Frequently Asked Questions
DASH will replace IRIS with a state-of-the-art cloud platform. This new enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform will be a single system to house and streamline all of UT’s needs for modern finance, human resources and payroll technology.
After two decades of service, SAP announced an end-of-life strategy for the version on which IRIS operates. We need to begin preparing now to be ready to replace it with a system that will modernize our finance, human resources and payroll technology.
There is not an option to replacing IRIS. Delaying the transition would run the risk of security breaches, business interruptions and increased costs. The outdated system will no longer be able to handle the necessary changes to operate securely and efficiently. UT would have to refresh the hardware that supports IRIS and still transition to SAP in the Cloud.
The process started in 2019 when UT leadership began researching best practices for the transition. It has involved interviewing consulting experts, staff of other universities, higher education and information technology associations and vendors about their transition experiences. UT has engaged consultants with expertise in ERP planning and organizational readiness to evaluate where UT is and what it needs to do to prepare for vendor selection and transition.
Our goal is to make the transition in January of 2025.
All good things take time. We want to make sure we follow leading practices. Plus, we need to evaluate all our processes before we transition to the new system to make sure they follow best practices, increase efficiency, reduce redundancy and remove administrative barriers. It also takes time to orchestrate the plan, setup, configure and test a system for the hundreds of transactions that DASH will support. We need to confirm data brought over from IRIS is correct and the processes function as designed.
Employees from throughout the system are helping to make decisions regarding DASH. It began with the business process review, which included about 300 employees throughout the system in finance, human resources and payroll. Different teams will be working on different areas of the project. The governance structure and escalation process will engage senior leaders systemwide to advise on and make decisions. Final decisions will be made by the project’s executive committee.
Yes. Training will be available and ongoing for all employees on the new system.
The final cost of the system has not yet been determined. It will depend on UT’s needs to operate efficiently and without redundancy while following leading practices. The initial significant cost is the implementation consulting team. UT leaders are in discussion with state officials about state assistance to support the project.
We do not anticipate anyone losing their job due to the new system. While the new system will be more efficient and increase productivity, it will allow users to spend time on higher level tasks.
No. We anticipate better integration with Cayuse and better functionality regarding grants and research administration within a new ERP.
