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Enterprise App StoreHow the University of Buckingham is building a connected future with TechnologyOne
The University of Buckingham, the UK’s first independent university, is on a mission to modernise its digital backbone. After decades of working with fragmented legacy systems, the institution is now embracing a single, connected Software as a Service (SaaS) solution from TechnologyOne to transform the way it manages financial operations.
With TechnologyOne’s integrated enterprise solution, Buckingham is laying the foundation for a truly connected university where data flows seamlessly between systems, insights are available in real-time, and staff are more empowered to deliver exceptional student services.
Customer story highlights
- 40 years of legacy systems replaced with one connected platform
- Real-time data flow improving efficiency and visibility
- Foundation for a multi-year digital transformation journey
- Staff trained and empowered through live, recorded, and written learning resources
About the University of Buckingham
Founded in 1976 as the University College at Buckingham, the institution gained its Royal Charter in 1983, becoming the University of Buckingham with full degree-awarding powers.
Today, the University supports over 3,600 students and employs around 500 full-time staff across diverse academic and professional disciplines. Renowned for its personalised teaching model and pioneering two-year degrees, the University of Buckingham continues to lead through innovation, agility, and a deep commitment to excellence in education.
The challenge: Legacy systems and fragmented processes
Like many universities in the UK, Buckingham faced increasing operational pressures while managing a growing student population with outdated systems. Years of limited investment in digital infrastructure had created a patchwork of disconnected technologies, each managed in isolation with limited data visibility and heavy manual intervention.
“The key challenge for us has been around legacy systems and processes that we haven’t been able to invest enough in over the years,” said Chris Payne, Registrar and Chief Administrative Officer.
“That’s generated a degree of localised processes rather than a university-wide view of how we should operate.”
With more than four decades of legacy systems to overcome, the University recognised the need for a single, modern platform capable of unifying finance, HR, and student management, while connecting every department across the institution.
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Learn moreThe solution: TechnologyOne Financials and SaaS+
Following a competitive procurement process, the University selected TechnologyOne Financials as the first step in its multi-year transformation journey.
“What TechnologyOne is going to do for us is enable us to replace all of those components with one system where data flows,” said David Cole, Chief Financial Officer.
“It’s (Financials) a product designed for the higher education sector, connected and fit for purpose, and that really sets it apart from the other vendors we looked at.”
Over nine months, Buckingham established a dedicated transformation team to lead the implementation, supported by a robust learning program that included live workshops, recorded webinars, and written guides to support end users.
A cross-functional core team of 17 people from across finance, procurement, and departmental functions played a central role in ensuring the solution was shaped by those who best understood the University’s operational needs.
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Learn moreThe results: Efficiency, visibility, and stronger foundations
With TechnologyOne Financials now live, the University is already seeing tangible improvements in its financial operations. Expense management processes have been simplified, workflows streamlined, and processing times signficantly reduced.
“Right now, we’re putting the foundation blocks in place. Those foundations will enable us to build efficient processes and administration, which in turn will allow us to provide students with real-time information and dashboards, delivered with the speed and accuracy they’re looking for,” said Mr Cole.
Beyond operational gains, the move to TechnologyOne’s SaaS+ model has fostered cultural change through greater collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and a renewed focus on strategic outcomes over manual tasks.
Staff are increasingly empowered to use technology as an enabler rather than a barrier.
Looking ahead: Building a connected, data-driven university
For the University of Buckingham, this is just the beginning of its digital transformation journey. The partnership with TechnologyOne is a long-term strategy to modernise, connect, and empower the entire institution.
“This is a transformation that will take us several years. We’re just at the very start of that. But with TechnologyOne, we’re confident we’ve chosen the right platform to take us forward and deliver real value for our staff and students,” said Mr Cole.
By replacing decades of legacy systems with a unified, sector-specific solution, the University is creating a connected digital ecosystem that will support efficient operations, informed decision-making, and an outstanding student experience for years to come.
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Learn moreExplore SaaS+ with TechnologyOne
Ready to connect your university with one system that works across every department? Book a demo today to discover how TechnologyOne SaaS+ can transform your institution.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs): Financials and SaaS+
Need more information? Read some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about our education products and solutions below.
TechnologyOne Financials is an integrated financial management solution that enables automation, compliance, and seamless transaction processing, including eInvoicing capabilities.
With Financials, you can unlock full visibility of your financial data and improve performance with real-time insights.
Learn more about the features of TechnologyOne Financials here.
TechnologyOne Financials includes general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, asset accounting, budgeting, forecasting, procurement, cash management, eInvoicing, and automated reconciliation. It also features real-time reporting and built-in compliance tools.
SaaS+ is TechnologyOne’s all-inclusive enterprise solution, providing a fully managed, end-to-end digital transformation experience. Unlike traditional SaaS offerings, SaaS+ includes everything from software implementation, upgrades, support, and security, all for a single annual fee.
For more details, visit the SaaS+ information page .
Essentially, there are three different forms of ERP software:
- Software as a Service, or a cloud distribution model (also known as SaaS)
- A licensing model, also known as ‘on-premise’
- A hybrid model
TechnologyOne utilises a SaaS model. Using this model, the software is hosted on the cloud and accessed via the internet. This eliminates the need for on-premise infrastructure, reducing IT overheads and ensuring scalability.