AGL Energy Enhances Workforce Planning Through Data Analytics

AGL Energy is embarking on a transformative journey to enhance its workforce management and career development processes by expanding its use of Workday, a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources. As the energy company increasingly embraces a data-driven approach, it has signed up for a new suite of capabilities within Workday that align with its strategic goals for the future.

During an interview at the Workday Rising conference, AGL's Chief People Officer Amanda Lee shared insights into the company's ongoing evolution. “We’ve signed up to a whole new suite of capabilities in Workday to set us up for the future,” she remarked, indicating that AGL is keen on leveraging the full potential of Workday's offerings. The company had previously transitioned its core human capital management (HCM) from SAP to Workday between 2017 and 2018 and is now looking to deepen its integration with the platform.

Among the new capabilities being implemented are Workday Talent Optimization and Career Hub, both designed to facilitate AGL’s transition to a more “data-driven” and “skills-based” organization. Talent Optimization aims to empower organizations to make informed, data-driven talent decisions, cultivate top talent, and engage employees more effectively. According to Workday’s documentation, this functionality is intended to enhance understanding of workforce dynamics and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Lee emphasized the importance of data in driving better insights for decision-making among AGL’s leadership. “We’re working towards getting data faster, getting better insights, and turning those insights into actions,” she stated. This approach is not only about improving workforce planning—by mapping current skills against future needs and strategizing to bridge any identified gaps—but also about enhancing individual career development. The company is committed to capturing all relevant data in Workday, allowing its machine learning capabilities to generate insights that can assist leaders in managing employees’ career trajectories within AGL.

To support this data-driven initiative, Lee's team is undergoing upskilling in data capabilities through professional development courses offered by Swinburne Edge. This investment in training reflects AGL’s recognition of the essential role that data literacy plays in navigating the modern workplace.

The integration of advanced technology systems has already yielded positive changes in AGL’s human resources operations, enhancing recruitment, talent management, performance management, and learning and development processes. Lee highlighted that the use of software-based systems has significantly accelerated HR processes, saying, “Technology definitely allows us to be a lot faster at managing our HR processes, from recruitment to talent management, and to all of the different 'people' cycles that we go through every year.”

In addition to the rollout of new Workday modules, AGL is focused on optimizing its existing Workday footprint. By utilizing data analytics, the company has gained valuable insights that inform its diversity and inclusion efforts. “We’ve seen pretty good results in terms of using that data and seeing that data change from the actions that we’ve taken as a result of where [the tool has] told us to focus,” Lee noted, underscoring the impact of data-driven decision-making on organizational culture.

As AGL expands its utilization of Workday, it recognizes the importance of change management in facilitating the adoption of these new capabilities. Lee remarked, “As we bring in the new capabilities, how do we best manage that change with our people so that the adoption is there?” AGL is aware that achieving a mature, data-led function will be a gradual process, requiring sustained effort and commitment over time.

Lee articulated a vision for the future, stating, “It’s quite a long journey to get to the maturity stage of being a data-led function where you use data to support your business.” However, she expressed confidence that integrating technology into AGL’s core strategy and embedding it throughout various functional areas will pave the way for success. “That’s going to be a journey for the next five years,” she concluded, signaling AGL’s commitment to fostering a culture that prioritizes data-driven insights in shaping its workforce strategy and overall organizational goals.

Through these efforts, AGL Energy aims to position itself not only as a leader in the energy sector but also as an employer of choice that values data-driven insights to enhance employee experiences, foster professional growth, and ultimately drive organizational success. The integration of Workday’s advanced capabilities marks a significant step forward in AGL’s commitment to creating a more agile, responsive, and innovative workplace.