Workday Adaptive Planning

Account Modifiers in Formulas

August 27, 2025 by Julia Seelin

The Formula Assistant in Workday Adaptive Planning provides a provides a powerful way to customize how data is pulled and calculated in formulas

To enhance the flexibility of your formulas, you can use a variety of modifiers that adjust how the information is retrieved. These modifiers include time, level, dimension, and attributes, each serving a unique purpose to make your formulas more dynamic and accurate. By incorporating these modifiers, you can manipulate the data in various ways to meet specific reporting or analysis needs.

For instance, when referencing an account, you can apply these modifiers to retrieve data in a manner that fits your desired outcome. A common example would be when you want to reference trailing data, such as pulling the trailing 12 months of revenue. By modifying the formula to say

ACCT.Revenue[time=this-12:this-1],

you can ensure that it pulls revenue data for the previous 12 months, with the ending month being the one immediately preceding the current month you’re analyzing.

Beyond time-based adjustments, you can also use account attributes to fine-tune your calculations based on groupings or classifications associated with the data. For example, if you want to calculate revenue specifically for a particular region, you can apply an attribute filter like

ACCT.Revenue[Region = North]

to pull in all revenue data associated with accounts tagged with the “North” region. This allows you to create more granular and targeted reports, tailored to specific attributes or dimensions within your data.

These modifiers help ensure that your formulas are more flexible, powerful, and specific to your needs, providing deeper insights and more accurate reporting.

Revelwood is more than just a Platinum Workday Adaptive Planning partner — we’re a trusted advisor to the Office of Finance. With 30 years of experience and award-winning expertise, we bring together powerful software, proven best practices and pre-built, ready-to-deploy solutions that accelerate time to value. Our team doesn’t just implement technology — we help finance teams transform the way they plan, analyze and make decisions. Discover how Revelwood can help you get the most out of Workday Adaptive Planning — and achieve results that matter.

Workday Adaptive Planning Earns “Customers’ Choice” Recognition in Gartner’s Voice of the Customer Report

August 22, 2025 by Revelwood

For the third year in a row, Workday Adaptive Planning has been named a Customers’ Choice in Gartner’s latest Voice of the Customer for Financial Planning Software report — earning an impressive 96% recommendation rate from users.

Gartner Peer Insights aggregates and validates verified user reviews, then awards the Customers’ Choice badge to vendors who exceed market averages across metrics such as:

Product capabilities
Ease of deployment
Support experience
Sales experience

Workday Adaptive Planning consistently ranks among the top performers in every category — underscoring its strong product design, reliable support, and seamless implementation.

Workday Adaptive Planning’s Results

This Gartner report includes some impressive ratings for Workday Adaptive Planning:

96% of users say they would recommend Workday Adaptive Planning
It holds an overall rating of 4.8/5 on Gartner Peer Insights
It earns 4.8 in key areas like Product Capabilities, Sales, and Support Experience and a 4.7 in Deployment Experience

The benchmarking reveals that Workday outpaces other financial planning platforms — like Anaplan, OneStream, Pigment and Oracle — in user satisfaction and recommendation rates

Why Organizations Love Workday Adaptive Planning

Organizations throughout the world love Workday Adaptive Planning as a result of its:

1. Scalability & Flexibility
2. AI-Driven Insight
3. Transformational ROI

Revelwood + Adaptive Planning = Powering FP&A Excellence

As a trusted partner, Revelwood empowers finance teams to leverage Workday Adaptive Planning to:

Accelerate deployment with best-practice templates
Train and onboard teams for fast adoption
Continuously optimize investment and health of the platform

Our experts ensure every customer captures maximum value — driving both process efficiency and strategic insight.

Workday Adaptive Planning’s recognition as a Gartner Customers’ Choice — backed by exceptional real-world reviews and top-tier ratings — reinforces why thousands of organizations trust it to manage complex planning, modeling and forecasting workflows.

Read the report today!

Limiting the Scope of Calculated Accounts

August 20, 2025 by Revelwood

Both modeled and cubed sheets in Workday Adaptive Planning allow the user to set a scope to limit the calculation for calculated accounts for both actuals and planned data. A user may utilize this feature to allow calculations to start at a certain point, without having to alter the actuals or plan version start date.

In order to limit the scope of the calculated accounts, you will begin by navigating to the back end of the sheet and go to columns and levels. Once you are at columns and levels, you can press the sheet properties gear in the middle of the screen.

