The Ultimate Guide to Workday Proxy Job Support in 2024: A Linux and Proxy Expert‘s Perspective
As we move further into the 2020s, the enterprise software landscape is undergoing a major shift. Legacy on-premises systems are being rapidly replaced by cloud-based SaaS platforms, and nowhere is this trend more evident than in the world of HR technology. Leading the charge is Workday, a comprehensive suite of applications for managing everything from recruiting and onboarding to payroll and performance management.
Workday‘s growth over the past decade has been nothing short of astounding. The company now boasts over 3,500 customers, including more than 50% of the Fortune 500 (source). Workday‘s revenue has also skyrocketed, with the company reporting $4.32 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2021, a 19% increase over the previous year (source).
As more and more companies adopt Workday, the need for expert support and administration services has grown as well. One increasingly popular solution is Workday proxy job support, where a certified Workday consultant logs into the system on behalf of employees and completes tasks for them. This can be done on an ad-hoc basis to assist with specific issues, or as a full-time outsourced service.
The Benefits of Workday Proxy Job Support
There are several key benefits to using Workday proxy job support:
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Expertise: Workday is an incredibly powerful platform, but it can also be complex and challenging to use, especially for non-technical employees. By leveraging proxy support from certified Workday experts, companies can ensure that their Workday tenant is being used effectively and efficiently.
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Cost Savings: Hiring and retaining in-house Workday talent can be expensive, especially for smaller organizations that don‘t need a full-time administrator. Outsourcing Workday support allows companies to access expert help on an as-needed basis, without the overhead of a full-time employee.
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Flexibility: Workday proxy support can be scaled up or down based on a company‘s needs at any given time. This is especially valuable for organizations with fluctuating HR demands, such as those with seasonal hiring spikes.
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24/7 Coverage: Many Workday proxy support providers offer around-the-clock support, which is critical for companies with employees working across multiple time zones. With proxy support, there‘s always an expert available to assist, no matter the time of day.
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Compliance: Workday has robust compliance features built-in, but configuring and maintaining them requires deep expertise. Proxy support providers can ensure that a company‘s Workday tenant is always in compliance with the latest regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA.
The Workday Proxy Support Process
So how does Workday proxy support actually work in practice? Here‘s a step-by-step breakdown:
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Consultation: The first step is to meet with a proxy support provider and assess your company‘s specific Workday needs. This includes evaluating your current Workday usage, identifying pain points and inefficiencies, and determining the level of support required.
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Onboarding: Once a support plan has been established, the provider will assign one or more certified Workday consultants to your account. These consultants will undergo a thorough onboarding process to learn your company‘s specific Workday configuration, business processes, and support requirements.
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Engagement: When an employee needs Workday assistance, they simply submit a ticket or support request through the agreed-upon channels (e.g. email, chat, phone). The request is then routed to the appropriate consultant, who will reach out to the employee to gather any additional information needed.
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Resolution: The consultant will then log into Workday on the employee‘s behalf (using secure remote access tools) and complete the requested task. Depending on the nature of the issue, this could involve anything from basic data entry to complex troubleshooting or configuration changes.
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Reporting: Throughout the support engagement, the provider will typically provide regular reports on ticket volume, resolution times, and other key metrics. This gives companies visibility into how their Workday investment is being utilized and helps identify areas for optimization.
The Importance of Linux Expertise
One often-overlooked aspect of Workday proxy support is the importance of Linux expertise. While Workday itself is a cloud-based platform, it is built on a foundation of Linux servers. In fact, Workday has been a major contributor to the open source community, and the company‘s CTO, Petros Dermetzis, is a well-known advocate for Linux and open source software (source).
For Workday proxy support providers, deep Linux expertise is essential. Many of the performance, security, and integration challenges that arise with Workday can only be effectively diagnosed and resolved by consultants with a strong understanding of the underlying Linux infrastructure.
