Workday EIB - Inbound

EIB - Inbound

The Workday Enterprise Interface Builder (EIB) tool provides an easy-to-use graphical and guided interface to define inbound and outbound integrations without requiring any programming. 

There are two types of EIBs - Inbound and Outbound. I encourage you to first read EIB Outbound. Here we will discuss about EIB Inbound.

The Inbound EIB is just like an Outbound EIB but the way of doing is just a mirror-image. When you want to load the data into Workday from different sources then you would use Inbound EIB. Bulk loads can be done through this EIB Inbounds.

Workday generates a default spreadsheet for the most common set of bulk update operations. These operations include mass payroll, time off, benefit adjustments, etc.

We need to download the generated spreadsheet, add data to it, and then use EIB to import it to the system and update all the records. If your data spreadsheet that you have loaded have any issues, it will notify you of any errors in the load process, and will even highlight which data in the input spreadsheet caused the issue.

Here are the three steps / phases involved in creating an Inbound EIB:

1. Get Data

Here in Get Data you define how you retrieve the data. This means how you input the data to workday. This Phase is very important as this defines how your transform and delivery phases are going to be, like what defaults it will pass on.

Below are the different formats that Workday accepts : Attach File at Launch, Amazon Simple Storage Service, FTP/SSL, REST URL, SFTP.

It is important to select the Web Service operation as to where exactly you want to load the data within Workday. For example if you are updating personal information or emergency contacts or one-time payments etc.,
Also there are different file types available to use

• Web Service Spreadsheet Template (Most commonly used), 
• Custom Object Spreadsheet Template (Used when loading the data for Custom Objects), 
• Predefined Template (less likely used)

2. Transform

Transform will be like using the default options, as this section depends up on the Get Data file type selection.

Custom Object Transformation - By Default and only option when selected Custom Object Spreadsheet Template in Get Data.
Template Model - By Default and only option when selected Web Service Spreadsheet Template in Get Data.

3. Deliver

Workday Web Service Operation is the default Delivery method for Web Services.

Custom Object is the default Delivery Method for Custom Objects.
Use the defaults and proceed.
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Once you configure your EIB, its time to generate the spreadsheet template.

Go to Related Actions >> Template Model >> Generate Spreadsheet Template.  -- This will generate the excel sheet for the Web Service that you have selected.

These delivered spreadsheets can also be customized so that you can specifically identify the columns you need, hide irrelevant fields, etc. Use the Edit and View options in the Template model to edit your spreadsheet template. Once you have your data ready in the spreadsheet, you can launch your integration with below navigation.

Go to Related Actions >> Integration >> Launch / Schedule >> Integration Attachment 
Value Type: Specify Value
Value: Create Integration Attachment -- Here you will attach your data spreadsheet

Configuration of a Sample Inbound EIB:

Create EIB Task

Guided Path:

Get Data

Set Web Service Operation in Get data

 Transform

Deliver

Generate Spreadsheet from Template Model

Additional Reads

Workday EIB Outbound
Workday EIB Interview Questions

Workday EIB - Outbound

EIB Outbound

The Workday Enterprise Interface Builder (EIB) tool provides an easy-to-use graphical and guided interface to define inbound and outbound integrations without requiring any programming. 

There are two types of EIBs - Inbound and Outbound. Here we will discuss about EIB Outbound.

Outbound EIBs are used to extract data from the Workday system and send it to external system that could be a third party, vendor, legacy system or just a simple attachment. Mostly they are used to send a file to an external destination via ftp. 

Here are the three steps / phases involved in creating an Outbound EIB:

1. Get Data

In "Get Data" Phase, we will identify the data source. In 90% of the cases, this is will be a custom report and it should be an advanced report which acts as Report as a Service (RaaS). 

If you are specifying a Report Data Source, you can choose the format in which the report results can be delivered. 

Below are the different output formats: XML, simplified XML, CSV, JSON, GData, or RSS. 

You can also use Workday Web Service endpoint as the data source for an EIB.

2. Transform

This is used to transform the data from one format to other. You can either choose from the set of predefined (XSL) transforms, or specify a new one that you will define. The out-of-the-box options include transforms to CSV and Excel formats.This is an optional step if you do not want to transform anything. By default your EIB will produce an XML format.

When you use Custom Report as your Data source, you can make use of the Delivered Transformation or Custom Transformation. And when you use Web Service on the other hand, you will have only one option Custom Transformation.

Like said above, you can use None option if you don't want to transform.

New Custom Report Transformation: This is the delivered one's, it will allow you to use it for the first time, it will automatically create the transformation for your EIB. One you select this option, you will not see this later, It will become Custom Report Transformation.

Custom Report Transformation: Same as above. 

Custom Transformation: This is the custom transformation where you will write a XSLT for your XML and upload the same.

3. Deliver

The output resulting from executing the EIB can either be attached back to your tenant, or alternatively delivered to an external endpoint. 

Supported Delivery Methods are: Workday Attachment, FTP, HTTP/SSL, FTP/SSL, FTP, Email, AS2 

You can configure multiple delivery options for different tenants, For example - for production you may configure PGP Production Key and for non production tenants you may configure PGP non-Production Key. Additionally you can use Workday attachment to be delivered to the local tenant where the EIB is ran.