Once you have navigated to the sheet properties, press the last tab that is titled “Scope.” This is where you will have the option to limit the scope for calculated accounts.

You now have the ability to set the scope either forward or backwards for actual values or plan values as well. For the actuals, the drop down for the start/stop calculating gives you an option to select start/end of version, month, quarter, year. For the plan, the drop down for start/stop gives you the option of left scroll limit, end of plan, month, quarter, year.

In the example above, we set the scope so that the plan values do not start until 6 months after the start of the plan. As you can see from the start date, it should start 1/1/2025, but from the row details we can see that the calculations do not begin until July.

Workday Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape Report for MidMarket Organizations

August 14, 2025 by Revelwood

Our partner, Workday, has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting Applications for Midmarket Organizations 2024 Vendor Assessment, which was issued in late 2024.

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The IDC study assessed vendors in the worldwide enterprise planning, budgeting and forecasting applications that focus on midmarket organizations. The evaluation is based on a “comprehensive and rigorous framework that assesses each vendor relative to the criteria and to one another.

Vendor requirements to be included in this report included:

Have 50% of its enterprise planning, budgeting and forecasting applications revenue from the midmarket segment.
Have business operations in two or more regions worldwide.
Have market presence and momentum based on IDC inquiry volume.

Download this report to learn why:

The latest functionality being added to enterprise planning, budgeting and forecasting applications is AI-/ML- and generative AI (GenAI)-based functionality.
Applications continue to be enriched with improvements in collaboration and collective intelligence capabilities
Market uncertainty and volatility have increased demand for more robust what-if or scenario planning and analysis capabilities.

Key Highlights on Workday:

Workday is in the Leaders category for this IDC MarketScape for its Workday Adaptive Planning offering. The report cites Workday’s strengths as:

Workday Adaptive Planning is user-friendly for both data modelers and business users.
There is a strong ecosystem of implementation partners (like us!).
The software is feature-rich, with extensive planning, analytics and data management functionality.

Download your copy of the study today.

Override Formula Settings on Calculated Accounts

August 13, 2025 by Cameron Burke

Workday Adaptive Planning is a powerful tool for financial planning and analysis. One of its key strengths is its flexibility in handling data input and formula calculations. One often overlooked, but highly useful feature is the Override Formula Setting on accounts. This allows users to control how data is entered and calculated within specific accounts or sheets.

In this post, we’ll explore the three options in the Override Formula Setting — None, Override Formula, and Data Entry — and how you can leverage them to refine your planning models.

What is the Override Formula Setting?

The Override Formula Setting determines whether users can manually enter data into an account or if the system will enforce a formula-based calculation. This setting is particularly useful when working with modeled sheets, standard sheets, or specific versions of your budget and forecast.

1. None (Default Setting)

When the Override Formula Setting is set to None, the account strictly follows the formula defined in the account’s properties. This means that users cannot manually enter data in the cell; Adaptive Planning will always use the account’s default formula to calculate the value.

Use Case:

When you want to ensure that a particular metric (e.g., Gross Margin % or a calculated KPI) is always derived from a formula and never manually overridden.
Useful for accounts that should remain consistent across all planning scenarios.

2. Override Formula

Selecting Override Formula allows users to enter data manually in specific instances while keeping the formula intact. When a user inputs a value, it replaces the formula-driven calculation for that particular cell, but the original formula remains in place for all other cells where data is not manually entered.

Use Case:

When you want the flexibility to override a formula-based calculation in certain months or scenarios but still rely on the formula for most periods.
Example: If revenue is usually calculated using a formula but needs to be adjusted manually for a particular product launch or seasonal fluctuation.

3. Data Entry

With Data Entry enabled, the formula is completely removed, allowing full manual input for all periods and scenarios. This effectively turns the account into a standard input field rather than a calculated one.

Use Case:

When the account should be completely user-driven, such as manually entering sales targets or one-time adjustments.
Example: Entering specific planned expenses for an event that vary from period to period and do not follow a predictable pattern.

This setting also allows you to have different override settings for different versions. For example, if you want to manually upload/enter actuals for an account and have the budget version calculate numbers based off of these actuals, you can set the actuals version to data entry and the budget version to none. You are able to enter a formula in the budget version referring to actuals data for that account as shown below.

Best Practices for Using the Override Formula Setting

1. Lock Critical Formulas: If an account should always be formula-driven, keep the setting at None to prevent accidental overrides.
2. Use Override Formula Sparingly: This setting is powerful, but frequent overrides can lead to inconsistencies. Use it only when necessary and document any manual inputs.
3. Enable Data Entry When Needed: If you expect manual input for an account, proactively set it to Data Entry to avoid confusion among users.

