Workday, Inc. recently announced the launch of its investment fund, Workday Ventures, where it hopes to collaborate with machine-learning start ups to enhance its own products. It predicts big data will be instrumental to the success of all companies in the near future, posing the question of the place of the everyday employee in an increasingly automated world. (promo image via Workday inc)
Workday, Inc. made history last year when it announced it created a software platform that could notify your boss of your expected resignation date before you did. Now that same company announced a new investment fund, Workday Ventures, that will allow it to collaborate with machine-learning start ups, to keep your boss in the know about your next move.
Workday is a 10-year-old, $15 billion company that creates HR and finance cloud-based software for clients around the world. The company offers big data solutions, enabling upper management teams to monitor analytics with predictive tools. Workday, however, wants to expand its software empire and its new venture will allow it to do just that.
Workday software focuses on accuracy. It analyzes years, or even decades worth of data to try and predict future trends, so companies can adequately prepare for and thrive throughout changes. An area in which it can improve, however, is adapting with a work environment as it shifts, so each client can have unique data that is still predictive in a changing climate. For this reason, Workday Venture was started. Instead of using money as a motivator, Workday hopes this endeavor will allow it to learn from up-and-coming names in the machine-learning industry, so its software can utilize machine-learning, too. Start-ups will gain access to Workday’s network, advice and software in return. Because the fund is not money-motivated, its size was not disclosed.
Workday VP of Technology Product Strategy Adeyami Ajao believes the future of big business is big data, and predictive analytics is at the heart of that. The idea, however, that employees are part of that equation is controversial. It is smart business to be able to predict the future of the market, and adapt accordingly. To create in-house predictions, however, about which employees are likely to be lazy or quit based on statistics of industry trends is also probably good business, if you’re upper management. But we must wonder if employees are seen only as pawns – things to use until they are no longer needed.
The answer to this question is overwhelmingly - yes. Microsoft recently eliminated roughly 7,500 jobs in its mobile department and it isn’t alone. The purpose of any employee at an establishment is to help the company grow. Every company profits from the productivity of each and every employee, and if their position is no longer needed, or if someone else is willing to be more productive for less money, well, we all know what happens then. The world is changing, and while the prospect of good or even great jobs seems to be dwindling to an embarrassing low, anyone can change with the times and capitalize on the new market. If you have a passion, go into business for yourself and get out while you can. Pursue your passion, because even if you won’t get rich, at least you’ll be happy.
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