Georgia Tech is launching a major initiative to upgrade and integrate its financial administrative systems. The Institute is anticipating a transformation of its existing financial administration systems – commonly referred to as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

The ultimate goal? An integrated system to support simplified processes, greater efficiencies, and enhanced access to information, resulting in accurate, timely information.

“It has been 10 years since Georgia Tech implemented the central financial administration system that we use to manage our $1.6 billion budget,” said Jeff Scott, senior vice president for Administration and Finance. “As our environment becomes more complex and the demand for timely decision-making increases, it becomes even more important to have integrated systems that support our compliance and reporting requirements and analysis needs.”

The Team

During the initial planning phase this past spring, Scott, along with Jim O’Connor, vice president and chief information officer, Office of Information Technology, and Paul Strouts, vice president for Campus Services, led the project steering committee. In addition, a core project team with participation from Institute Planning and Resource Management (IPRM), Office of Information Technology (OIT), and Business Services provided guidance during this initial evaluation and planning phase.

Financial management partners from the research, academic, and administrative organizations have also been engaged to provide input, insight, and support. Moving forward with this project, both the project steering committee and the core project team will be expanded to include broader representation throughout the Institute. Greg Phillips – recently named senior director for Tech’s Enterprise Resource Planning initiative ­– will lead the planning efforts in support of the ERP transformation and oversee the project execution.

Progress to Date

During the past few months, the team of stakeholders has focused on the following activities:

• Evaluation and planning: Development of a draft project plan, scope, resource requirements, and timing, with the help of Deloitte Consulting.
• Product demonstrations: Review of product demonstrations to introduce the Georgia Tech financial community to the concept of an integrated enterprise-wide financial administration system.

What’s Next?

In addition to broadening the project teams, a series of steps must be taken to help prepare for the eventual design, build, testing and training stages. These preparatory steps include:

• Redesign the Chart of Accounts, in collaboration with the Board of Regents,
• Integrate with the Institute’s Enterprise Data Management initiative, and
• Develop a more detailed analysis of Tech’s current financial processes and supporting system requirements.

As this project progresses, the Institute will continue to work with University System of Georgia leadership on the appropriate business and contracting approach.

For more information, email erp.ask@business.gatech.edu.