Workday to acquire C1.ai, an agentic identity platform

Workday announced on October 13, 2026 that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase C1.ai, a platform that governs access for both employees and AI agents. The transaction is slated to be completed in the final quarter of Workday’s 2027 fiscal year, which concludes on January 31, 2027, subject to customary closing conditions. Executives said the deal will strengthen Workday’s security and compliance capabilities across its HR, finance and IT applications.

Workday says the acquisition will expand its identity‑governance functionality for people and autonomous agents, potentially improving its value proposition to enterprise customers. No financial terms were disclosed, so the immediate impact on earnings or cash flow is unclear.

  • 1Workday announced the acquisition of C1.ai on October 13, 2026.
  • 2The deal is slated to be completed in the final quarter of Workday’s 2027 fiscal year, which concludes on January 31, 2027, pending customary closing conditions.
  • 3Workday’s president of product and technology, Gerrit Kazmaier, said the combined solution will secure the workforce by managing real‑time access for people and agents.
  • 4C1.ai CEO Alex Bovee described the platform as an identity governance layer that can grant and revoke access instantly.
  • 5Shares of Workday rose 2.79% to $193.50 in pre‑market trading after the announcement.
  • 6Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Sources