Simba Workday Integration: How to Connect Workday to Power BI

For most organizations, Workday is a core system housing vital data on HR, payroll, finance, and more. However, extracting and utilizing that data for analysis can be a challenge. In fact, out of 500 financial professionals surveyed in a 2024 report on trends within the financial industry, 98% of finance teams reported they experienced data integration challenges. As a direct result of this, teams struggle to report on performance accurately and efficiently, leading to significant oversights in strategy.

Simba Workday ODBC and JDBC Drivers simplify the data integration process, enabling seamless access to Workday data through standard database interfaces. With Simba Drivers, you can effortlessly integrate Workday data into your analytics tools, ETL workflows, or custom applications, unlocking Workday’s full decision-making potential.

Workday ODBC or JDBC Driver: Which Should I Choose?

Before you can integrate a Simba Workday Driver, you will first need to decide if your team will require an ODBC or JDBC driver for connectivity. Both options perform the same shared function of allowing you to access Workday data through standard interfaces more seamlessly. However, they differ slightly based on your tech environment and the existing tools your team uses on a day-to-day basis.

Choose Simba Workday ODBC Driver if you and your team:

• Work largely in a Windows environment

• Require a short setup time for self-service reporting and ad hoc analysis

• Use Microsoft tools like Power BI and Excel as your primary analytics interface

Choose Simba Workday JDBC Driver if you and your team:

• Use or build Java-based applications

• Require cross-platform flexibility or are attempting to integrate Workday into a larger, existing data pipeline

• Run ETL workflows through mixed or non-Windows environments

How Simba Converts Workday Data to Standard SQL

Workday’s data architecture serves its purpose well, but it’s not designed for external analysis. The specialized structures that make Workday powerful internally become roadblocks when you need to use that data elsewhere. Simba’s drivers solve this by automatically converting Workday’s complex structures into familiar relational tables. You can query them using standard SQL through tools like Power BI, Tableau, or Excel, without the need to learn Workday’s specialized query language (WQL) or wrestle with export limitations.

Performance matters. Simba’s drivers are built on the Simba SQL Engine, which uses server-side query processing to minimize delays and maximize efficiency. This means quicker access to the data you need, even for large or complex queries. Instead of waiting on slow data extraction processes, your teams can focus on making timely, informed decisions.

How to Connect Workday to Power BI Using Simba

By connecting your Workday data to Power BI, your team can cut down on timely manual exports and gain access to updated reports on HR, payroll, and financial data. Insightsoftware’s Simba Workday ODBC Driver significantly simplifies the data exporting process, freeing teams up for increased strategy work. Follow these simple steps to get your Simba ODBC Driver connected:

Before you get started:

• Download the Simba Workday ODBC or JDBC Driver

• Ensure your Microsoft Power BI Desktop is updated to the latest version

• Access your Workday tenant URL and API credentials

• Configure OAuth 2.0 client credentials in Workday, including Client ID and Client Secret

Step 1: Download and Install the Simba Workday Driver

Download either the Simba Workday ODBC or JDBC Driver from the insightsoftware drivers page.

• For ODBC Driver: Run the Windows installer and follow the on-screen prompts as they appear. Once your installation is complete, the driver will be available in your Windows ODBC Data Source Administrator.

• For JDBC Driver: Extract the download .jar file to a directory accessible by your application or ETL environment. Be sure to check that you have a compatible Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed on your device.

Step 2: Configure Your ODBC Data Source Name (DSN)

For ODBC Users:

1. Open the Windows ODBC Data Source Administrator

   • To navigate to this, search "ODBC" in your Start menu, then select the 64-bit version for Power BI compatibility.

