Implementing Workday Adaptive Planning doesn't automatically transform financial planning. Without the right processes, expertise and user adoption, many organizations continue to rely on familiar spreadsheets for budgeting and forecasting, limiting the value of their investment.
That was the situation facing a higher education institution that wanted to move beyond Excel-based planning and make better use of its existing Workday Adaptive Planning environment.
Project Highlights
- Optimized an existing Workday Adaptive Planning environment
- Reduced the budget cycle from 10 weeks to 3 weeks
- Improved forecasting accuracy and confidence in financial planning
- Developed internal Adaptive Planning expertise through hands-on training
- Transitioned to ongoing AMS focused on strategic platform enhancements
The Challenge
Although Workday Adaptive Planning had been implemented, budgeting and forecasting continued to rely heavily on Excel.
Manual processes slowed financial planning, made forecasting more reactive, and reduced confidence in the data being used to support decision-making. At the same time, the finance team lacked the in-house expertise needed to unlock more advanced functionality and drive further optimization.
Rather than replacing the platform or redesigning planning processes from scratch, the institution wanted practical support that would help it make better use of the investment it had already made.
Our Approach
Focus Cloud deployed a specialist Workday Adaptive Planning team to work alongside the client's finance function, focusing on targeted improvements that would deliver immediate operational benefits without disrupting day-to-day activities.
Working collaboratively with key stakeholders, we refined the existing planning models, aligned the platform more closely with the organization's budgeting and forecasting requirements, and introduced improvements that simplified financial planning.
Knowledge transfer formed a central part of the engagement. Through structured training and mentoring, we developed internal power users who could confidently manage and develop the platform after the project had concluded, reducing reliance on external support while supporting long-term adoption.
The Outcome
The optimization program transformed the way the finance team used Workday Adaptive Planning, replacing spreadsheet-led processes with a more efficient and strategic approach to budgeting and forecasting.
The engagement delivered:
- Budget cycle reduced from 10 weeks to 3 weeks
- Improved forecast accuracy and greater confidence in financial planning
- Increased internal capability through Adaptive Planning training and knowledge transfer
- Wider adoption of Workday Adaptive Planning as a strategic decision-making tool
- An ongoing AMS engagement focused on future optimization and strategic enhancements
By combining Workday Adaptive Planning expertise with a practical optimization approach, Focus Cloud helped the institution move beyond spreadsheet-based planning and establish a more agile, data-driven financial planning process that continues to evolve through ongoing strategic support.