Configuration of a Sample Outbound EIB:

Create EIB task

Guided Path

Get Data

Transform

Deliver

Additional Reads:

Workday EIB Inbound

Workday EIB Interview Questions

Interview Questions: EIB

Workday EIB Interview Questions

Here is the list of Interview Questions related to EIB - Enterprise Interface Builder Integrations.

What is EIB and what are the types of EIB?

EIB - Enterprise interface builder tool which is used to build simple inbound and outbound Integrations to connect workday with external endpoints.

Types:
      Inbound
     Outbound 

How many steps are involved in creation of an EIB?

3 Steps / Phases

Get Data, Transform, Deliver

What are outbound EIB?

Outbound EIBs are used to export data from workday. We can also send this exported data to any external vendors or legacy systems through different endpoints such as SFTP/FTP etc.

E.g. Send Dependents data to Benefits vendor from workday.

What are Inbound EIB?

Inbound EIB Integration are used to upload data into Workday from external endpoints or from spreadsheets.

E.g. Inserting One Time Payments, Inserting Bonus Data, Update Emergency Contacts 

We can upload data to workday using spreadsheet attachment or external file from SFTP/FTP/EMAIL locations.

What are the main types of Workday Integrations?
          Workday Studio Integration, 
          Enterprise Information Builder (EIB) Integration, 
          Cloud Connect Integration.

How do you choose which tool is best out of three integrations available?

Few things needs to be considered while choosing the integration tool. Here is what you need to identify first in place.

Is the solution already pre-built? Am I connecting to a third-party vendor with a solution already in place? – If yes, most likely you will choose a Core Connector (Packaged Connector).

Does this integration just need to export or import some data into Workday? – If yes, then most likely you need to go with EIBs.

Do I need to execute several rules, and reports to get the data and calculate the results I need? For example: Determining payroll between Exempt and Non-Exempt employees, calculate deductions, etc. – If yes, then most likely you need a Workday Studio Integration.

Can we create an EIB with the help of matrix report?

No, the reason being reports need to be Web Service enabled for creating EIB and Matrix reports can’t be Web Service enabled.

Can we use all advance reports as a data source in EIB?

 No, we cannot use all advance reports in EIB. We can use only those reports which are web service enabled.

Can we use simple reports as a data source in EIB?

No

What are the types of transformation allowed with EIB?
We can use 3 types of transformation with EIB:

Custom report Transformation -This type is inbuilt transformation of EIB and have limited functionality.
Custom transformation - In this we have to attach XSLT with EIB and supports XSLT functionality. So, this has more features than Custom report Transformation. Learn here w3schools
Document Transformation -This is type of connector that we can connect with EIB and will supports all functionality of Document transformation such as XTT and ETV.

What are the limitations of EIB?
Only one data source can be used. And only one destination point can be configured for one tenant. Can’t define output tag in EIB.

What data sources can we choose while creating the EIB outbound?
EIB outbound is to export the data from Workday.
Data Source - Custom report or Web Services or REST URL

What data sources can we choose while creating the EIB Inbound?
EIB Inbound is to Import the data into Workday.
Data Source - Attachment or External file or REST Endpoint

Name some Web services that you have used for inbound EIB Load?

Request One-Time Payment (OTP)

Change Emergency Contacts

Request Compensation Change

Terminations

While performing EIB Inbound load what should we do to avoid get pending actions / Tasks in inbox?
This represents, when you do a load through EIB the underlying BP/task should get complete without going for any approvals. Because your load may be huge , say 10,000 EE bonus data you are loading at that time, there shouldn't be any workflow triggering for approvals. So, while filling the Inbound Spreadsheet template, we need to select “Automatic processing” on first tab. This will skip the BP's

Where can you view Error messages for an EIB?

You can view the EIB run through Integration Events , Process Monitor

Name some input and output types for EIBs?

Input:   SFTP/FTP, REST, or attachment 

Output: SFTP/FTP, HTTP, Email, CSV, JSON, XML, etc

EIB Integration issues with Scenarios and Resolutions

Scenario 1: The EIB does not display in the integration prompt of the Launch/Schedule Integration task.
Resolution: Verify EIB security Configuration. Edit the EIB and resolve any critical errors.

Scenario 2: Non-legible character appears in Microsoft Excel when you open a CSV output file.
Resolution: Before opening the CSV file in Excel, open the CSV in notepad , Then select File>>save as, UTF-8 encoding.

Scenario 3: File name does not include generated date and time variables when the sequence Generator is configured correctly.
Resolution: When launching or scheduling the EIB, Use these settings with the file name launch parameter.
Value type: Determine value at run time
Value: Next sequence for integration File Utility.

Scenario 4: Workday returns the following error message: Root Cause: BadRequestException: Error code: unknown Response: 500: Processing error occurred. No value provided for required [Prompt Name].
Resolution:  Ensure that all required prompts are being populated when the EIB is launched. You may have to edit the scheduler if the EIB was launched from there.

Scenario 5: Workday returns the following error: Transform failed at component: HandleTransform.request.0.XsltTransform. Reason: Output character not available in this encoding

Resolution: 

1. Open the XSLT transformation file in a text editor.
2. Find the element <xsl: output>.
3. Within that element, search for the setting for encoding=.
4. Often this is set to ISO-8859-1 Change this value to UTF-8.

If the recipient of the EIB cannot accept UTF-8-encoded files, then you must change the source data in Workday.

Additional Reads
Workday EIB Inbound
Workday EIB Outbound
Workday Core Connectors Interview Questions

I will be updating / adding some more questions