In a recent episode of Workday Gold, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Demetrio Wazar-Santana, a Workday Solutions architect with over 15 years of experience in the Workday ecosystem. Our conversation focused on Workday Extend, a powerful tool that’s transforming how organizations enhance their users’ Workday experience.

What is Workday Extend?

At its core, Workday Extend offers two main features:

1. The ability to create anything from customized forms to full blown applications within Workday
2. Deep integration capabilities with Workday’s native processes, data model, and notification framework

As Demetrio explained, Extend allows organizations to build custom experiences that look and feel like native Workday functionality while providing much more flexibility than the standard request framework.

Real-World Applications

Throughout our discussion, we shared several compelling use cases for Extend:

Streamlining Complex Processes

One organization I worked with needed to manage international deployments, tracking when employees would leave for overseas assignments, return home, and transition between roles. What was once managed through scattered Word documents and emails became a centralized, efficient system within Workday. The impact was so significant that one HR professional remarked she could “finally sleep at night” knowing all the information was in one place.

Event Registration

Demetrio shared his experience building an event registration app that allowed administrators to configure events and manage attendee registration, complete with personal preferences and guest information. This demonstrated Extend’s ability to handle complex data relationships while maintaining a user-friendly interface.

Integration with External Systems

We discussed how organizations are using Extend to surface data from external systems like ServiceNow ticketing systems and public transportation schedules directly within Workday, creating a more integrated user experience.

The Future: Built on Workday

Perhaps the most exciting development is Workday’s move toward becoming a true platform company with “Built on Workday.” This initiative allows partners to develop and distribute Extend apps without requiring customers to purchase the Extend SKU. As Demetrio pointed out, this opens up tremendous opportunities for industry-specific solutions and broader adoption of custom applications.

The Technical Evolution

It’s worth noting how far Extend has come technically. What started as a purely code-based platform now offers no-code/low-code options while maintaining the flexibility for deep customization when needed. This evolution makes Extend accessible to a broader range of users while still providing the power developers need for complex solutions.

Looking Ahead

As Workday continues its transformation into a platform company, we can expect to see:

• An explosion of industry-specific solutions
• More partners developing and distributing apps through Built on Workday
• Increased customization options for different user groups
• Greater integration capabilities with external systems

   

Getting Started with Extend

If you’re considering Extend for your organization, Demetrio’s advice is clear: start by identifying your pain points and metrics. Work with solution partners to determine whether native Workday functionality, Extend, or an external solution best fits your needs. The goal isn’t just to implement technology – it’s to solve real business problems effectively.

Conclusion

Workday Extend represents a significant shift in how organizations can customize and enhance their Workday experience. As the platform continues to evolve and the marketplace grows, we’re likely to see even more innovative solutions that help organizations maximize their Workday investment while addressing specific industry and business needs.