The University of Concepción (UdeC), one of Chile’s most prestigious educational institutions, has been undergoing a decade-long modernization process that has positioned it at the forefront of financial management in the education sector. This article delves into its digital transformation journey, powered by SAP S/4HANA and AWS platforms, demonstrating the potential of technology to revolutionize educational management. Novis, chosen as its SAP and cloud services partner, has proven to be a reliable collaborator, offering 100% remote services tailored to UdeC’s specific needs.
How UdeC Modernized Its Financial Management
Álvaro Muñoz López, Director of the Financial Management Modernization Project (MGF), Head of the Data Engineering Unit at the IT Directorate, and a UdeC faculty member, highlights the tangible benefits of this transformation:
“We moved from a BBB+ risk rating to A+, reflecting how external entities and the regulatory authority perceive the university as doing things well, enhancing its credibility.”
This achievement complements the university’s recent reaccreditation for seven years—the maximum possible—emphasizing the importance of technological tools in supporting efficient institutional management.
The modernization has extended beyond operational efficiency. Implementing SAP S/4HANA, a world-class system, has enabled UdeC to improve budgeting, eliminate checks, move towards a “paperless” environment, and develop analytical capabilities for better decision-making.
The migration of its SAP systems to the AWS public cloud, followed by the SAP S/4HANA upgrade, was implemented entirely remotely in 2022 and marked a critical step toward success. Currently, UdeC is developing new budgeting functionalities.
From Data Center to Cloud: The Journey of SAP to AWS
Marcela Aguilera Hafner, Technology Leader of the MGF projec, who oversaw all aspects related to SAP platform security, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes:
“We have response times below SAP’s recommended standard. It’s a stable system, and our users feel secure.”
Novis manages all the services required to operate SAP on AWS under a single contract. This approach allows institutions like UdeC to leverage the flexibility and scalability of the cloud to meet their growing needs.
“AWS gave us the ability to scale infrastructure rapidly. We’ve improved the high availability of our systems and implemented an efficient contingency site,” Aguilera concluded.
Novis’ SAP AMS service has provided UdeC with a team of consultants with low turnover who understand its business and implementation history. This enables them to effectively handle operations, support, and continuous optimization of SAP solutions.
Both interviewees agree on the importance of having a reliable partner, which is key to driving excellence in institutional management.
Discover More
For more details on the University of Concepción’s achievements, check out the interviews on our YouTube channel:
Novis stands out as a valuable ally for institutions seeking to modernize their operations and enhance competitiveness.
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For more information about the University of Concepción, visit www.udec.cl and UdeC Transparency.
Article by Gilda Valderrama, Editor of Novis Bulletin.
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