ERP Systems Have Cost Colleges and Universities $5 to $10 Billion

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of rSmart's mission to develop cost-effective software solutions for higher education institutions, the company has released an infographic that outlines alternatives to the $10B spent over the last two decades on traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems within higher education. The infographic represents where ERP spending could be re-allocated in the budget to further learning and research initiatives.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130904/LA73742-INFO)

Chris Coppola, CEO of rSmart, said most institutions spend too much money on traditional ERP systems that deliver sub par results while requiring recurring and costly upgrades. He added that Kuali software, an open-source, community developed platform, allows schools to focus on the mission of education, a critical endeavor in a country where student debt is currently estimated at over $1 trillion.

"Everyone knows that education costs are out of control," stated Coppola, "When you look at the billions that higher education has spent on ERP, it's obvious that slashing costs in that area should be a major priority for all institutions. That's where Kuali software can really make a difference by letting schools keep their money in their mission."

Built by higher education for higher education, Kuali offers a cost-effective software solution for institutions facing fiscal challenges like declining state support and federal research dollars. rSmart, a Kuali partner and co-founder, develops affordable solutions built on the Kuali platform, including a full software suite that supports needs like financial management, research and grants administration, student services, and more. rSmart helps colleges and universities evaluate, deploy, and support Kuali open-source, license-free software, saving customers millions and reducing costly upgrades from traditional, proprietary ERP software.

"We saved nearly $20 million dollars by choosing an open source financial system," said Michael McRobbie, president of Indiana University, in a recent press release. "In successfully implementing the Kuali Financial System and transitioning away from more expensive, less dependable, third-party financial management, we've also freed up more university resources for our core missions of teaching, learning and researching."

About rSmart

rSmart empowers colleges and universities to step away from traditional, proprietary enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and embrace community-driven, open source technologies. The company builds upon community-developed Kuali software adding key capabilities, cloud delivery, consulting services, and support for enterprise scale delivery. This sustainable approach enables rSmart customers to reduce cost and optimize business processes, freeing them from expensive, overly customized, and difficult to maintain legacy and proprietary software. Learn more at www.rsmart.com.

Media Contact:
Rebecca Hasulak
Ubiquity Public Relations
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480.235.1596

SOURCE rSmart