Success Story
How Northern Arizona University’s budget department boosted operational efficiency by 150%
Higher Education
What happens when a university’s budgeting software becomes so slow and outdated that users are ready to abandon it altogether? This case study explores how Northern Arizona University partnered with Tru and Anaplan to modernize budgeting, dramatically improve operational efficiency, and create a faster, more user-friendly planning experience across campus.
Industry
Higher Education
Platform
Anaplan
Use Case
Operational Efficiency
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Situation
Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public research university that ranks in the top two hundred and fifty national universities by U.S. News, and market leader Niche deemed it one of the best public universities in the West. Founded in 1899, NAU is the oldest public university in the state. With its main campus in Flagstaff, Arizona, the university has more than twenty locations across the state and offers in-person and online programs.
Though the university is high ranking, its budgeting software was lacking. The university’s leadership had been using the software for several years, but it was at capacity and never functioned at the level the leaders needed it to function.
“We frequently got bogged down because the software was really slow, it got so bad that we were at a point where our users were going to rebel against us unless we found a better solution.”
In a desperate state, Alisa looked for a new budgeting solution. NAU issued a request for proposals, and Tru and Anaplan answered with a “dynamic presentation.”
“Tru Consulting and Anaplan’s presentation made it clear to us that their solution answered everything we needed,” said Alisa.
With Tru and Anaplan, NAU saw the opportunity to grow and improve the state of its budgeting software.
"I wouldn’t trust my system, my business, my time, or my sanity with anybody else but the Tru/Anaplan team. They are the most brilliant people I’ve ever worked with on a software implementation.”
Solution
With over three centuries of collective experience, the Tru team possesses a deep understanding of the contemporary challenges within higher education institutions. Recognized for their expertise, they specialize in formulating advanced financial management solutions tailored for the academic sector. Moreover, they boast an unmatched record in executing higher education implementations of Anaplan, surpassing all other Anaplan partners.
Tru is dedicated to enhancing the autonomy of finance and budget departments, minimizing their reliance on IT by offering direct and comprehensive access to data, as well as mastery over their budgeting and planning instruments. Committed to delivering optimal outcomes, Tru collaborates exclusively with Anaplan. This partnership is due to Anaplan’s superior realtime capabilities, adeptness at meeting highereducation planning, budgeting, and forecasting requisites. Anaplan’s versatility is suitable for academic institutions of diverse scales, promoting effective and cohesive planning across all organizational tiers.
“With Tru and Anaplan, we saw the opportunity to grow and improve our current state,” said Alisa. “Also, they had forecasting solutions that we had never even thought about before, and the ease of use was far beyond the competitors.”
Alisa characterizes the Tru/Anaplan team as the smartest and most joyful people she’s ever worked with on a software implementation.
“The Tru/Anaplan team basically read my mind and delivered to us so much more than we ever thought we could have,” said Alisa.
Results
Slashed Budgeting Process by 50 Percent:
“Since signing with Tru, our budgeting process—from start to finish—has gone from a three-month time frame down to roughly six weeks, “ said Alisa.
Increased Efficiency by 150 Percent:
“With our old system, users booted up their computers and waited for more than fifteen minutes for the system to be ready to use,” said Alisa. “Our new system is amazing and fast. The only problem now is that users don’t have as much time for coffee breaks or hanging around the water cooler.”
Improved User Attitude:
“I work in the budget office, and nobody likes the budget office,” said Alisa. “After we implemented our new solution, though, we got fan mail. At our kickoff meeting, we even got hugs because users were so happy with the solution. Then, when I demonstrated how easy it was to use, I got a standing ovation.”