NEWBIS (Northampton Enterprise Wide Business Information Systems) Programme

The University is undertaking a major business improvement programme termed NEWBIS that will systematically review current business processes within and across each of its corporate systems (Student Records, HR, Finance, Payroll, and CRM).

Paperwork, data recording and administrative processes take time, sometimes too much time, time which could be better spent supporting students in their journey through The University of Northampton.

We also know that staff will benefit greatly from reduced and sometimes cumbersome paperwork if we can find new and innovative ways of working with our systems.

It can also be frustrating when repetition is needed or there isn't that 'easy' way of finding something quickly. This is where the University's NEWBIS team comes in, consisting of colleagues from internal secondments and external appointments the core aim is to improve and streamline the University's use of core information through analysis of the core processes (Student journey processes, Finance, HR and Payroll, CRM and Reporting processes) in a systematic way. This will reveal opportunities for improvement that will describe how we can work in a more streamlined and effective way in the future.

The aims of the NEWBIS programme:

• Identify new collaborative ways of working across the organisation that will seek to eradicate operational bottlenecks
• Simplify organisational processes by the use of electronic forms, removing paper-based systems and eliminating the need for data to be re-keyed into separate systems
• Increase access to reporting information
• Improve the level of information that staff and students are able to access through the introduction of self-service applications

The combination of process review and identifying system enhancement will seek to produce the following six key benefits:

1. Integrated core information systems
2. Establishment of a university-wide CRM culture and approach
3. Adoption of enterprise-wide systems and processes
4. Increased use of self-service
5. Replacement of the corporate Finance and HR/Payroll systems
6. Achievement of resource efficiencies across the University

The NEWBIS project is happening at a pivotal time for the University. It is a major and exciting project which will affect us all. By identifying areas for improvement now, we will be able to shape ourselves into the University we need to be in the 21st century. I encourage you to read the FAQs and continue to follow developments on the website.

John Hoskinson Pro-Vice Chancellor (SPR)(Executive Sponsor)