Workday & Kinaxis partner to unify supply chain & finance data

Workday and Kinaxis have announced a partnership that aims to provide organisations with a unified view of supply chain, finance, and workforce data using an AI-enabled framework.

This collaboration will integrate Kinaxis Maestro and Workday Adaptive Planning, enabling customers to make faster decisions by breaking down existing operational silos. The joint solution seeks to support leaders who face increasing disruption and uncertainty in their industries by connecting critical business functions traditionally managed on separate timelines.

According to the companies, the separated operation of supply chain, finance, and HR functions has led to executives making decisions with incomplete or outdated information. This can increase organisational risk due to slow response times and inaccurate targets, which may result in missed opportunities for improved decision-making.

The partnership is designed to give organisations real-time visibility into how supply chain events impact both financial outcomes and workforce needs. By doing so, leaders will be able to respond to situations such as demand fluctuations or supplier disruptions with a clear view of margin impact, staffing requirements, and production alternatives.

For example, if there is a sudden spike in demand, executives could assess margin implications, evaluate labour needs, and choose production options that support profitable growth decisions quickly. In cases where a supplier is unable to fulfil orders, executives will have the ability to model alternative scenarios, immediately viewing the revenue, cost, and staffing implications of their choices. This is expected to facilitate faster, more resilient reactions to operational challenges.

Combined data streams

Robert Courteau, Executive Chair at Kinaxis, stated:

"For the first time, supply chain realities, financial forecasts, and workforce strategies move together. With an agentic framework connecting Kinaxis and Workday, executives can act in minutes with confidence, protecting margins, keeping customer commitments, and building resilience through connected scenario planning. With hundreds of joint customers already using both platforms, this partnership builds on that foundation to deliver greater value."

Rob Enslin, President and Chief Commercial Officer at Workday, also outlined the rationale behind the partnership.

"Today's rapidly evolving business environment means leaders need to make critical decisions faster than ever, but often struggle with disconnected data. This partnership with Kinaxis will provide our customers with a unified view of their people, finance, and supply chain data, empowering them to respond with agility and drive profitable growth."

Benefits to customers

The companies highlighted several potential benefits from the partnership, including accelerated scenario planning across supply chain, finance, and HR by making use of AI-enabled modelling. This integration aims to allow for more rapid and accurate responses to operational challenges.

Organisations are also expected to gain stronger financial targets, as forecasts will be grounded more securely in operational and workforce realities. Such connected scenario planning aims to reduce the likelihood of mismatched commitments and resourcing errors.

The collaboration is also intended to support greater workforce agility. With labour needs, such as contingent staffing, overtime, or hiring requirements, being factored directly into planning models, organisations may be better placed to adapt to changing conditions.

Additionally, the joint solution will include industry-specific offerings, targeting sectors such as consumer goods, life sciences, high-tech, automotive, and healthcare.

Existing customer base

Both Kinaxis and Workday note that many organisations already use the companies' platforms separately. The joint solution is expected to build on that base, streamlining how existing customers manage and integrate their financial, supply chain, and workforce data.

The companies say the partnership has been formed in response to the challenges faced by business leaders trying to adapt to uncertainty and disruption, with the goal of enabling more confident, connected, and timely decisions.