Cloud

U Tennessee System Unites Finance and HR Systems in the Cloud

• By Rhea Kelly
• 05/02/22

The University of Tennessee System has embarked on a major ERP revamp, replacing its legacy on-premise finance, HR and payroll applications with the Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite. The move will combine its systemwide finance and HR operations on a single, cloud-based platform, helping streamline processes and improve data-driven decision-making, according to a news announcement.

The new system, branded DASH (Dynamic Administrative Systems for Higher Ed) will utilize Oracle's Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning and Human Capital Management platforms. Guiding principles for the project include greater transparency, simplification and standardization of operations and processes, measuring improvements by qualitative or quantitative standards, and adopting a culture of continuous improvement through technology.

"It's critical for universities to find ways to serve faculty and students more efficiently. Cloud-based systems can help campuses do that by improving and automating business functions," said UT System President Randy Boyd, in a statement. "We are confident that the DASH initiative, bolstered by Oracle Fusion Applications, will enhance operational efficiency and position the UT System for continued innovation."

The university has partnered with IT consultancy Accenture to assist with the migration. "Accenture's team will work side-by-side with UT System project team members to help employees transition to the new system, provide guidance on how the finance and human resource processes should flow, configure the processes and integrate with other applications," the announcement explained.

"With Oracle Fusion Applications, the University of Tennessee System will be able to centralize and simplify finance and HR processes to keep its operations nimble," commented Rajan Krishnan, group vice president of product development for Oracle. "Every bit of efficiency gained frees up resources to be dedicated back to universities' core purpose, serving students."