Member Article

Group of Colleges saves £100,000 with Advanced's software

Integrated finance and electronic workflow solution supports NPTC Group’s sustainable agenda

NPTC Group of Colleges has achieved efficiency savings of £100,000 by implementing a financial management solution, with electronic workflow and document management functionality, from Advanced Business Solutions (Advanced).

Advanced’s solution is also supporting NPTC Group’s sustainable agenda by replacing inefficient paper-based procurement at its 12 sites. The software went live recently and has been made available to 150 finance staff and budget holders.

NPTC Group was formed in August 2013 following the merger of Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys and is one of the largest further education providers in Wales. Following the merger, NPTC Group conducted a strategic review of its non-integrated back-office solutions and selected Advanced in preference to eight other suppliers.

Kathryn Holley, Vice Principal Financial Services at NPTC Group, said: “Advanced has a good reputation in the FE sector and its software was highly recommended to us by another college which had been through a similar merger. The finance solution’s user-friendly reporting functionality was also key as it allows us to maintain the system ourselves without needing to pay for additional consultancy days.

“The implementation project was meticulously organised and managed which resulted in us going live with the solution ahead of schedule thereby ensuring minimal disruption across the College.”

Advanced’s OpenAccounts financial management and eBIS workflow solutions have enabled NPTC Group to centralise its finance function and automate the processing of 20,000 documents each year. Authorised staff can also access reliable financial data, track the status of their budgets 24 hours a day and automatically distribute relevant reports to departmental managers.

NPTC Group’s 12 sites cover over one third of the land mass of Wales and the Group was previously hindered by inefficient paper administration. Using eBIS and document management technology (powered by V1), employees can now remotely raise purchase orders, enter new supplier details and approve and store invoices electronically thereby replacing manually intensive administration.

Holley comments: “Advanced’s solutions have enabled us to centralise our finance team and save approximately £100,000 so far. No longer having to circulate paper between our sites has also reduced delays and avoided documents from potentially going missing. We can now access financial information immediately and reporting is streamlined.

“As a further education institution, we have a responsibility to operate as sustainably as possible. Going paperless has provided major benefits from both a cost and environmental perspective, which is vital to supporting our transformation strategy.”

Advanced Business Solutions is a division of Advanced Computer Software Group plc, a leading supplier of software and IT services to the health, care and business services sectors. In 2014, the Group won Tech Company of the Year in PwC’s UK Tech Awards and ranked in the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, which recognises the 50 fastest growing technology companies in the UK.

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Notes to Editors

About The NPTC Group www.nptcgroup.ac.uk The NPTC Group came into existence on 1 August 2013. It was formed as a result of the merger of Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys. NPTC Group is one of the largest groups of colleges and education providers in Wales in terms of student numbers and has an annual turnover of circa £55 million.

The four main campuses of the NPTC Group between them provide almost every conceivable vocational area of education and training, including an outstanding 6th Form Academy based on the Neath Campus. The Group delivers a wide range of bespoke training for industry and business all over Wales and England via their companies, trainingwales.

The College is also the lead provider and contract holder in Skills Academy Wales. This is a partnership of ten very experienced training providers who deliver between them a £10 million work-based learning contract, the largest public sector contract in Wales.

About Advanced Business Solutions www.advancedcomputersoftware.com/abs Advanced Business Solutions (Advanced) provides leading integrated business applications and services that enable public, private and third sector organisations to retain control, improve visibility and gain efficiencies whilst continually improving corporate performance.

Advanced prides itself on getting close to its customers by understanding their businesses and responding to their evolving needs.

Advanced’s software systems comprise core accounting/financial management, procurement, supply chain management, human resource and payroll systems, integrated with a range of collaborative, document management and business intelligence solutions to extend the value and effectiveness of the finance, human resource and payroll departments. Management information systems for school and academies are also provided through Advanced’s subsidiary, Advanced Learning. Advanced also provides specialist vertical solutions for the not-for-profit and legal markets. All solutions can be delivered as a managed or bureau service.

Customers are from both the public and private sectors and include Companies House, Newcastle City Council, NHS Scotland, Norfolk Constabulary, Edge Hill University, WH Smith, Royal Bank of Scotland, Aer Lingus, National Express Group, DFS and RSPB.

Advanced Business Solutions is a division of Advanced Computer Software Group plc, a leading supplier of software and IT services to the health, care and business services sectors.

Press contact: Angela Mycock and Ben Carey, Advanced Computer Software Group pr@advancedcomputersoftware.com +44(0)1625 856 513 07887 415 232

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Advanced .