2. Click “Add” under the System DSN tab

3. Select “Simba Workday ODBC Driver” from the list and click “Finish”

4. In the configuration dialog, enter:

   • Host: Your Workday tenant URL

   • Tenant: Your Workday tenant name

   • Authentication Type: OAuth 2.0

   • Client ID and Client Secret: From your Workday API client setup

5. Click “Test Connection” to verify that the credentials are working, then click “OK” to save the Data Source Name (DSN)

For JDBC Users:

1. Reference the Simba Workday JDBC Driver .jar file in your Java application or ETL tool’s classpath

2. Input the following connection string format: jdbc:workday://[your-tenant-url];AuthScheme=OAuth;OAuthClientId=[ClientID];OAuthClientSecret=[ClientSecret];

3. Verify that the connection is active, and then proceed to Power BI

Step 3: Connect Power BI to Workday

For ODBC Users:

1. Open Power BI Desktop and click “Get Data” from the Home ribbon

2. Search for and select “ODBC”, then click “Connect”

3. In the dropdown, select the DSN you configured in Step 2 and click “OK”

For JDBC Users:

1. Open Power BI Desktop and click “Get Data”

2. Select “Other” then “ODBC” (Power BI routes JDBC connections through its own ODBC interface)

3. Enter your JDBC connection string when you’re prompted and then click “Connect”

Step 4: Load Your Workday Data

Regardless of your driver, the following steps remain the same:

1. In the Navigator window, you'll see Workday data automatically mapped into familiar relational tables, without requiring WQL knowledge

2. Browse and select the tables you need (ex: Worker, Payroll, Financial Results)

3. Click “Load” to bring the data directly into Power BI, or “Transform Data” to shape it in Power Query first

Step 5: Build and Refresh Your Reports

Once your data is loaded, your team can build Power BI reports and dashboards as you normally would. To ensure your data stays current, configure a scheduled periodical refresh in Power BI. The Simba driver will query Workday directly based on your schedule, ensuring your reports always reflect the latest data.

How to Solve Common Workday Data Integration Challenges

Accessing Workday data comes with its share of hurdles. These drivers were designed with real-world challenges in mind:

• Extract data without unnecessary complexity: Simba can query Workday’s data directly through standard ODBC or JDBC connections, avoiding complicated export processes.

• Manage multiple data sources: Whether pulling HR records, payroll details, or financial information, the drivers unify these data sources, so you can create meaningful reports across business areas.

• Enable IT efficiency: By automating schema generation and supporting WQL, the drivers reduce the need for custom coding or manual intervention, freeing IT teams to focus on higher-value tasks.

Workday ODBC Driver Use Cases: BI, ETL & Custom Apps

From data analysts to IT professionals, Simba’s drivers support a range of critical use cases:

• Analytics and BI workflows: Query Workday data in real time using tools like Tableau, Excel, or Power BI.

• ETL processes: Integrate Workday data into your pipelines for downstream processing.

• Custom application development: Build data-driven applications that leverage Workday information directly, without reinventing the wheel.

Why Simba’s Approach Works

Simba has spent over 30 years perfecting ODBC and JDBC connectivity solutions. These Workday drivers bring that expertise to bear on Workday’s specific challenges: server-side query processing, advanced security features, and native API support that actually works in production environments. For organizations that depend on Workday as part of their enterprise stack, these drivers represent a practical solution to a persistent problem.

See Simba Workday Drivers in Action

Watch On-Demand Webinar: Watch our on-demand webinar featuring live demos of seamless Workday data integration with Power BI, Qlik Sense, and Logi Symphony, plus learn performance optimization techniques that cut query times in half.

In this webinar, you’ll see:

• Live demonstration of streamlined Workday data integration

• Performance optimization techniques for BI tool connections

• How the drivers automatically simplify Workday’s complex structures

Discover How Simba Drivers Can Help Your Team Access Workday Data

Ready to learn more about Simba’s Workday ODBC and JDBC Drivers? Download the drivers today and start exploring how insightsoftware can transform your Workday data experience. If you have questions or need additional information, our team is here to help. Schedule a meeting today to discuss your specific use case.