Save the Children has signed a £1.3m global deal with UNIT4 Business Software for an ERP platform encompassing finance, project costing, billing and procurement.
Designed for the not-for profit sector and to be provided to the charity’s 29 national organisations, the charity expects the platform to reduce administration costs, improve budgeting, prepare the organisation for ongoing regulatory change and allow the charity to easily demonstrate to donors how money is spent.
The finance element of the system will be based on the UNIT4-owned Agresso Business World.
UNIT4 will provide consultancy during a phased implementation which will replace dozens of localised finance systems. Each national headquarters will have the option of when it wishes to implement the platform.
The software company was selected as the preferred supplier following an evaluation process which included input from employees in Asia, Africa and Europe.
“UNIT4 has plenty of experience in this area and the successful ‘proof of concept’ exercise demonstrated that the not-for-profit platform is closely aligned to our existing business model and highly flexible,” said Pam Innes, director for IPU transition.
Informed decisions
The International Programme Unit (IPU), which is responsible for aid projects beyond the borders of each national headquarters, will be the first to roll out the platform to its regions and country offices for 2,500 users.
Once implemented, the charity will be able to cross-reference financial data against specific objectives such as inoculation, education or food relief programmes. providing donors with a clear view of where their funds have been used.
This will also allow the IPU to make informed decisions on frontline operations so it can focus on the most effective means to deliver projects.
Meanwhile, with just one system in place the IPU expects to be able to divert considerable funds from administering the back office to frontline services.
Financial information will now be readily available to personnel in the field through ‘Manager Self-Service’, enabling project teams to model likely project costs, bid for necessary funds and have clear visibility on working budgets regardless of their location.
