Tuesday, January 25, 2011

MCC Board Expected to Implement Long-Awaited ERP System

The long-awaited ERP program for McHenry County College is about to become a reality. Work on an Enterprise Resource Planning program has been on the Board of Trustees agenda working internally. More recently the Board turned to the "outside world" and considered looking at the various vendors.

As a result of a search process a vendor was selected along with a third-party consultant with prior higher education ERP experience, consultations with other Illinois Community Colleges learning their experiences implementing a new ERP.

The activities began in July 2010 and now a vendor with the best and final pricing is to be officially named tonight. Considerable work went into the process to reach the final decision to recommend retaining Datatel as the ERP vendor along with a third-party consultant, SIG Consulting, Ltd.

The two firms will be working to install the necessary equipment and get the project underway. The total cost for the installation of the product, training and consulting services, data conversion assistance and product management for 30 months is $3,838,731. Additionally, some software products identified as not being needed now but may be needed in the future are included on a price list at prices which would be in place for 18 months.

Once in place and operating, the system will handle all functions at the college for students as well as the faculty and business office as is the case at many other community colleges in the area.

The Board of Trustees is expected to approve the purchase of the services at its meeting Thursday evening.

No comments: