Dorset Council in Southwest England is set to transition from its SAP ERP system to a new Oracle-built solution. This upgrade will involve a significant investment of £14.2 million over the next three years.
Dorset Council’s Strategic ERP Upgrade
The council recently entered into a £7 million contract with Oracle for an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. This new system aims to enhance core functions such as human resources, payroll, finance, and procurement processes.
Overview of the Transition Process
Although the specific Oracle product was not disclosed, the council is looking to utilize Oracle Fusion, a cloud-based ERP system. To facilitate this transition, the council has advertised for an ERP transformation program director to oversee the implementation.
- Contract Value: £7 million
- Total Project Cost: £14.23 million
- Implementation Timeline: Expected to go live in late 2027
Current Challenges with SAP
Dorset Council’s existing ERP solution, based on SAP ECC6, was implemented in 2009. It has become increasingly cumbersome, leading to inefficient operations. The council has noted that:
- The current system is outdated and requires extensive customization, resulting in higher maintenance demands.
- User experiences are inconsistent, with many processes being managed manually.
- Mainstream support for the SAP system will end in 2027.
In light of these issues, the council has decided to shift towards a more modern and efficient solution. A report from public sector consultancy Socitm highlighted the need for this upgrade due to the inadequacies of the current platform.
Future Work and Best Practices
The forthcoming ERP implementation closely aligns with the council’s ambition to deliver modern, customer-focused public services. The project will not only introduce new technologies but also improve workflow across all council services.
Dorset Council emphasized its commitment to adopting Oracle’s best practices during implementation. This strategic decision aims to circumvent issues that other councils faced, notably Birmingham City Council, which encountered significant delays and cost overruns during its transition.
The council believes that adopting standard practices, rather than customizing the solution to fit unique operational methods, will lead to a more effective transformation. This approach aims to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows within the organization.
Overall, the transition from SAP to Oracle represents a pivotal shift for Dorset Council, as it seeks to modernize its operations and improve the overall efficiency of public service delivery.