Some key Linux skills that are valuable for Workday proxy support include:
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Bash Scripting: Much of Workday‘s automation and integration functionality is powered by bash scripts. Consultants who are proficient in bash can write custom scripts to streamline Workday processes and integrate with external systems.
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Security Configuration: Workday contains highly sensitive HR and financial data, so security is paramount. Linux experts can ensure that Workday servers are properly secured using tools like SELinux and iptables.
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Performance Tuning: As Workday tenants grow in size and complexity, performance can become an issue. Linux-savvy consultants can optimize Workday‘s performance by fine-tuning kernel parameters, database configurations, and other low-level settings.
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Proxy Server Management: Many companies access Workday through a proxy server for added security and control. Workday proxy support providers with Linux expertise can properly configure and maintain these proxy servers to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
When evaluating Workday proxy support providers, be sure to inquire about their Linux expertise and how it will be leveraged to support your Workday deployment. Ideally, look for providers that employ certified Linux professionals (such as RHCE or LFCS) and have a track record of successfully supporting Workday on Linux infrastructure.
The Cost Savings of Offshore Workday Proxy Support
Another important factor to consider when selecting a Workday proxy support provider is cost. With hourly rates for certified Workday consultants often exceeding $200 in the US and Europe, the costs can quickly add up, especially for organizations with significant support needs.
One increasingly popular solution is to leverage offshore Workday proxy support, particularly from providers based in India. Thanks to a large pool of highly skilled IT talent, India has become a hub for Workday support services, with many providers offering certified Workday consultants at a fraction of the cost of their Western counterparts.
According to a recent study by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), the average hourly rate for an offshore Workday consultant in India is around $25-35, compared to $150-250 in the US (source). For companies with significant Workday support needs, this can translate into savings of 50% or more on their total support costs.
Of course, cost should not be the only factor when considering offshore Workday support. It‘s important to also evaluate a provider‘s experience, communication skills, and cultural fit. Look for providers that have a proven track record of working with Western clients and that employ consultants with strong English language proficiency.
Workday‘s AI/ML Focus and the Future of Proxy Support
As Workday continues to evolve and expand its capabilities, one area of increasing focus is artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). Workday has made significant investments in AI/ML in recent years, with the goal of using these technologies to automate routine tasks, provide predictive insights, and enhance the overall user experience.
Some examples of how Workday is leveraging AI/ML include:
- Workday Assistant: A natural language chatbot that can answer employee questions and perform simple tasks like time off requests and expense report submissions.
- Workday People Analytics: An AI-powered analytics tool that provides predictive insights on employee performance, retention risk, and more.
- Workday Talent Marketplace: An AI-driven platform that matches employees with internal job opportunities and project assignments based on their skills and experience.
As Workday continues to integrate AI/ML capabilities into its platform, the role of proxy support providers will likely evolve as well. In the short term, proxy support consultants will need to stay up-to-date on Workday‘s latest AI/ML features and be able to effectively leverage them to support client needs.
Longer term, it‘s possible that AI/ML could automate some of the more routine tasks currently handled by proxy support consultants, such as data entry and basic troubleshooting. However, the need for expert human support is unlikely to disappear entirely. Rather, proxy support consultants will likely shift to more strategic roles, focusing on complex problem-solving, process optimization, and change management.
Conclusion
As Workday continues its rapid growth and evolution, the demand for expert proxy support services shows no signs of slowing down. By leveraging certified Workday consultants with deep Linux expertise, companies can ensure they are getting the most value out of their Workday investment while also reducing costs and freeing up internal resources.
When evaluating Workday proxy support providers, be sure to consider factors such as experience, cost, offshore capabilities, and AI/ML expertise. The right partner can not only help optimize your Workday deployment today, but also position you for success as the platform continues to evolve in the years ahead.
With the pace of change in HR technology only set to accelerate, investing in a trusted Workday proxy support provider is a smart bet for any company looking to stay ahead of the curve. By offloading the complexity of Workday administration to a team of certified experts, you can focus on what really matters: leveraging technology to drive your business forward.
