Find out how we're upgrading our finance system.
Overview
What it is: The project will upgrade our finance system and move it to a secure, stable server that meets user and operational needs.
Why it's better for you: An upgraded system will provide the most up to date features and a better user experience.
Why it's better for the University: Moving Unit4 over to a Software as a Service (SaaS) will provide a more efficient, stable system that allows for easier updates and helps us to meet our sustainability goals and our compliance requirements.
When it's happening: The project is expected to complete at the end of 2026.
About the project
Unit4, our finance system, is a priority system for the Finance Division and colleagues across the University. Over 3,000 colleagues rely on the system for tasks relating to expenses, purchasing, reporting, and sales ordering.
Currently, Unit4 operates on outdated hardware and servers that are nearing their maximum storage capacity. This could cause performance issues and make it less likely that we’ll be able to recover the system if something goes wrong.
This project will migrate Unit4 from on-premise servers to a stable 'Software as a Service' (SaaS) platform and update it to the latest release.
What is SaaS?
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a cloud-based software delivery model that allows users to use apps and systems over the internet. Moving a system from on-premise to SaaS involves transitioning from managing software and hardware locally to accessing and using software that is hosted and maintained securely in the cloud.
What are the benefits?
The project will manage an important upgrade of our Unit4 system to a newer, more reliable, and secure platform. This will happen in two main phases: Stabilise and Migrate.
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In the Stabilise phase, we’ll focus on making sure the current system is working well after upgrading.
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In the Migrate phase, we’ll migrate data and the system itself to a modern cloud-based SaaS platform.
An updated system
Unit4 is currently running an outdated version that is unable to be upgraded due to the current hardware platform limitations. By migrating the system to a new platform, this will allow us to upgrade Unit4 to the latest version, giving us access to new features.
Improved efficiency
The upgraded system will eliminate the need for multiple desktop licenses, speeding up operations and providing a better user experience.
More sustainable
Switching from on-site infrastructure to a SaaS platform supports our sustainability goals by reducing our energy consumption.
Compliance
The new hosting platform will provide a stable environment for us to ensure we meet the mandatory criteria required by Unit4.
Next steps
Timeline
The project stages will include:
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Re-platform and test the live environment
January - February 2025.
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Unit4 upgrade and test
May - October 2025.
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SaaS configuration and integration complete
February - May 2026
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Unit4 SaaS testing
June - October 2026.
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SaaS migration complete
November 2026.
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SaaS launch
December 2026.