STORIES & SOLUTIONS FOR THE MODERN BUSINESS USER

It’s no wonder ERP growth is exploding. Nearly every business in every industry is using ERP and more than half are shifting to the cloud. Enterprise Resource Planning systems have become indispensable for organizations seeking to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and drive growth. However, implementing ERP solutions can be complex and challenging, especially when considering the unique needs and nuances of different industries.

Changing student expectations are driving the need for transformation in higher education, yet the majority of colleges and universities are working with legacy systems that are 20 years old or older. Students today want to be able to register for classes, see their degree progress, pay their bill, accept their financial aid and many other critical student experience tasks using their mobile device.

Higher ed has a greater share of older workers than other industries. The median age for higher education staff is 45, above the U.S. workforce average of 42. As baby boomers approach retirement age and exit the workforce in the coming decade, they will be followed by Generation X — a much smaller generation. At the same time, by 2030, it is expected that nearly one in five workers will be over the age of 65. As workers continue toward retirement, it can create challenges in the IT department as knowledge leaves the institution. For individuals who stay, it creates a training need for people to learn new systems and processes and adapt to change.

For many institutions, it is time to undergo digital transformation. According to Educause, 38 percent of institutions are exploring digital transformation, and more have started a digital transformation project. Many digital transformation initiatives in higher ed are focused on the mission to improve student outcomes. Through transformation, institutions are able to adapt more quickly and enhance the employee and student experience.

The amount of data created every day is staggering. According to industry sources, more than 181 zettabytes of data will be created by 2025. However, despite the abundance of data, many higher education institutions struggle with extracting value from their data. Driving value requires a culture change and a solution to make data accessible. Democratizing data, or enabling access to data for everyone across the institution, creates barrier-free access so leaders can make data-driven, effective decisions.

Digital transformation is top of mind for many higher education institutions. With pressures from boards, and an ever-changing student population, modernization is often a “make it or break it” point. With so many positive impacts of modernization, why hasn’t your institution started? If you need some help building the business case for why it’s important to modernize now, read on.

The global pandemic led many institutions to evaluate student systems, reassessing if existing technology meets the growing expectations of students, faculty, and staff. Selecting a student system is no small task; success in the cloud requires a new approach to software selection. The decision has lasting impact on every campus and business unit inside the institution. As your school approaches transformation, here are some things to consider.

Technology has changed a lot in the last 20 years with beepers and palm pilots giving way to mobility and modern analytics. However, many higher education institutions are operating on legacy systems that are more than 20 years old, and often cobbling together several systems to achieve functionality they need. With an eye on better visibility, many institutions are considering technology modernization, including shifting student systems to the cloud. As institutions consider the options for moving to the cloud, here are three reasons to do it now.

Back-to-school season is here and while students are thinking of classes and what they'll be learning in the coming year, business leaders are seeking education on digital transformation and how to improve operations in their institutions. Whether deploying new financials software or modernizing legacy systems to the cloud to take advantage of advanced functionality, proper planning is the crux of a successful cloud deployment.