Skip to main content

Connect Adaptive to Cloud data lakes

Adaptive released a new way to retrieve data from data warehouses, such as Snowflake, Incorta and  Microsoft Fabric (and more to come): it is called Cloud Data Connect.


What is Cloud Data Connect?

Cloud Data Connect is a tool that helps move data from your company's data warehouses into Workday Adaptive Planning standard or cube sheets (sheets without splits). It’s great pathway for large businesses that already have strict rules for managing data.


How does it work?

To use Cloud Data Connect, you set up something called a pipeline:

Global Navigation Menu (aka the Hamburger menu  ☰) > Integration > Setup Pipeline


Here’s how the high level process works:


1) Choose where the data will go: it will ask you to give a name to your pipeline (for example: "Snowflake bookings", pick a version and a sheet.

2) Get a template: download a pre-made file (template) that you share with your data storage admin.

The template tells them how to organize or display the data so Adaptive Planning can consume it.

3) Setup a connection: most likely you will connect with OAUTH 2, or, username / password.

4) Review settings: double-check all the connection settings to make sure everything is set up correctly.



What happens next?

The great thing about pipelines... is that each pipeline works like a "Adaptive integration package": it basically acts as 1) a data source, 2) a loader and 3) a task!  However, you can still decide whether you want to use this "bundle" or manage the steps separately.

1) Data source = where data comes from (your warehouse).

2) Loader = where data goes into adaptive.

3) Task = when your data updates.



What you can do once the pipeline is setup

Once your pipeline is ready, here are the main actions you can take:

- Check the connection status: ensure the connection between Adaptive Planning and your storage system is indeed working.

- Edit Draft Pipelines: adjust any pipelines you’re still setting up and are not connected yet.

- Run the Pipeline: start the process to move data into Adaptive Planning.

Why use Cloud Data Connect?

It saves time by automating how external data is loaded into Adaptive Planning. First of all, it combines the 3 integration items explained above (source, loader, task).
Maybe you were manually exporting and importing this data? Now, instead, the pipeline does the job for you.
Lastly... it is MUCH simpler to setup than a custom cloud data source (which requires javascripting), or setting up an old-school JDBC connection. It is literally a matter of a couple of seconds versus hours of setup!


Recap & pre-requisites:

First, ensure your data governance is in place and that your cloud warehouse admin has permissions to create the view matching Workday's required table template (meaning the columns and expected format by Adaptive). Then, you will also need to configure the connection (credentials, such as OAUTH 2, or username + password, server details, and database name). Once the setup is complete, choose whether to manage the pipeline as one bundle or handle its components: data source, loader, and task separately. Test the connection, launch the task, and confirm the data has been properly loaded into Adaptive Planning.

For detailed steps and more information, you can refer to Adaptive's article here.


What about platform or HCM customers?


If you are a platform or HCM client: you can use Workday Cloud Connect that offers bidirectional integration for seamless data flow between Workday and third-party applications. They recently added Snowflake and Microsoft!
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Adaptive's API

To integrate data in Workday Adaptive Planning, customers typically use the integration module to connect with ERPs, SFTPs, AWS S3, Snowflake, SalesForce, Excel, and Google Sheets, etc.  You can also use third party platforms such as Tray.ai , Boomi , Matilion etc. which leverage Adaptive's APIs in a user friendly setup.  And lastly, you can write your very own scripts (C#, Python, Powershell...) to make these API calls.  Most  common Adaptive's API use cases Import Data from ERPs Actual summaries and transaction details (by supplier, employee...) Assets, amortization, depreciation Payroll details and taxes Import Sales data from CRMs or datalakes Pipeline, churn, opportunities and customers  Billings, bookings, revenue, ARR Import Headcount data from an HRIS Current headcount and terminations Hired, not started Wages and compensation plans Benefits and other demographics Import Other data: Exchange Rates Weather Meta data: currencies, attributes, dimensions suc...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are Metric accounts and when to use them?

 I am often asked: "What are Metric accounts in Adaptive and what is their use case?" Before we jump into the weeds, you can create "global" metric accounts, called standard metric accounts  and within cube sheets.  To create a standard metric account, go to:  Menu > Modeling > Metric Accounts Adaptive will come with a couple of pre-built Metric accounts, such as Gross Margin % What are Metric Accounts? A metric account in Adaptive is a calculated account , meaning it carries a formula .  It does   not carry any data entry .  It can not be a rollup account,  meaning it can not have any "children accounts" rolling up to a parent. Metric accounts are typically used to calculate ratios , this is why they can only be either a number or a percent ! But... there is more subtility in them! Metric accounts are different from the other calculated accounts (custom, modeled, cube etc.) in the sense that their formula is also computed at the level an...
Post a Comment
Read more

One (perfect) Headcount Planning Process in Workday Adaptive for FP&A

FP&A: The Perfect Headcount Planning Process in Workday Adaptive for non Platform customers: Streamlining integration, reconciliation and budgeting This article is for companies that are not on the Workday Platform  (HCM, FINS, Adaptive) and are missing out on the integrated cycle of hiring, planning, reconciliation, and system-wide alignment that Workday offers. I sometimes hear complaints (luckily not too much) about Workday HCM, Adaptive or FINS... but the truth is, no other tool on the market currently offers a complete solution that spans the entire hiring process—from budgeting and requesting to hiring, reconciling, and publishing plans across systems. Workday is the only one with this capability right now!  I’m not paid by Workday to write this… But after working with several HRIS, ATS, and ERP systems, I can confidently say that Workday stands out for its customizable workflows, overall ease of use, and seamless communication across all three systems -- assuming yo...
Post a Comment
Read more