Emma O’Brien
Unit4, a leader in enterprise cloud applications for people-centric organisations, has announced – in conjunction with Embridge Consulting, a leading boutique digital transformation consultancy, specialising in ERP and Business Change – that Devon County Council has selected Unit4 ERP, encompassing Finance, Procurement, and Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A).
This joint project will be delivered in close collaboration with Unit4’s Elite Implementation Partner, Embridge Consulting. Together, the two organisations have a proven track record in supporting council-wide transformation programmes and delivering tangible value to the Public Sector. This new digital platform will enable the Council to adapt quickly to change and optimise the use of its financial information, as well as support its transformation in the short, medium, and long term. The Council’s new platform will also include integrated solutions from strategic partners, Proactis, to deliver invoice process automation, and HeyCentric, a best-in-class income management solution.
Devon County Council is the largest local authority in Southwest England. As a County Council, it is responsible for Adult Social Care, Education & Families, Roads & Transport, Planning & Development, Waste & Recycling, Libraries & Heritage.
The incumbent financial system at Devon had been in place for almost 30 years, and while it had proved robust, it increasingly relied on add on technology and did not provide an integrated user experience. The Council sought to invest in modern, cloud-based technology which would transform the way its people work, bringing new methods of collaboration, as well as deep financial insight to the heart of decision making.
With the implementation of a new digital platform, the Council will be able to leverage efficiencies through improved operational performance with budget management, improved monitoring of the financial health of the Council, and improved forecasting.
By selecting Unit4 and Embridge Consulting, Devon County Council will also benefit from:
- Modern, cloud-based, enterprise software solutions that will transform the way its people work
- A streamlined implementation based on local government best practice
- Workflows and tasks that will automate processes, resulting in increased efficiency and accuracy
- Dynamic, real-time reporting for added management insights
- Accurate forecasting and real-time decision making
- An enhanced citizen experience, with faster service delivery, via streamlined processes.
Similar benefits have also been experienced by other UK councils where Unit4 and Embridge have worked together – including Surrey County Council, Cherwell District Council and North Lincolnshire Council.
Speaking about this project, Angie Sinclair, Director of Finance and Public Value, Devon County Council said, “The Council wanted to work with a market leader with a proven track record in – and a commitment to – the UK Local Government sector. The collaborative approach from Unit4 and Embridge Consulting, which focuses on best practice utilising high-quality integrated ERP solutions, combined with their experience in the Public Sector, was integral to our decision making.”
“Devon County Council is a leading authority within the UK and, together with Embridge Consulting, we are pleased to support this part of Devon County Council’s transformation journey,” said James Arvin, Director, Public Sector UKI, Unit4. “Our wealth of experience gained in working with local government means that we understand its nuances. As a result, we have built tailored solutions which provide the functionality, agility, and efficiency needed to combat the complexity of that environment. This recent decision from Devon County Council further cements our market leading position in the sector.”
“The team here at Embridge Consulting is very much looking forward to working with Devon County Council on this business-critical finance transformation programme. The Devon project team has shown its desire to make meaningful change in the early stages of our engagement, and the collaboration between all parties has already been an extremely positive experience,” said Emma O’Brien, CEO of Embridge Consulting. “Our track record of supporting significant and successful finance transformation programmes across UK Local Government means that we can bring industry expertise and insight to Devon with equal focus on the people, process and technology change that is essential to success.”
Further Reading
- Read how Unit4 helps public sector organisations increase citizen value.
- Read how Embridge Consulting can support public sector organisations drive meaningful Business Transformation.
