Choosing the Right ERP Partner

Organization Profile

• Industry: K-12 Education
• Location: Union County, North Carolina
• Number of Employees: 5,000
• Number of Students: 42,000
• Tyler Client Since: 2019
• Tyler Products: Enterprise ERP, Cashiering, Content Manager, Time & Attendance

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Challenge

Union County Public Schools (UCPS) in North Carolina wanted to update school business operations and improve overall efficiency across the district. As the sixth-largest public school district in North Carolina, UCPS had outgrown its legacy software and was frustrated with the many workarounds it was using to get its software to work. Further, UCPS often had to rely on third-party systems and plug-ins to make the software meet basic operational needs.

UCPS knew it needed to look at software modernization. The district formed a selection team to find a fully integrated platform capable of streamlining its existing processes, and a partner that offered a holistic approach to software development, implementation, software upgrades, service, and support.

Solution

After careful consideration and thorough product review, UCPS chose to invest in Enterprise ERP [powered by Munis®], Tyler Technologies’ powerful enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, to handle its financial and human resource management needs with accuracy, transparency, and efficiency. UCPS also chose Tyler for its demonstrated footprint in the K-12 marketplace across the country. It found that one in five public schools in the United States uses a Tyler solution within its software ecosystem, demonstrating the experience and success Tyler promotes within this market. Tyler’s equitable perstudent pricing also fulfilled the district’s mandate for responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

“We ultimately went with Tyler because they have a history of delivering the types of systems that we were looking for,” said UCPS Project Manager Melinda Locklear. “The highly functional Enterprise ERP software will help us reduce our reliance on third-party systems and plug-ins that have plagued our district with time consuming and costly operational problems in the past. Tyler’s solutions are feature-rich and will be a game-changer in the way that we conduct business.”

UCPS began its implementation in 2019; however, shortly after the process began, the school district closed its doors and started working remotely due to COVID-19. Work with Tyler didn’t stop though. UCPS continued working with Tyler to remotely implement Enterprise ERP.

Results

UCPS started the implementation process in-person in December, then transitioned to fully virtual by mid-March. Fortunately, Tyler has experience with remote implementations. More than 35% of Tyler’s implementation services have been delivered remotely — with some projects delivered 100 percent virtually.

Initially, UCPS was worried that the implementation was going to be more complicated virtually, but with the use of secure meeting platform tools and the expertise of Tyler’s implementation team, the district was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Locklear said, “Our team started working virtually in mid-March and everything has gone really well considering the circumstances.”

Continued Locklear: “The Implementation Consultants (ICs) have a way with people that is really, really helpful. We have employees who have different styles of learning, and when the ICs know who’s on the call, they’ll tailor their direction and how they approach it in a way that’s helpful.”

Implementing an ERP solution remotely can be a challenge for those who are new to the process, which makes transparency especially important. Tyler’s implementation consultant network is vast and accessible, supplying a high-level of technical support. Locklear sang the praises of Tyler’s professional services team in these trying times: “Tyler’s implementation team is full of experienced, accountable professionals. It’s been nice working with multiple subject matter experts during the process, all whom are quick to help answer questions when needed.”

Despite frustration with its legacy software system, UCPS employees were at first hesitant to adopt new software. Locklear explained, however, that the implementation of Enterprise ERP means creating new efficiencies and freeing up valuable employee time so that the team can focus on key business initiatives that will support the district’s long-term goals. The team is now excited for what the future holds for UCPS and is looking forward to modernizing processes. “Once we get all the setup done, the workflow and securities that Enterprise ERP offers is going to be a tremendous advantage to our district.”

Despite a global pandemic and school closures, UCPS and Tyler partnered together and look forward to the results of an on-time and on-budget implementation. Locklear stated, “We are really happy we went with Tyler because the experience has been so great, and we are excited for the end result.”