Evisions sat down with Ife Wada, Application Analyst at Washburn University, to discuss how her team uses Argos to support reporting, budgeting, automation, and self-service access to data across campus. During the conversation, Wada shared how Argos helps departments access information more quickly, reduce reliance on manual processes, and deliver meaningful data to stakeholders throughout the institution.

For Washburn University, reporting plays a critical role in supporting departments such as Finance, HR, and Payroll. As an Application Analyst, Wada works closely with users across campus to understand their reporting needs and help them find answers to important institutional questions.

“People have questions they need answered,” said Wada. “How many students are enrolled in a course? How much has a department spent? How are we doing financially? My role is helping tell those stories with data.”

Moving Beyond Spreadsheets

Before adopting self-service reporting through Argos, many budgeting processes relied heavily on spreadsheets and manual communication.

When budget transfers occurred between departments, teams often had to contact Finance to request updated information. Finance staff would review Banner, update spreadsheets, and communicate the changes back to departments. While the process worked, it required significant manual effort and often delayed access to information.

Today, departments can access much of that information themselves through Argos.

Using self-service budget reports and dashboards, users can view expenditures, monitor budget activity, and access current information without waiting for someone else to pull the data.

“Departments can just go to Argos, run the report, and see the information themselves,” Wada explained.

Creating Visibility Through Dashboards

In addition to reporting, Washburn uses dashboards and visualizations to help users better understand their data.

For example, budget dashboards allow departments to quickly review spending activity and see how much of their budget has been allocated to expenses. Interactive charts make it easier for users to explore information and identify trends without needing advanced reporting knowledge.

By presenting data visually, departments can gain a clearer understanding of their financial position and make more informed decisions.

Automating Routine Processes

Automation has become another important part of Washburn’s reporting strategy.

The team uses Argos to automate recurring reports and communications, including monthly budget updates delivered directly to department leaders. Rather than manually creating and distributing reports each month, information is automatically delivered to the people who need it.

According to Wada, automation has helped reduce repetitive work while allowing staff to focus on new opportunities and projects.

“Automation has saved time, saved energy, saved effort, and freed us up to focus on other innovations for the university,” she said.

The impact extends beyond budgeting. Washburn also uses automation to deliver timely communications and reminders, helping ensure important information reaches the right people when they need it.

Supporting the Entire Campus Community

While reporting often focuses on data, Wada believes the biggest impact has been on the people who use it.

From department leaders gaining visibility into budgets, to staff receiving automated reminders, to students receiving timely communications, access to better information has helped improve the experience across campus.

“The biggest win is making our end users happy,” said Wada. “Their pain points are being addressed, information is getting to them when they need it, and Argos has made life easier for us.”

For Washburn University, reporting is about more than delivering data. It’s about providing the right information to the right people at the right time, helping departments work more efficiently and empowering users across campus with greater access to the information they need.

As Wada put it, Argos has helped transform reporting from a manual process into a more accessible, automated experience, giving users the information they need while allowing IT teams to focus on what’s next.

Argos Delivers Self-Service Data and Automation at Washburn University

Argos helps transform data into meaningful, actionable information for departments across campus.