The Override Formula Setting in Workday Adaptive Planning provides essential flexibility in managing how data is calculated and entered. Understanding when to use None, Override Formula, or Data Entry ensures that your planning models remain both accurate and adaptable.

By strategically applying these settings, you can strike the right balance between automation and user control, leading to more effective and reliable financial planning.

Optimizing FP&A in Multi-Site Healthcare Organizations

August 8, 2025 by Revelwood

Managing a multisite healthcare organization – such as a group of eye doctors or urgent care centers – is a complex endeavor. These healthcare organizations have multiple locations with diverse revenue streams. it’s critical to have a robust system for budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

Increasingly, these healthcare organizations are turning to Workday Adaptive Planning for their centralized FP&A activities.

Key Benefits for Multisite Healthcare Organizations

Workday Adaptive Planning is designed to empower healthcare organizations with tools that simplify and enhance financial planning and analysis. Here’s how:

1. Streamlined Budgeting and Forecasting: Multisite organizations often spend countless hours building budgets for each location. Workday Adaptive Planning reduces this time significantly by providing a centralized platform where budgets and forecasts can be created, updated, and managed with ease.
2. Sophisticated Reporting Capabilities: Complex reporting is essential in healthcare for analyzing performance and making strategic decisions. Workday Adaptive Planning enables detailed reporting on critical metrics such as:
- Reimbursement rates
- Non-billable hours
- Daily sales outstanding (DSO)
- Specialty-specific revenue and expenses

This granularity ensures leaders have the insights needed to optimize operations across all locations.

3. Enhanced Visibility into Financial Processes: The platform offers a more transparent and detailed view of the budgeting process. This enhanced visibility enables proactive adjustments, ensuring that budgets align with organizational goals.
4. Census Information Management: Healthcare organizations rely on accurate census data for resource allocation and planning. Workday Adaptive Planning facilitates tracking and charting census information to support data-driven decisions.

Comprehensive Tools in One Centralized Platform

Workday Adaptive Planning consolidates essential tools into a single, user-friendly interface. Key functionalities include:

Volume-Based Modeling: Optimize resources and services by projecting patient volumes and aligning them with operational capacity.
Capacity and Workflow Planning: Streamline staffing and resource allocation to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.
Forecasting and Budgeting: Create short-term and long-term financial plans tailored to each site’s unique needs.
Revenue Recognition: Customize revenue reporting to reflect specialty-specific practices and ensure compliance with accounting standards.
Practice and Location-Level Reporting: Gain granular insights into individual practices or sites to identify areas of improvement and replicate success.

Adopting Workday Adaptive Planning equips multisite healthcare organizations with the agility and precision needed to navigate a rapidly evolving industry. Its intuitive design ensures ease of use for financial teams, while its robust features empower organizations to focus on what matters most—delivering exceptional patient care.

By investing in a system that integrates budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, healthcare organizations can drive operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making at every level.

Why Scenario Planning is a Must-Have Skill for Today’s FP&A Teams

August 7, 2025 by Revelwood

In today’s fast-changing business environment, agility is everything—and that’s where scenario planning becomes indispensable. In a recent episode of FP&A Done Right – The Podcast, titled Scenario Planning: Critical for Today’s FP&A Professionals, we unpack why this strategic tool is no longer optional for finance teams looking to stay ahead.

From Forecasting to Future-Proofing

Traditional forecasting often relies on a single set of assumptions, which can leave organizations vulnerable when the unexpected happens. Scenario planning, by contrast, allows FP&A professionals to explore multiple “what if” scenarios—ranging from best-case to worst-case—and understand the impact of various drivers on business performance. This proactive mindset transforms finance from reactive scorekeepers to strategic advisors.

Embedding Scenario Planning into the FP&A Process

The episode offers practical advice on how to build scenario planning into everyday FP&A workflows. It’s not just about having the right tools—it’s about having the right mindset and processes in place. The hosts emphasize that companies that make scenario planning a core part of their planning cadence are better equipped to respond to disruption, adjust course quickly, and make more confident decisions.

Real-World Lessons and Examples

Listeners will hear how companies are using scenario planning to navigate challenges like inflation, supply chain volatility, and changing customer behavior. By testing different assumptions and modeling potential outcomes, finance teams can guide their organizations through uncertainty with greater clarity and confidence.

