In this issue of OECM’s Industry Spotlight news resource, featuring industry insights and market trends gathered and analyzed by OECM’s Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) team, we’re exploring Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions that are transforming public sector efficiency.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions have become essential tools for public sector organizations striving to modernize operations, strengthen compliance, and improve service delivery. ERP systems integrate key functions such as finance, human resources, procurement, and operations into a unified platform, empowering organizations to shift from administrative burden to strategic innovation.
OECM is proud to offer Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Solutions and Related Services agreements through Deloitte, Sparkrock Edsembli Inc., and Unit4 Business Software Corp., three leading suppliers who bring deep ERP expertise to educational institutions, hospitals, municipalities, and broader public sector organizations. In this Industry Spotlight, these awarded supplier partners share valuable insights, including real-world success stories, how ERP adoption can address common challenges faced by public institutions, key factors for successful implementation, and practical steps to ensure organizational readiness.
Transforming Public Services with ERP
Across the public sector, ERP solutions have helped organizations streamline processes, improve compliance, and better serve their communities. ERP systems enable public sector institutions to shift from reactive management to proactive service delivery, with real-time data, automated workflows, and scalable operations.
Modernizing School Boards Operations
Sparkrock Edsembli has worked with the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) to transition them from a decades-old legacy system to Sparkrock 365. The new solution eliminated physical paperwork, reduced courier reliance, automated financial reporting, and accelerated expense reimbursements by 50%, with minimal training required for staff.
Read the Case Study: SUCCESS STORY | District School Board of Niagara (DSBN)
Enabling Smarter Government and BPS Operations
Unit4 has empowered local governments, higher education institutions, and nonprofits with people-centered ERP solutions that offer self-service analytics, mobile access, and seamless integrations with Microsoft 365. Their ERP helps organizations achieve real-time spend visibility, improve procurement efficiency, and meet compliance and sustainability reporting requirements.
Watch the Customer Video: Township of Langley, BC
Scaling Public Sector Efficiency
Deloitte has supported numerous public sector organizations in adopting cloud-based ERP solutions that simplify operations, standardize processes, and drive strategic decision-making across departments.
Deloitte recently helped an Ontario hospital transition from a legacy Microsoft ERP system to Oracle Cloud ERP. The new solution delivers a single source of truth, automates financial processes, improves vendor payment timelines, streamlines procurement to support patient safety, and enhances HR/payroll accuracy and onboarding with AI-driven tools—all while consolidating multiple systems onto a best-in-class cloud platform.
When Systems Don’t Talk: Barriers to Public Sector Efficiency
Despite the clear benefits, many public sector organizations still operate using disconnected legacy systems. This creates operational inefficiencies, increases compliance risks, and limits an organization’s ability to scale and innovate. Manual processes, fragmented data, and outdated technologies prevent teams from delivering efficient, timely, and transparent services to their stakeholders.
Time Management and Process Efficiency
According to Deloitte, without ERP systems, employees spend excessive time managing manual processes and generating ad-hoc reports. IT teams often remain trapped in a cycle of reactive maintenance, unable to focus on strategic improvements due to aging and disparate systems.
Fragmented Systems and Compliance Risk
Sparkrock Edsembli highlights that fragmented finance, HR, and procurement systems cause avoidable errors and compliance difficulties. Manual grant tracking, payroll reconciliations, and procurement processes become time-consuming and error-prone without a centralized platform.
Lack of Visibility, Control, and Data Security
Unit4 stresses that disconnected systems make it difficult for organizations to manage procurement costs, comply with financial and sustainability reporting obligations, and protect sensitive information. Legacy systems simply do not provide the security, agility, or visibility needed in today’s public sector environment.
Keys to a Successful ERP Implementation
Implementing an ERP system is not simply a technical exercise—it is an organizational transformation. Careful planning, strong leadership engagement, and effective change management are critical to maximizing the value of an ERP investment. Organizations that prioritize readiness, standardization, and stakeholder involvement are best positioned for a successful transition.
