Automated 8-K setup helps you get from a material event to a reviewable Form 8-K draft faster. Describe the event, confirm the relevant SEC items, and choose your source file and destination folder, then AI will roll forward your prior filing, gather SEC requirements and exhibit documentation, and draft the disclosure narrative.
You can start the workflow from the Create menu by selecting Agentic report, or from the Workiva AI companion under Workflows > Report generation.
This feature is currently available to select customers as part of the Automated 8-K setup preview. The preview feature is provided to you for technical testing and evaluation only from now to December 2026. Workiva may extend the testing period of the preview features at its discretion. If your team is interested in using this feature, please contact your Customer Success Manager.
Requirements
- Permission to create documents and copy files in your Workiva workspace.
- A prior 8-K or prepared Workiva 8-K template to start from, where you have Editor access or higher.
- A destination folder in your Workiva workspace where you have Editor access or higher. This folder stores the generated draft and any exhibit files you add to it.
Open setup
When you open Report Generation, a welcome screen introduces what you’ll provide and what the agent does with your answers. Open from the Create menu or from Workflows in the Workiva AI companion.
Review the overview, then select Get started. You'll begin on the Material event step. You can see your progress through setup on the left.
Describe the material event
The event description is the foundation of the draft. The AI uses it to identify relevant SEC item codes, and it, along with your exhibits, is used to draft the disclosure narrative. The more detail you include, the more accurate the suggestions will be.
- In the Event description field, describe the material event in your own words.
- Click Suggest item codes. Based on your description, the AI will return a list of suggested SEC items.
Review the suggested items. Each item appears as a card with the SEC item code and description. Use the toggle on each card to include or exclude it. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits will always be included in your draft 8-K and does not need to be added manually.
Note: If no items are identified, it will offer suggestions for improving your description and a way to add items manually. You can also select Add manually at any time to browse and select item codes from the full SEC catalog.
- In the Date of report field, enter the date of the earliest material event reported. The agent uses this for the cover page and filing timeline.
- Apply the date of the earliest event included. This will appear on the cover page.
Select peer companies (optional)
The peer benchmarking step is optional. If you include peers, Workiva AI analyzes how those companies handled similar events in their prior 8-K filings and uses that context to benchmark language and structure in your draft. You can skip this step entirely by choosing the Skip this step option.
Note: This step may not be available for all users during the preview.
- Choose how you want to identify peers:
- Select Use an existing peer group, then choose a group from the Company group drop-down.
- Select Enter companies manually, then search for companies by name. Only companies with 8-K filings in EDGAR are available. We recommend selecting no more than three peers.
- Select Next.
Even if you skip peer selection, Workiva AI references your company’s own prior 8-K filings for context.
Choose a source file
The source file is the Workiva document the AI will roll forward to create the draft’s starting point. Using a prior 8-K carries forward cover page data, XBRL tagging, links, and existing formatting.
In the drop-down, locate and select the prior 8-K or related Workiva document you want to roll forward. You can browse your workspace or type @ to reference a file directly. The selected source file does not need to align to the same item as the current 8-K, as it is only used to populate the cover page. Finally, click Next.
Note: You must have Editor access or higher to the file you select. If you don’t have edit access, an error appears with the file name. Select Choose a different file to pick another one, or ask the file’s owner to grant you access.
Name the draft and set up the save location
The destination folder is where the agent saves the completed draft. It’s also where the agent looks for exhibit files. Every file in the folder is treated as potential exhibit documentation. For best results, add your exhibits to the folder before creating the draft.
First, review the pre-filled Draft name field. The name is generated from the event date. If you edit the name and want to restore the original suggestion, select the reset icon at the end of the field.
Next, use the folder picker to select the destination folder where the draft will be saved. If you need a new folder, select Create folder.
Warning: The destination folder can’t be the same folder that contains your source file. The AI reads everything in the destination folder as exhibit documentation, which would include the draft if the source folder was chosen as the destination.
Optionally, you can provide more detailed instructions for how your draft should be written. This includes things like tone, specific terms you want to include, and other style choices.
Add exhibit files
Once you select a folder, a Folder contents panel shows what the AI will read. These files will be analyzed to identify exhibit documentation such as press releases, agreements, and other supporting materials. Only PDFs, Word documents, and Workiva documents can be filed as exhibits.
To add exhibit files, drag and drop them onto the Folder contents panel, or open the panel menu and select Add exhibits. Confirm the folder holds the exhibits the agent should reference, then select Create draft.
Create draft starts the agent. You can’t change your setup after this point, but you can retry if something goes wrong.
Track drafting progress
After you select Next, a progress screen shows each step as the agent works through it. Drafting typically takes a few minutes. You can close this screen and continue working while the agent drafts in the background.
The agent works through these steps in order:
- Rolling forward prior filing—Copies cover page data, XBRL tagging, and links from your source file.
- Gathering reporting context—Collects SEC Form 8-K requirements, exhibit information, and peer benchmarking data (if you selected peers).
- Preparing report structure—Organizes sections and sets up the document for content generation.
- Drafting the report—Writes disclosure narratives, the section outline, and the item 9.01 exhibit index.
Note: A toast notification tracks progress while the dialog is closed. When drafting completes, a notification appears with a link to open the draft. You can also reopen the dialog from the toast at any time.
Open the completed draft
When the agent finishes, a confirmation screen shows the document name and the completed workflow steps.
- Select Open 8-K draft to open the document in Workiva.
- Select View in folder to open the destination folder.
The draft opens as a Workiva document with an AI-generated draft banner. The banner is visible to all users and signals that the document requires human review before routing for approval or filing. Review all disclosure language, item selections, exhibit references, and dates carefully before sharing the draft.
Things to know
The draft requires review before filing
The agent drafts from the information you provide and publicly available filing data. The output is a starting point, not a final filing. Check all narrative content, SEC item selections, exhibit references, and cover page details before routing the 8-K for approval. The AI-generated draft banner on the document is a reminder that review is required—a document Owner can dismiss it once review is complete.
Add exhibits before selecting Create draft
The agent reads the destination folder at the time you select Create draft. Files you add to the folder after drafting starts won’t be included in this draft’s exhibit analysis. If you need to reference an exhibit that wasn’t in the folder, you can add it to the document manually.
If drafting fails
If the agent encounters an error, a message appears on the progress screen. Select Retry to restart drafting with the same inputs, or select Back to return to the Save location step and adjust your answers. Your setup information is preserved either way.
Item 9.01 is always suggested
The agent always includes item 9.01 (Financial Statements and Exhibits) in its item suggestions. Most 8-K filings require it. You can deselect it in the Material event step if it doesn’t apply to your filing, but confirm with your legal team before removing it.
Peer benchmarking only searches EDGAR
When you enter peers manually, the search returns companies that have 8-K filings in EDGAR. Companies without EDGAR filings don’t appear in results. We recommend no more than three peer companies to keep benchmarking context focused.