platforms provide pre-built integrations that can be configured using a visual interface, without requiring any coding. You could use a pre-built integration or create a custom one to meet your specific needs. 

Regardless of the approach you choose, it’s important to ensure that the integration is secure and compliant with any data privacy regulations that apply to your organization. You should also thoroughly test the integration before deploying it to ensure that it works as expected and meets your business requirements.