Report: Spending on Core Administrative Systems on the Rise

Colleges and universities are investing in both finance and human capital management (HCM) systems at an increasing rate, according to a new report from the Tambellini Group, a technology research and advisory firm focused on higher education. The growth in spending more than doubled in 2020 from the previous year, rising by 40 percent in finance and 45 percent in HCM. In comparison, the year 2019 saw spending on those systems grow by 20 percent and 17 percent, respectively, in 2019.

Among those institutions deploying new finance and HCM systems, 90 percent opted for cloud-based solutions. And 65 percent of those institutions chose Oracle or Workday as their system provider, according to the report.

In the next three years, the report predicted, the percentage of large institutions adopting cloud-based finance and HCM systems will more than double. And across mid-size and small institutions, the percentages is expected to triple.

"After a year of rapid change driven by necessity, higher education institutions have reached a critical crossroads: They can revert to business as usual or embrace the new reality," commented Vicki Tambellini, CEO and founder of the Tambellini Group, in a statement. "Our report's findings are encouraging because they show that many are seizing the opportunity to proactively improve and future-proof their institutions by committing to multi-year projects to modernize their core administrative systems."

The "2021 Financial Management and Human Capital Management Systems US Higher Education Market Share, Trends, and Leaders Report" is based on the firm's research, interviews and data from more than 4,300 higher education institutions across the United States. The full report is available to Tambellini Group members here.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • illustration of a futuristic building labeled "AI & Innovation," featuring circuit board patterns and an AI brain motif, surrounded by geometric trees and a simplified sky

    Cal Poly Pomona Launches AI and Innovation Center

    In an effort to advance AI innovation, foster community engagement, and prepare students for careers in STEM fields and business, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona has teamed up with AI, cloud, and advisory services provider Avanade to launch a new Avanade AI & Innovation Center.

  •  black graduation cap with a glowing blue AI brain circuit symbol on top

    Report: AI Is a Must for Modern Learners

    A new report from VitalSource identifies a growing demand among learners for AI tools, declaring that "AI isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must."

  • glowing shield hovers above a digital cloud platform with abstract data streams and cloud icons in the background

    Google to Acquire Cloud Security Firm Wiz

    Google has announced it will acquire cloud security startup Wiz. If completed, the acquisition — an all-cash deal valued at $32 billion — would mark the largest in Google's history.

  • digital dashboard featuring a shield icon, graphs, a world map, and network nodes

    IBM Introduces Agentic AI Governance and Security Platform

    IBM has launched a new software stack for enterprise IT teams tasked with managing the complex governance and security challenges posed by autonomous AI systems.