Webinars | Avaap

June 25, 2026 by vanessa young

Many higher education institutions assume they must complete their Workday implementation before tackling data modernization, analytics, or student retention initiatives. Avaap and Xavier University are proving otherwise.

Watch this conversation to learn how Xavier designed and implemented a modern student retention data model on Snowflake while simultaneously deploying Workday. Rather than waiting for a fully mature ERP environment or perfect data, Xavier took a pragmatic, collaborative approach that accelerated insight delivery and established a strong foundation for long-term student success.

During this session, you’ll hear from:

Sheri Thomas, AVP and Chief Information Officer, Xavier University
Kimberly Moore, VP of Student Affairs and Chief Success Officer, Xavier University
Annaleah Morrow, Ph.D., VP of Customer Success, Avaap

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

Explain how to advance student retention analytics during an active Workday transformation
Describe how to structure a collaborative partnership to design and deliver a scalable, modern data solution
Identify practical first steps for initiating retention analytics efforts, even without a fully mature data strategy
Apply approaches for navigating data quality challenges while continuing to move modernization efforts forward
Understand how cloud platforms like Snowflake support earlier and more scalable data foundations
Summarize key lessons for advancing operational transformation and data strategy in parallel

Attendees will leave with practical insights, implementation considerations, and a clear understanding that data modernization and Workday transformation do not need to happen sequentially. With the right approach, they can progress together to deliver faster, more meaningful results.

February 6, 2026 by Alyssa Mehrberg

Get ready for Workday’s 2026R1 release with a focused webinar covering the most important updates across HCM, Financials, and Student. Avaap’s Workday experts will go beyond the release notes to explain real‑world impacts, configuration considerations, and testing priorities your team needs to know before Preview and Production.

In this 90‑minute session, you’ll learn:

Key HCM updates affecting talent management, payroll, absence, time tracking, business processes, and security
Financials changes involving reporting, integrations, accounting, compliance impacts, and configuration opportunities
Critical Student enhancements across Records, Academic Advising, Curriculum Management, and related processes
Expert recommendations for testing, adoption planning, and maximizing value from the 2026R1 release

Walk away with a clear understanding of what’s changing and practical guidance to prepare your organization for a smooth transition.

December 12, 2025 by vanessa young Leave a Comment

What is Workday’s Public Cloud Migration and how does it impact your organization? Workday is requiring all customers to migrate to the public cloud and the time to prepare is now.

Attendees learned how Avaap can successfully help your organization with the public cloud migration by deploying a holistic approach that include:

Program management
Technical and functional expertise
Leveraging of change management for a positive project experience

With Avaap, you’ll benefit from:

A dedicated team of Workday and change management experts
Embedded quality assurance to ensure a smooth migration
A fast-track timeline – complete in as few as 7-12 weeks

Let Avaap do the heavy lifting so you can focus on what matters most. Prepare your organization today for a seamless transition to Workday’s public cloud.

December 12, 2025 by vanessa young Leave a Comment

For years, emerging higher education organizations have struggled to modernize due to the high cost and complexity of traditional ERP implementations. Avaap is changing that by delivering a complete Workday solution—from discounted software subscriptions to AI-enabled, industry-tailored deployment, and long-term support—with faster time-to-value at a price point built for the emerging market. Join Avaap and Workday for an inside look at Avaap One—a new deployment program designed specifically for colleges and universities seeking a streamlined, cost-effective path to Workday. With Avaap One, you can modernize with confidence and achieve outcomes faster through:

Accelerated Deployment: Pre-configured, industry-specific Workday tenants reduce risk and shorten implementation timelines.

Cost Efficiency at Scale: AI automation and pre-built frameworks reduce consulting hours and project costs while delivering faster time-to-value.

Built-In Support & Flexibility: Embedded change management, post-go-live support, and flexible payment options make transformation sustainable.

Add-on wrap-around services: End-to-end managed services, integrations, data conversion, staff augmentation and transformation support – designed to make transformation real, sustainable, and successful.

With Avaap One, you don’t need to compromise between cost and capability. Get a modern Workday deployment that’s faster, smarter, and more affordable—backed by a trusted partner committed to your long-term success.

September 11, 2025 by Alanna Hook Leave a Comment

Watch this exclusive webinar covering everything you need to know about the Workday 2025 R2 release. Avaap highlighted key updates to help atendees prepare for go-live and maximize the value of new features. Whether you’re deep into implementation or managing ongoing operations, this session will help you identify what’s essential, what’s exciting, and what’s coming next.

Attendees learned:

AI Capabilities – Learn how AI is enhancing support tools, including features like WD Help that auto-generate draft help articles from existing data.
HCM Enhancements – Get familiar with recent updates and consider how they might influence your day-to-day tasks.
Finance Updates – Hear from Avaap experts on changes in expense and spend management.
Student & Integration Insights – Learn what’s new and what to watch for in student systems and integrations.
Extend Features – Discover how Extend cards are evolving and what that means for your homepage and journeys.

