Change can feel uncertain, especially when it involves something as big as the systems we rely on to do our jobs every day. That’s why we sat down with Andrew Olinger, Clemson’s assistant athletic director for business operations, to hear about his firsthand experience with Workday. Before joining Clemson, Andrew worked at The Ohio State University during their Workday implementation, giving him a unique perspective on what the transition really feels like and what benefits it can bring.
Looking back, Andrew recalls that while his day-to-day work did not dramatically shift, the move to Workday immediately made many things easier. “All our HR and Finance data was now in one place; I could schedule reports, and there was more detailed information,” he explained. Moving from multiple systems to one unified platform for HR and Finance was a game-changer for efficiency.
He also noticed improvements in the look and feel of the system. “Workday was a much cleaner look, and once I got more comfortable, I found it much easier to navigate,” Andrew said. Features like keyword search took the frustration out of finding what he needed, and simple tasks, such as updating personal information, became much more intuitive.
The benefits weren’t limited to his desktop. With the Workday mobile app, Andrew found he could take care of quick items on the go. “It made it much easier because I could use my phone for simple tasks when not at my desk,” he shared. (Note: Exact capabilities available on mobile devices for Clemson has not been finalized.)
Workday made financial reporting much more efficient. Andrew described automation and streamlining as two of the system’s biggest strengths. “The ability to schedule different reports or easily search for them saved an immense amount of time. And not having to go to different systems for Procurement, HR, and Finance made tasks simpler and limited the number of tabs on my computer!”
Another standout improvement was transparency in processes. In Ohio State’s old systems, it was often unclear where something stood in an approval flow. With Workday, Andrew saw “greater visibility in where tasks were in the process” and found reporting tools that made it easier to track requests and expenses.
His advice to colleagues is both practical and reassuring: “Embrace the new system and change.” Andrew is encouraged by Clemson’s approach to the implementation so far. He pointed to simplified communication, opportunities for feedback, and the chance to involve his team as positive takeaways from Clemson’s rollout.
Overall, Andrew’s experience at Ohio State highlights what we can look forward to: a more intuitive, efficient, and accessible system that brings our work into one place. And with training and support along the way, the Clemson community won’t be navigating the change alone.
