European Workday Advisory Partner
Independent Workday expertise across DACH and EMEA, from programme design to post go-live support
Discuss your Workday programmeWhat a European Workday partner does
A European Workday Advisory Partner provides independent strategic and operational guidance across the full Workday programme lifecycle, without implementing the system itself. HCM Advisory Service holds both Workday Advisory Partner and Workday Services Partner status, and operates across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and broader EMEA deployments. Founded by the first Workday leaders in the DACH region, the firm brings direct knowledge of how Workday operates in European regulatory and organisational contexts, including works council requirements and GDPR constraints.
Updated: 16 July 2025
- Our role
- Independent Workday Advisory Partner, no implementation revenue
- Partner status
- Workday Advisory Partner and Workday Services Partner
- Region
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and global EMEA deployments
- Works with
- Existing implementation partner and internal HR-IT teams
What we take on as your European Workday partner
HCM Advisory covers the three phases where an independent European Workday partner adds the most value: preparing the programme, governing the deployment, and sustaining the platform after go-live.
Preparation
- Digital HR strategy and HR-IT roadmap
- Cloud Readiness Check and programme scoping
- HCM software evaluation and RFP support
- Programme design and project planning
Deployment
- Programme governance and project reviews
- Independent deployment review and sign-off support
- Works council and Betriebsrat negotiation support
- Programme and project management alongside the integrator
Ongoing Support
- Application Maintenance Service with defined SLA
- Release management across two annual Workday updates
- Enhancement governance and functional backlog management
- Ad hoc expert support for post go-live issues
How we engage as your European Workday partner
- 01
Initial Assessment
We start with a structured conversation about your programme status, your existing implementation partner, and your key risks. This produces a clear picture of where independent advisory adds the most value for your organisation.
- 02
Scope Agreement
We define the engagement model: preparation, deployment governance, ongoing maintenance, or a combination. Deliverables, responsibilities and interfaces with your implementation partner are agreed in writing before work begins.
- 03
Active Advisory
Senior consultants with direct Workday experience work alongside your team and your integrator. Every engagement is staffed by people who have built and run Workday programmes in Europe, not by junior resources managed remotely.
- 04
Continuous Review
We track programme health, flag risks early, and adjust our focus as the project moves through design, testing, cutover and go-live. Post go-live, the same team transitions into release management and enhancement governance.
What you gain from an independent European Workday partner
European coverage: DACH and global deployments
HCM Advisory Service is headquartered in Bretten, Baden-Württemberg, with additional presence in Portugal and India. The firm supports Workday programmes across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and works alongside clients on multi-country and global EMEA rollouts where European regulatory knowledge is critical.
Experience from Workday programmes across Europe and globally
“We are partnering with HCM Advisory since the global go-live of our Workday implementation to address additional implementation work and fill gaps that couldn’t be covered initially. This involves multiple functional topics across all Workday SKUs we implemented, as well as integrations. Alex Perpétuo, Oliver Stegmann, and their entire team are incredibly helpful. They are demonstrating profound expertise and providing hands-on solutions with quick turnaround times. HCM Advisory often goes beyond our stated requirements, anticipating our needs and thinking one or two steps ahead. Their proactive approach and deep understanding of functional topics and integrations made a significant difference in our project’s success.”
“HCM Advisory Service provided a detailed analysis for the optimisation of Workday as the leading HR platform at GEA, which GEA will take up internally in projects. The combination of profound HR process knowledge on the one hand and deep application knowledge around Workday on the other hand were of great advantage for us. Furthermore, Mr. Stegmann was entrusted with preparations for global payroll harmonisation. The analysis he developed was very helpful and illustrated the options for action in this area.”
Frequently asked questions about European Workday partners
How much does engaging a European Workday partner cost?
Fees depend on the scope and phase of engagement: a preparation assignment covering strategy and programme design differs significantly from ongoing AMS with a defined SLA. Key cost drivers include the number of Workday modules in scope, the complexity of the European regulatory environment, and whether the engagement runs alongside an active deployment or post go-live. HCM Advisory provides a clear estimate after an initial diagnostic conversation, with no obligation.
How long does a typical Workday advisory engagement last in Europe?
Preparation engagements typically run from a few weeks for a Cloud Readiness Check to several months for full programme design. Deployment advisory runs in parallel with the implementation, which in most programmes spans six to eighteen months. Post go-live AMS engagements are ongoing, structured around Workday’s two annual release cycles.
What is the difference between a Workday Advisory Partner and a Workday implementation partner?
A Workday implementation partner configures and deploys the Workday tenant. A Workday Advisory Partner, such as HCM Advisory, provides independent guidance on strategy, governance and programme management without implementing the system. HCM Advisory holds both Workday Advisory Partner and Workday Services Partner status, and generates no revenue from implementation work, which removes any conflict of interest.
Can HCM Advisory work alongside our existing Workday implementation partner?
Yes. HCM Advisory typically works alongside the client’s existing implementation partner rather than replacing them. The advisory role covers programme governance, independent review, and client-side decision support, while the implementation partner handles configuration and technical delivery. This model is common in large European Workday programmes.
Does HCM Advisory cover works council and co-determination requirements in Europe?
Yes. Works council negotiation support is a specific area of expertise, particularly for programmes in Germany and Austria where Betriebsrat involvement is legally required before HR system changes can be introduced. The founding team has direct experience managing co-determination processes in DACH Workday deployments across multiple industries.
Which Workday modules and source systems does HCM Advisory cover?
HCM Advisory covers the full range of Workday HCM modules, including Core HCM, Payroll, Recruiting, Talent, Learning, Absence and Integrations. On the source system side, the team has experience with SAP HCM, SuccessFactors and other legacy HR platforms. Data migration support uses the proprietary OptEaz tooling to automate extraction and transformation.
Does HCM Advisory operate across all European countries or only in DACH?
The primary focus is Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where the team has the deepest regulatory and market knowledge. HCM Advisory also supports global and EMEA rollouts, working with HR teams across Europe and beyond. Additional delivery capacity is available in Portugal and India for cross-border programmes.
What happens after the Workday go-live in a European programme?
Post go-live, HCM Advisory can transition into an Application Maintenance Service covering SLA-based application support, release management for Workday’s two annual updates, enhancement governance and ad hoc expert support. This ensures the platform continues to meet European regulatory requirements and business needs as the organisation evolves.
Start the conversation about your Workday programme.
Tell us briefly about your programme phase, your current implementation partner, and the European countries in scope. We come back to you quickly.
- Independent advice, no implementation revenue
- Workday Advisory Partner and Workday Services Partner
- Founded by the first Workday leaders in DACH
Start the conversation about your Workday programme.
Discuss your Workday programme