Watch now to see this candid conversation about how to make your existing data work harder for you and to see how smarter facilities insights can shape the future of your campus.

July 29, 2025 by Alanna Hook Leave a Comment

What if your campus Wi-Fi could tell you more than just who’s online? In this exclusive roundtable webinar, Avaap and Lambent shared how a new partnership is turning facilities usage data into strategic insight—and real ROI.

Attendees learned:

How Lambent’s occupancy analytics, powered by anonymous Wi-Fi occupancy metrics, gives visibility into how spaces are truly being used.
How Avaap layers in additional data—like course schedules, energy usage, or campus safety—to drive AI-powered insights that support budget decisions, space planning, and student-centric design.

Watch now to see this candid conversation about how to make your existing data work harder for you and to see how smarter facilities insights can shape the future of your campus.

July 18, 2025 by Alanna Hook Leave a Comment

Everyone’s talking about AI but how do you actually get started? Watch an unscripted conversation between two AI experts, Jeff Brown, VP of Data & Analytics at Avaap, and Dave Kieffer, Principal Analyst at The Tambellini Group, as they unpack the promise, pitfalls, and practical paths forward for artificial intelligence in higher education. Whether you’re a CIO seeking clarity, an IT leader exploring your institution’s readiness, or a Workday customer wondering how built-in AI capabilities apply to you, this session will help you move from buzzwords to action.

In this session attendees learned:

The truth behind common AI myths and why it’s not as new as it seems
Clarification on key terms: machine learning, generative AI, LLMs, and AI agents
What Tambellini sees in the market vs. what Avaap sees on the ground
Low-barrier, minimal investment ways to get started with AI today
Where AI investments are paying off the most in higher ed
The difference between AI embedded in platforms like Workday vs. custom use cases
Responsible AI and the growing importance of governance

May 12, 2025 by vanessa young Leave a Comment

In higher education, timing is everything—especially when it comes to modernizing the systems that power your institution. For Northern Kentucky University (NKU), the moment for change is now. Join us for an exclusive webinar featuring NKU’s CFO Chris Calvert and CIO Tim Ferguson as they share why they chose to move forward with Workday to transform finance, HR, and student systems—and why they didn’t wait. You’ll also hear from Avaap’s Tim Oberschlake, VP of Organizational Transformation Services, on how institutions can set the stage for successful change from day one. Key Takeaways:

Why Workday, Why Now: Learn what drove NKU’s decision to modernize and what timing factors matter most.
Lead With Alignment: See how early collaboration across finance, IT, and campus leadership accelerates momentum.
Avoid Common Pitfalls: Gain expert insight on how to reduce risk, foster buy-in, and prepare your institution for change.
Build the Right Foundation: Understand the importance of defining strategic intent and aligning governance before implementation.

Whether you’re exploring system modernization or actively planning a move, this session offers firsthand insight to help you lead with confidence and clarity.

April 4, 2025 by vanessa young Leave a Comment

Enrollment and student retention are critical for the success of higher education institutions. Currently, low student enrollment and high attrition rates are a growing concern for many institutions. What should these institutions do to address rising concerns?

While there are many best practices and actions that can be taken to improve enrollment and retention, a critical place to start is by collecting and analyzing relevant data. So many factors contribute to lower enrollment and higher attrition rates, from academic to non-academic influences. By utilizing a data analytics approach, institutions can evaluate the root causes of student enrollment and retention and make informed, data-driven decisions about how to improve outcomes for students and universities alike.

View this webinar to see how institutions can take a data analytics approach to address low student enrollment and rates of high attrition. In this webinar we explore innovative solutions that are available within the Snowflake ecosystem.

During this webinar, attendees:

Learned how Snowflake can be leveraged as a platform for data analytics solutions.
Explored specific data analytics tools and dashboards that are designed for enrollment and student retention purposes.
Learned about Streamlit in Snowflake and its versatility in creating user-friendly applications.

March 31, 2025 by vanessa young Leave a Comment

Implementing a new system is not just about replacing old software; it’s an opportunity for business transformation. Access this webinar to reassess and optimize your business processes, look for ways to streamline operations, reduce redundancies, and enhance efficiency. When new software is not strongly aligned with your overall business strategy, the result is implementation confusion and lackluster results.

Attendees learned how to assess corporate strategy, how to compare solutions in the cloud world, what is to change operationally from a people and process perspective to drive business transformation, and how to strategize governance are critical in selecting the right system and achieving success post-implementation.

In this session, Avaap discussed what they have learned from our experience supporting organizations in their search for the right system software and the importance of rethinking how you perform system selections as your organization begins your transformation journey.

During this webinar, attendees:

Learned to understand the key considerations for system implementation success and how aligning new software with business strategy can improve outcomes
Learned methods to compare software options in the ever-changing technology landscape while considering changes in operations, processes, and people
Developed strategies for process governance and optimization to reduce redundancies and establish frameworks that will create lasting success

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