Innovation Award for new SAP architecture
For ETH Zurich, lean and efficient resource and financial processes are essential. And now, for the transition of its personnel and finance databases to a state-of-the-art SAP HANA database, the university has been presented with the Innovation Award from software manufacturer SAP Switzerland.
ETH Zurich places great importance on managing its finances transparently, efficiently and responsibly, and follows recognised, verifiable standards. In 2015, for instance, the university issued its annual financial statement in line with ISPAS's (the International Public Sector Accounting Standards) “true and fair” guidelines for the first time (see 2015 Annual Report).
By 2018, the university plans to have fully updated its resource and finance platform, using future-oriented solutions to further optimise its management. To help achieve this goal, the university-wide project “refine” (ETH Zurich resource and finance platform, next generation) was launched in late 2014.
SAP HANA – the first milestone
In the first phase of the “refine” project, ETH Zurich transferred all of its personnel and finance data to a new SAP database which is built on HANA technology and enables streamlined, secure data storage and quick access. This milestone was reached in mid-April.
The transition involved the transfer of 27 databases, 33 million accounting entries and 10,200 user profiles. Since April, 3,000 active users have been working with HANA technology to process around 60,000 transactions per month.
ETH Zurich was honoured with this award from software manufacturer SAP Switzerland in large part due to its rapid, technically faultless implementation of the new HANA solution.
Adrian Fischer, Head of the SAP Competence Center at ETH Zurich (CCSAP), accepted the award at last week’s industry event, the SAP Public Service Forum, in Lucerne.
“I am delighted to receive this award because the successful transition to the future-oriented SAP HANA technology represents an important milestone on the road to the new finance and resource platform”, says Robert Perich, Vice President Finance and Controlling (VPFC).
“One of the key goals for our division is to supply the relevant people at ETH with the right management information and instruments. At the same time, we want to continue to ensure transparent accounting for our sponsors and demonstrate that ETH deals with finances responsibly – even in an increasingly challenging regulatory environment.”
Quality in administration too
For ETH President Lino Guzzella, a good university is not just characterised by excellent performance in teaching and research, but also by the quality of its administrative processes: “Robert Perich and his team have been doing outstanding work in the field of university finance and controlling for many years. He and his committed, motivated team are also exceptional innovators and creators,” says Lino Guzzella.
“It pleases me all the more that this achievement has now been honoured by the outside world, and I congratulate the VPFC on behalf of the entire ETH.”