Bottom Line? Be Prepared.

Scenario planning is more than a buzzword—it’s a critical capability for modern FP&A teams. If your finance organization isn’t already prioritizing it, this episode might just change your mind.

Listen to the full episode

Understanding Drill Down in Web Reporting

August 6, 2025 by Sarah Hildenbrand

Drill down reporting is a powerful feature in Workday Adaptive Planning Web Reporting. It allows businesses to dive deeper into data for more precise insights. Here’s a quick guide to understanding its benefits and how to use it effectively.

Why Drill Down Reporting is Crucial

Uncover Hidden Insights: Identify trends or issues not visible at a high level (Can see variances or changes at children levels, accounts, dimensions and attributes).
Better Decision-Making: Understand why performance changes, helping refine strategies.
Targeted Reporting: Focus on specific metrics relevant to your department or team (marketing, sales, product, expenses, personnel).

How to Use Drill Down in Web Reporting

1. Go to Web Reporting and click on the “Edit” button on the report you are working on.

2. Select the “Report Properties” gear on the back end of the report.

3. Choose which Adaptive elements you want available for the drill down and click “Apply” (levels, accounts, attributes, dimensions). This also helps clean up the drill down options.

4. Save and run the report and go to the front end and click the component you want to drill.

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5. See the drill down and continue to drill into elements depending on the detail you want.

6. Once you are at the level of drill detail you want, click the “i” to see what your drill down consists of for the intersection of data. Make sure to click the “arrow” after you are done to return to the undrilled down report. DO NOT SAVE AT ANY DRILL DOWN VIEW! This will cause the report structure to change to the saved view.

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Workday Adaptive Planning for Managing Cash Flow

July 25, 2025 by Revelwood

This post continues our series on how we use Workday Adaptive Planning to solve problems. Each blog post focuses on a real-world client experience where Revelwood was presented with a unique or thorny problem. We’ll explain our approach to how we solved it.

Revelwood Client: A construction company that prides itself on building homes that “just feel right.” They build quality-made homes across Easter Pennsylvania, in Berks County, Chester County, Lancaster County, Lebanon County and more.

Problem: Managing Cash Flow

Scenario: Cash flow is one of the biggest challenges facing home builders. A home building company will get a down payment from a client, after which the construction company relies on bank loans per project to cover the labor and material costs until the home is finished and turned over to the new homeowner. It sounds simple – except when faced with variable costs for labor and goods, delays for materials and a multitude of new projects at various levels of completion. This company needed insight into how the increasing costs and delays impact any one project. They also wanted to understand how the sum of the current projects relate to cash flow and the company’s ability to sign contracts with new clients.

How We Helped: Revelwood integrated Workday Adaptive Planning with MarkSystems Home Builder Software. Revelwood built a cash flow model that incorporates detailed loan information. The cash flow modeling, analysis and reporting solution relies on data sets for “draws.” A draw schedule is a detailed payment plan that determines when a bank will disburse funds to the home building company. The company how has a sophisticated and comprehensive view of cash flow based on projects, payments and milestones.

Do you have a challenge you’d like to leverage Workday Adaptive Planning for? Reach out to us – we can help!

Read the posts in our series, How We Solve Problems Using Workday Adaptive Planning

How We Solve Problems: Improving the Performance of Workday Adaptive Planning

How We Solve Problems Using Workday Adaptive Planning

Using Workday Adaptive Planning for Headcount Planning

Workday Adaptive Planning

Read more Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks:

Workday Adaptive Planning’s Results

Why Organizations Love Workday Adaptive Planning

Revelwood + Adaptive Planning = Powering FP&A Excellence

Read more from this series:

Read more Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks:

Vendor requirements to be included in this report included:

Download this report to learn why:

Key Highlights on Workday:

Download your copy of the study today.

What is the Override Formula Setting?

1. None (Default Setting)

2. Override Formula

3. Data Entry

Best Practices for Using the Override Formula Setting

Read more Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks:

Key Benefits for Multisite Healthcare Organizations

Comprehensive Tools in One Centralized Platform

Read more from this series:

From Forecasting to Future-Proofing

Embedding Scenario Planning into the FP&A Process

Real-World Lessons and Examples

Bottom Line? Be Prepared.

Why Drill Down Reporting is Crucial

How to Use Drill Down in Web Reporting

Read more Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks:

Read the posts in our series, How We Solve Problems Using Workday Adaptive Planning

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