For more than a century, Plante Moran has evolved from a single-practitioner accounting office into a billion-dollar leader in audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management. With nearly 4,000 staff members today, the firm’s growth has been fueled by a long-standing commitment to innovation. But as the firm expanded, so did the complexity of its internal systems, creating roadblocks that slowed progress.

Paul Blowers, Chief Information Officer at Plante Moran, explains how the company tackled these challenges head-on by partnering with Workday to consolidate 27 separate systems into a unified ERP platform. Blowers reflects on how this transformation has not only streamlined operations but set the stage for continued growth in an increasingly competitive market.

Two Key Moments That Pushed for Change

According to Blowers, the decision to modernize Plante Moran’s systems came down to two pivotal realizations.

“The first moment came during a strategic planning session. As we mapped out future goals—whether for talent development, client service, or operational excellence—we realized everything pointed to one critical need: a stronger digital backbone,” he explains. “At that point, we were managing 27 disconnected systems, each with custom integrations. It was slowing us down and making it harder to respond quickly to new opportunities.”

The second moment came with the pandemic, which exposed the limitations of older systems. “We saw how cloud-based tools allowed us to pivot to remote work smoothly, but the legacy on-premise systems struggled. It became obvious we needed a cloud-first strategy to keep us agile in future disruptions,” Blowers says.

Simplifying Systems to Unlock Efficiency

Plante Moran’s transition to Workday immediately eliminated many inefficiencies, giving the firm a much-needed boost in productivity.

“Before Workday, everything from data reconciliation to month-end reporting was a massive undertaking,” Blowers recalls. “It could take weeks to pull together reports for what had already happened—by the time the numbers were ready, they were stale.”

With Workday’s real-time capabilities, the difference was night and day. “We now have a complete, live view of projects, time, and billing throughout the month. Closing out at the end of the month is automated, and reports are available instantly,” he says. “This not only saves time but frees up our teams to focus on more strategic work. It also gives our leaders immediate insights into both people and financial data—no more waiting around for answers.”

Reducing 27 systems to one has also streamlined processes across the board. “It’s incredible to see how much simpler things have become,” Blowers adds. “We’ve eliminated redundant data and processes, and everything just flows better now.”

Addressing Talent Challenges Through Technology

The accounting industry is facing a well-documented talent shortage, with fewer students choosing accounting as a career. Plante Moran has taken proactive steps to address this challenge by using technology to optimize staffing and create more meaningful career paths.

“We know we can’t solve the talent gap through recruiting alone,” says Blowers. “Our focus is on maximizing the impact of the people we do have. With Workday and Dayshape, we can manage staff assignments holistically—balancing skills, preferences, client needs, and staff development goals.”

This data-driven approach not only makes staffing more efficient but also gives employees opportunities to work across different industries. “We want our people to grow into well-rounded professionals, and that starts with giving them diverse experiences. Integrated systems make that possible,” Blowers explains.

Faster Insights, Stronger Results

The ability to generate insights in real-time has also accelerated the firm’s ability to serve clients and drive revenue growth.

“With live data at our fingertips, we can spot potential issues early and address them before they affect the client,” Blowers says. “And because we can view capacity across the firm in real time, we always have the right people on the right projects, which leads to better outcomes for everyone.”

This operational agility has been crucial as the firm aims for its next growth milestone: $2 billion in revenue. “Our focus isn’t just on growing revenue but on managing the increasing complexity that comes with it. As our clients’ needs evolve, we need to evolve too, and Workday gives us the flexibility to do that,” he adds.

Preparing for the Future with AI and ERP

Plante Moran isn’t just looking at today’s challenges—it’s preparing for what’s next, especially in the realm of artificial intelligence.

“We recently updated our AI strategy to align with the latest innovations, and having all our data centralized in Workday plays a big role in that,” Blowers says. “Workday’s commitment to responsible AI aligns with ours, and it ensures we’ll be able to take advantage of new tools as they emerge—without compromising our values.”

By staying on top of technological advancements, the firm ensures it’s well-prepared to navigate future disruptions and capitalize on new opportunities.

Phased Implementation for Immediate Results

Plante Moran took a phased approach to the Workday implementation, focusing on delivering value as quickly as possible.

“We knew a ‘big bang’ rollout wasn’t the right approach. Instead, we started with human capital management, which gave our teams an early introduction to the platform and allowed us to see quick wins,” Blowers explains.

From there, the firm gradually added finance and professional services automation, building momentum with each phase. “This approach created a feedback loop where we could make adjustments as we went, which was critical for user adoption,” Blowers says.

The goal wasn’t just to solve immediate challenges but to build a foundation for long-term success. “An ERP isn’t just a tool you install and forget—it’s a strategic platform you grow with over time. That’s why picking the right partner, like Workday, was so important,” he notes.

A Blueprint for Sustainable Growth

Reflecting on the transformation, Blowers says the partnership with Workday has been a game-changer.

“Every part of this journey has reinforced the importance of having the right tools and the right partners,” he says. “By simplifying our systems and focusing on innovation, we’re not just ready for what’s next—we’re ready to lead.”

With Workday as its digital backbone, Plante Moran is well-positioned to continue delivering exceptional service, grow its business, and navigate whatever the future holds.

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