Leadership Alignment and Change Management
Deloitte emphasizes that leadership alignment and project ownership across departments are vital for success. Early data cleansing, business process standardization, and proactive change management are critical to avoiding costly customizations and ensuring strong user adoption. Structured training and frequent executive engagement throughout the project lifecycle drive smoother transitions.
Infrastructure Readiness and Role-Based Training
Sparkrock Edsembli underscores the importance of assessing infrastructure readiness for cloud-based ERP deployments and ensuring cybersecurity measures are in place. Building role-based training programs enables employees to adapt quickly and effectively to new workflows, helping to secure buy-in and long-term success.
User Experience and System Flexibility
Unit4 highlights the importance of focusing on user experience and flexibility. Their ERP platform minimizes disruption through intuitive interfaces, mobile accessibility, and self-service reporting, making it easier for staff to engage with new systems and deliver faster value.
ERP Readiness: A Practical Checklist
Preparing for ERP adoption requires a structured approach to identify gaps, engage stakeholders, and align project goals with organizational priorities. Proactive readiness efforts lead to smoother implementations, quicker time-to-value, and higher satisfaction among users and leadership.
Based on supplier insights, here’s a checklist of key actions public sector organizations should complete before beginning their ERP implementation journey:
Evaluate Current Processes: Map current workflows, identify manual bottlenecks, and prioritize opportunities for automation. Establish Project Governance: Define clear governance structures, including roles, responsibilities, decision rights, and escalation paths. Empower the project team to make timely decisions and avoid bottlenecks. Define Clear Objectives: Establish measurable success criteria for the ERP project, such as reduced reporting times, improved budget forecasting, or enhanced compliance tracking. Assess Technical Infrastructure: Ensure systems are cloud-ready and cybersecurity frameworks are in place to protect sensitive data. Engage Stakeholders Early: Create a cross-functional steering committee involving IT, Finance, HR, and Operations to drive alignment and support. Develop a Training and Change Management Plan: Tailor communication and training programs by role to help users quickly adapt to new processes and technology. Pilot the Solution: Begin with a pilot rollout to validate assumptions, fine-tune configurations, and identify challenges early before a full launch.
By following these steps, organizations will be well-positioned to manage their ERP journey successfully and realize the transformative benefits of integrated, cloud-based operations.
How Can OECM and its Supplier Partners Help?
Unlocking Your Organization’s Potential with ERP Solutions
ERP solutions are enabling public sector organizations to overcome operational challenges, strengthen accountability, and deliver improved services to the communities they serve. Through the automation of core processes, enhancement of data visibility, and support for agile decision-making, ERP systems have become a key pillar of modern public administration.
Through OECM’s agreements with Deloitte, Sparkrock Edsembli, and Unit4, customers have access to industry-leading partners who bring extensive expertise in ERP implementations tailored for public sector needs.
The table below summarizes OECM’s ERP agreement with all awarded suppliers:
| Supplier | ERP Solutions Offered | Customer Sectors Supported | Core Modules Available | Agreement Term | Expiry (with Extensions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deloitte | Oracle | Education, Healthcare, Municipalities, Broader Public Sector (BPS) | Finance, HR, Payroll | 8 years + 7 extension | December 20, 2037 |
| Sparkrock Edsembli | Sparkrock 365 Edsembli ERP | Education, Healthcare, Municipalities, Broader Public Sector (BPS) | Finance, HR, Payroll | 8 years + 7 extension | December 20, 2037 |
| Unit4 | Unit4 | Education, Healthcare, Municipalities, Broader Public Sector (BPS) | Finance, HR, Payroll | 8 years + 7 extension | December 20, 2037 |
To learn more about how your organization can benefit from ERP solutions available through OECM, please visit our Marketplace or contact our dedicated Customer Support Team at:
OECM Customer Support
1-844-OECM-900 (1-844-632-6900)
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