TechnologyOne, provider of enterprise software solutions to Australia's higher education sector, declared that the 'on-prem' era is officially over. Their announcement indicates that all customers are either utilising or have committed to transitioning to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology to operate their core back-office and administrative services.
The switch to SaaS technologies isn't merely about efficiency but a key strategy for higher education institutions to bolster staff productivity and retention, the company states. La Trobe University serves as an example of institutions implementing TechnologyOne's OneEducation SaaS solution to meet operational, strategic and educational requirements.
Peter Nikoletatos, TechnologyOne's Industry Director for Higher Education, underlines the significance of this milestone. He shares, 'We provide solutions to about 70% of the sector. Beyond the reduced cost of buying and maintaining IT infrastructure and compliance, SaaS is helping increase productivity and staff retention."
Nikoletatos acknowledges that while the technological benefits of SaaS were apparent for years, it was the pandemic that made the business case for SaaS inescapable.
Furthermore, he regards SaaS as an instrument to enrich the student experience. He cites the dramatic increase in the number of students willing to switch institutions for a superior technology experience as revealed by TechnologyOne's annual survey of approximately 1,000 Australian students since 2019.
La Trobe University spokesperson recognised the unique opportunity presented by the cloud. They embraced TechnologyOne's OneEducation solution that simplified operations and introduced an enhanced digital experience, stating, "The cloud provided a unique opportunity for us to leapfrog the industry and end up with a sophisticated solution rather than play a slow catch up."
CEO of TechnologyOne, Ed Chung, emphasises the company's commitment to assisting Australian universities and TAFEs with their primary objective: providing exceptional student experiences while cultivating the forthcoming Australian workforce via an accessible and engaging platform for staff and students, simultaneously reducing administrative overheads.
This announcement follows TechnologyOne's recent work with tertiary education providers around the globe, including London Business School.
Danny Attias, Chief Digital and Information Officer at London Business School, said, “Our digital transformation is aimed at providing our community with the tools and support they need to succeed in a rapidly changing business environment. We are excited to partner with TechnologyOne as we continue to invest in our digital transformation journey.”
"Moving to a unified financial system will help transform the way we run our school and the services we provide.”
Leo Hanna, UK Executive Vice President at TechnologyOne, commented, “In order to remain competitive and relevant, organisations must invest in new technologies and digital infrastructure and, the faster they roll them out, the sooner they can see the value of their investment.”
“Our SaaS implementation methodology helps us de-risk these large, complex digital transformation projects for our customers, putting them at a significant advantage at a time of increased competitiveness in the sector.”