Client
University of Hull
Industry
Higher Education
Primary goal
HR & Finance Transformation
Technologies
Workday Finance & HR
Make dream teams
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 KPMG helped the university bring 17 operating systems together into one Workday platform, creating a single source of truth and transforming its HR and finance processes.
University of Hull Client Story
Join leaders from the University of Hull as they share their experience working with KPMG UK and Workday to create a single source of truth and transforming its HR and finance processes.
Client transformation journey
- Before
- During
- After
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 17 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 aging technology, the university needed a simpler way of working that could support its future ambitions.
Reimagining how the university works
Working with KPMG UK and Workday, the University of Hull set out to simplify how it operated. It realized 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 UK 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 program 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 modernize its technology landscape, improve access to data and equip its workforce with the tools needed to work more effectively.
Ready for what’s next
Since implementing Workday, the University of Hull has reduced annual system costs by half a million pounds. 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 make the difference for the University of Hull
KPMG helped the University of Hull transition from 17 operating systems to just one instance of Workday. But this transformation was about much more than replacing legacy technology. It gave teams across HR, finance, payroll and procurement easier access to data, simpler processes and a more connected way of working.
What made the difference was the combination of the university's ambition, Workday's technology and KPMG's expertise. Together, we helped create one place for data, processes and people.
The result is a more efficient organization, with reduced annual system costs, better access to data and a platform that supports the university’s long-term ambitions. We welcome the opportunity to help your organization simplify complexity, connect people and processes, and unlock greater value from technology.
KPMG. Make the Difference.