Google Cloud and Workday embed AI agents into HR and finance workflows
Google Cloud and Workday announced an expanded partnership Thursday that integrates AI agents directly into employee workflows for HR and finance tasks. The deal connects Workday's Sana self-service agent with Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise, allowing employees and managers to complete common work in a single interface.
Employees can now check time-off balances, view payslips, review tax information, and inquire about expense and travel policies through the integrated agents. Managers gain tools to review team goals, approve timesheets, and initiate performance reviews without switching between applications.
Breaking down data silos
The partnership addresses a persistent problem in enterprise software: information scattered across multiple systems. Users can ask a question in Gemini Enterprise and receive answers pulled directly from Workday's data environment, with actions completed inside Workday's security infrastructure.
Gemini has become the default AI model inside Sana, creating a consistent experience across both platforms. Workday's Sana agent is available on Google Cloud's marketplace, with additional agents planned for release later this year.
Market pressure drives integration
The expanded collaboration reflects broader industry shifts. Enterprise resource planning companies face pressure as customers turn to AI tools and SaaS providers sell fewer licenses. Workday's stock dropped more than 40% over the past year, leading to leadership changes and workforce reductions.
Karthik Narain, chief product and business officer at Google Cloud, said in a statement that the partnership lets teams "automate some of the most common workflows in HR and finance departments."
Gerrit Kazmaier, president of product and technology at Workday, added: "Our customers want HR and finance at their fingertips, not scattered across a dozen applications."
Expanding use cases
The companies recently introduced the Ignite Financial Close Companion for KPMG, an AI assistant designed to improve the month-end closing process for accounting teams. Google Cloud and Workday are also working with Accenture and Deloitte on governance, technical, and business processes as the partnership grows.
For finance professionals, the integration offers immediate value: faster access to financial data, reduced time spent on routine approvals, and fewer manual data entry tasks. The agents handle repetitive work, freeing teams to focus on analysis and strategy.
Learn more about AI for Finance and AI for Human Resources to understand how these tools fit into broader automation strategies.
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