Companies seek measurable business outcomes from intelligent platforms, unified data and automation, ISG Provider Lens^® report says

Enterprises in the U.S. are asking Workday service providers to support AI adoption, platform expansion and continuous optimization to make finance and human capital management (HCM) systems more effective, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

The 2026 ISG Provider Lens^® Workday Ecosystem report for the U.S. finds that the mature U.S. market is increasingly focused on integrating HCM with other business functions and implementing AI-enabled operations. Enterprises seek to improve efficiency, productivity and workforce adoption and are evaluating Workday providers on their ability to deliver ongoing business improvement.

“Workday’s center of gravity is shifting from transaction processing to guided action,” said Stacey Cadigan, partner, ISG Human Capital Management and Enterprise Transformation. “Leading providers are making new capabilities usable at scale and helping clients make decisions based on data about people and finance.”

Workday is shifting from a cloud system of record toward a platform that generates insights, supports decisions and enables automation. Organizations are extending the platform through Workday Extend, integrated workflows and connections to ERP, CRM, analytics and workforce applications. While larger U.S. enterprises are largely focused on expanding current deployments, Workday adoption is growing among midmarket companies seeking streamlined implementation models and preconfigured solutions, ISG says.

Enterprise expectations of Workday providers are expanding beyond implementation quality. Organizations want partners that can improve the platform faster while incorporating AI and other emerging technologies. They are seeking roadmaps, adoption support and services that keep capabilities aligned with changing business needs. Providers are increasingly expected to help clients manage change, improve user adoption and measure results after go-live.

Platform consolidation to reduce technological complexity is a major priority for U.S. organizations. Enterprises are combining human capital management, finance, planning, analytics and workforce intelligence in unified environments. This approach eliminates fragmented processes and establishes a consistent data foundation for all functions. Standardized processes and shared data models improve real-time visibility and support connected operating models.

“Consolidation delivers value only when employees adopt the new ways of working it enables,” said Ashwin Gaidhani, lead author of the report. “Workday providers must connect platform design with industry knowledge and change management so a stronger data foundation can enable actions across the business.”

The report also explores other Workday ecosystem trends in the U.S., including increased investment in AI governance frameworks and rising concerns that poor data quality and integration complexity may impede adoption.

For more insights into the workforce challenges faced by enterprises in the U.S., along with ISG’s advice for addressing them, see the ISG Provider Lens Focal Points briefing here.

The report evaluates 34 providers across four quadrants: Transformation Services, Deployment and Integration Services, Performance and Optimization Services and Innovation on Workday.

The report names Accenture, Cognizant, Deloitte, Huron, Invisors, Kainos, KPMG, PwC, Strada and TopBloc as Leaders in all four quadrants. It names Hexaware as a Leader in two quadrants and CrossVue, IBM, Mercer and TCS as Leaders in one quadrant each.

In addition, UST is recognized as a Rising Star — a company with a “promising portfolio” and “high future potential” by ISG’s definition — in three quadrants. TCS is recognized as a Rising Star in two quadrants.

In the area of customer experience, Hexaware is named the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2026 among Workday Ecosystem providers. Hexaware earned the highest customer satisfaction scores in ISG's Voice of the Customer survey, part of the ISG Star of Excellence™ program, the premier quality recognition for the technology and business services industry.

Customized versions of the report are available from Hexaware, Huron, PwC and TopBloc.

The 2026 ISG Provider Lens Workday Ecosystem report for the U.S. is available to subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data and research, in-depth knowledge and governance of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,500 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261026692033/en/

Workday’s center of gravity is shifting from transaction processing to guided action. Leading providers are making new capabilities usable at scale and helping clients make decisions based on data about people and finance.