Client
University of Hull
Industry
Higher Education
Primary Goal
HR & Finance transformation
Technology
Workday Finance & HR
MAKE DREAM TEAMS
A sector first: Digital transformation at scale with Workday
Universities are under increasing pressure to do more with less. Faced with rising costs, legacy technology and challenges with government policy, the University of Hull knew it needed a simpler way to run its HR, finance and procurement operations.
This is the story of how we helped the university do something that had never before been done in the sector: bring 17 operating systems together into 1 Workday platform, creating a single source of truth and transforming its HR and finance processes.
17 → 1
unified systems across the university
2,000+
employees experience streamlined processes
£500,000
annual system savings
MAKE OPERATIONS FLOW
A centralised platform to simplify HR, finance and procurement systems
- Before
- During
- After
MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN
Too many systems, not enough visibility
The University of Hull was relying on numerous legacy systems to manage its HR, finance and procurement activities. With so many separate systems in place, data was fragmented, processes were inefficient and it was difficult to get a clear view across key business functions.
With mounting financial pressures and ageing technology, the university needed a simpler way of working that could support its future ambitions.
MAKE CHANGE STICK
Reimagining how the university works
Working with KPMG UK and Workday, the University of Hull set out to simplify how it operated. It realised that the greatest gains would come from taking an ‘adopt, not adapt’ approach. That meant not simply rebuilding what it already did in a new system. Instead, it sought to reimagine how the university worked and take the opportunity to embrace leading practices.
Together, the University, KPMG and Workday implemented a single cloud-based platform across HR, finance, payroll and procurement. At KPMG, we were able to bring our expertise of transformation across higher education, and broader programme delivery and change management experience.
But key to driving adoption of the new ways of working was taking a collaborative approach. It enabled the university to modernise its technology landscape, improve access to data and equip its workforce with the tools needed to work more effectively.
MAKE PROCESSES SMARTER
Ready for what’s next
Since implementing Workday, the University of Hull has reduced annual system costs by around half a million pounds per annum. Staff now have access to a single source of truth across HR, finance and procurement, making it easier to access information, streamline processes and work more efficiently.
And with trusted data and a more connected way of working, the university is better positioned to take advantage of future innovations, including AI.
How we're making the difference
We helped the University of Hull transition from a complex landscape of legacy tech, to a cutting edge Workday solution. But this transformation was about much more than replacing outdated technology. It was a new way of thinking, an opportunity to create a modern digital experience for colleagues. This change has now given teams across HR, finance, payroll and procurement easier access to data, simpler processes and a more connected way of working.
What's making the difference is the combination of the university's ambition, Workday's technology and KPMG's expertise. Together, we helped create a single source of data, simplified processes and real-time decision making for colleagues.
The result is a more efficient organisation, with reduced annual system costs, better access to data and a platform that supports the university’s plans for the future.
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