In our latest Workday Gold podcast episode, Christian Delcid and I discussed a topic we’ve been promising to tackle for months: AI and its impact on Workday support and implementation. The timing couldn’t be more critical for Workday professionals looking to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape.

The Super Worker Phenomenon

At the beginning of 2025, Josh Bershyn (a leading HR research expert) predicted this would be “the year of the super worker.” His prediction is already proving true: consider when two people start the year doing the same job in the same way, but by year-end, one will have embraced AI tools and become dramatically more efficient and effective, while the other person will still be doing the same things they have always done. The “super worker” individual will be innovating with prompts, suggesting AI approaches to colleagues, and distinguishing themselves as a high performer.

As Christian and I discussed, this isn’t just about learning new tools—it’s about career survival. The Shopify CEO recently announced they won’t approve any new job postings unless it can be proven the work can’t be done with AI. This shift means that during performance reviews, those who embrace innovation will stand out from those who wait to be told how to use these tools.

Practical Applications in Workday Support

Both Christian and I shared real examples of how we’re using AI in our daily work. Christian described dropping request data into Google Gemini to identify better categorization buckets for his HRIS team’s request intake system. I shared how I’ve been using ChatGPT to structure client meetings by generating targeted question flows, which has made my conversations more focused and productive.

We also discovered how different AI tools produce significantly different results. In one example, I took a meeting transcript and processed it through all four major platforms (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot). Claude stood out by clearly identifying team members’ roles and technical specifics from the conversation, while other tools missed these details entirely.

The Translator Role

One critical insight for Workday analysts is the emerging importance of what I call the “translator” role. While AI may eventually take over configuration tasks or business process testing, humans will still need to define what constitutes a good business process and evaluate whether the system is operating effectively.

Christian articulated this perfectly when he said: “I can see an immense need still to understand how to define the business process being perfect… How do we define being good enough to serve the needs of the business?” This means focusing on skills like defining quality, creating standards, and ensuring proper system governance—essentially becoming a “Workday lead” rather than just an “in-the-weeds analyst.”

Taking Action Today

For Workday analysts wondering how to adapt, we recommend:

1. Adopt an “AI first” mentality – Look at every task and ask how AI could help
2. Don’t wait for formal training – Experiment with different tools now
3. Focus on communication skills – Being able to translate technical concepts for non-technical users remains invaluable
4. Lead by example – Show excitement about these tools and share what you’re learning
5. Connect with the business – Focus on understanding requirements and pain points that only you, with your human insight, can properly interpret

As Christian emphasized at the end of our conversation, the goal isn’t just efficiency for efficiency’s sake. It’s about “doing the things that only I can do.” By automating routine tasks, you free yourself to focus on high-value activities, such as building relationships with business stakeholders and providing strategic insights.

The AI revolution in Workday isn’t something coming in the distant future—it’s already here. The question is: will you be a “super worker” by the end of 2025, or will you be left behind?