High Point University and Unimarket Announced Today the Implementation of Unimarket’s SaaS Collaborative eProcurement to Improve Efficiencies and Achieve Cost Savings
Annapolis, MD, September 30, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Today, High Point University (HPU) – a leading liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina -- and Unimarket, the global leader of collaborative eProcurement solutions, is excited to announce the signing of an agreement to implement the full suite of procure-to-pay functionality throughout the University. The University has made exceptional strides since 2005, with University President Dr. Nido Qubein leading the development of exciting new academic programs, the enhancement of student life through significant campus improvements, and the expansion from a 90-acre campus to now over 230 acres.
Dr. Qubein noted “We are totally focused on creating an excellent academic experience for our students and the dramatic enrollment gains along with the positive national survey rankings over the past several years speak toward us being on the right course.” But, he added, “We fervently believe this high quality must also come with strong attention to cost management and controls. We believe that moving to eProcurement, an industry accepted best practice that is rare in higher education institutions of our size, is one way to say to our students we are good stewards of their tuition dollar.”
Bill Duncan, the institution’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Financial Affairs, has led an internal campus-wide team since late 2009 to first determine if the cost savings and streamlining benefits of eProcurement were applicable to an institution like HPU. Once they became convinced of its value, they then conducted an extensive solicitation process to select the best choice for the University. Duncan said “We did a thorough investigation across many months of all the potential eProcurement solution alternatives in Higher Education, and the ultimate recommendation of Unimarket was a unanimous decision.”
Duncan teamed up with the Office of Information Technology in their selection process, and Vice President for Information Services and Chief Information Officer Wellington Souza and his team spent considerable time looking at what was the right solution to integrate with the institution’s financial system, Datatel. Souza said, “There was no doubt in my mind that we should move to eProcurement, but key for me was who had the best track record for managing this integration effectively. And, that was Unimarket.” He added that “I would encourage my peer CIO’s at other institutions to advance this initiative on their campuses as a strategic priority, particularly to achieve its core benefits of cost savings and streamlined operations.”
Scott Blackwood, CEO of Unimarket, remarked on the key to achieving cost savings. “Our successful customers are those who have the right people, process and technology, it really takes all three equally to achieve success with procurement automation and related ROI.” said Blackwood. Blackwood also commented on the effective working relationship between University administrators, “This is a strong management team who worked through a structured, inclusive process with all key stakeholders to make sure this initiative would be right for HPU. This makes the implementation process go much smoother.”
About High Point University: At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students from 51 countries and 46 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 7 percent among "America's Best Colleges." Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. The university offers 50 undergraduate majors, 42 undergraduate minors and seven graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at www.highpoint.edu.
About Unimarket: Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Unimarket is the global leader of SaaS Collaborative eProcurement networking, providing software on demand to streamline procure-to-pay operations and achieve cost savings within and across organizations. Customers configure user-friendly buying portals for decentralized purchasing that drives compliance to selected suppliers from the network, where quote requests, supplier maintained catalogs and punch-outs are routinely accessed to locate and buy the most cost-effective goods and services – all in sync with controls within respective customer finance/ERP systems. A distinctive feature of the Unimarket solution is the ability for customers to collaborate on their common purchases, thereby increasing economies of scale and driving down unit costs. Visit www.unimarket.com for more information.
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Dr. Qubein noted “We are totally focused on creating an excellent academic experience for our students and the dramatic enrollment gains along with the positive national survey rankings over the past several years speak toward us being on the right course.” But, he added, “We fervently believe this high quality must also come with strong attention to cost management and controls. We believe that moving to eProcurement, an industry accepted best practice that is rare in higher education institutions of our size, is one way to say to our students we are good stewards of their tuition dollar.”
Bill Duncan, the institution’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Financial Affairs, has led an internal campus-wide team since late 2009 to first determine if the cost savings and streamlining benefits of eProcurement were applicable to an institution like HPU. Once they became convinced of its value, they then conducted an extensive solicitation process to select the best choice for the University. Duncan said “We did a thorough investigation across many months of all the potential eProcurement solution alternatives in Higher Education, and the ultimate recommendation of Unimarket was a unanimous decision.”
Duncan teamed up with the Office of Information Technology in their selection process, and Vice President for Information Services and Chief Information Officer Wellington Souza and his team spent considerable time looking at what was the right solution to integrate with the institution’s financial system, Datatel. Souza said, “There was no doubt in my mind that we should move to eProcurement, but key for me was who had the best track record for managing this integration effectively. And, that was Unimarket.” He added that “I would encourage my peer CIO’s at other institutions to advance this initiative on their campuses as a strategic priority, particularly to achieve its core benefits of cost savings and streamlined operations.”
Scott Blackwood, CEO of Unimarket, remarked on the key to achieving cost savings. “Our successful customers are those who have the right people, process and technology, it really takes all three equally to achieve success with procurement automation and related ROI.” said Blackwood. Blackwood also commented on the effective working relationship between University administrators, “This is a strong management team who worked through a structured, inclusive process with all key stakeholders to make sure this initiative would be right for HPU. This makes the implementation process go much smoother.”
About High Point University: At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students from 51 countries and 46 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 7 percent among "America's Best Colleges." Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. The university offers 50 undergraduate majors, 42 undergraduate minors and seven graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at www.highpoint.edu.
About Unimarket: Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Unimarket is the global leader of SaaS Collaborative eProcurement networking, providing software on demand to streamline procure-to-pay operations and achieve cost savings within and across organizations. Customers configure user-friendly buying portals for decentralized purchasing that drives compliance to selected suppliers from the network, where quote requests, supplier maintained catalogs and punch-outs are routinely accessed to locate and buy the most cost-effective goods and services – all in sync with controls within respective customer finance/ERP systems. A distinctive feature of the Unimarket solution is the ability for customers to collaborate on their common purchases, thereby increasing economies of scale and driving down unit costs. Visit www.unimarket.com for more information.
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Unimarket, Inc.
Steven Biggs
888-868-5929
www.unimarket.com
Steven Biggs
888-868-5929
www.unimarket.com
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