SAP has partnered with Liverpool and Salford City Councils on a revolutionary new digital transformation programme.
As part of the agreement, the councils will collaborate on an SAP technology platform to deliver a range of initiatives designed to reduce costs while providing access to new SAP digital solutions alongside their existing SAP ERP capabilities. The new tools will enable simplified infrastructure, enhanced planning capabilities and ultimately, more efficient and user-friendly services for their citizens. Each city will also work on its own private, secure network on the platform.
“The number one priority for cities like Salford and Liverpool is to minimise costs while increasing efficiency,” said Darren Hunt, Director, Public Sector UK & Ireland, SAP. “This collaboration marks a significant shift in the way public sector bodies can deliver innovative and economical services to their citizens. By working together, Liverpool and Salford can collectively build a powerhouse of SAP knowledge in their region which will help deliver efficiencies for both cities. Critically, SAP S/4HANA solutions will support the delivery of new digital services providing more accurate, real time information to facilitate better informed and more timely decision making, improved forecasting and to unlock cost savings at every turn. We’re very excited to see the full potential of this collaboration and hope it will serve as a model for other authorities who are faced with the task of doing more with less.”
Collaboration on a Government-Wide Framework
As with many other public sector bodies, Liverpool and Salford City Councils are seeking ways to deliver technology innovation across their IT infrastructure and digital services but are faced with budget limitations which have made it difficult to migrate to next generation solutions. The collaboration will enable them to streamline their operations, reduce costs and provide more efficient and effective services for their citizens.
Importantly, as part of a Government-wide framework, this new partnership will also serve as a model to demonstrate how other local authorities can align with each other to upgrade their legacy IT infrastructure and save costs.
“Salford City Council has always recognised the importance of innovation and collaboration to develop new business solutions that will allow public bodies to work together, share costs and drive real transformation in our Cities. This collaboration provides an exciting opportunity for us to maintain the quality of front line services and at the same time develop a technology platform that could support the wider economic growth in our regions” said Salford’s City Mayor, Paul Dennett. “Our long standing relationship with SAP means that we are able to draw on a pool of talented experts, especially across SAP HANA implementation. Together with Liverpool City Council we’ll be able to implement an affordable solution that allows us to focus on the growing needs of Salford’s residents”.
Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, commented: “The council is facing substantial financial pressures in every area due to significant cuts in central Government funding. This makes it more imperative than ever that, across all aspects of service delivery, move more services online to make sure we can do more with less. We have a long history of delivering innovation and seeking new ways of working. The collaboration with Salford City Council is one such innovation that we have implemented to deliver this new way of working”.
The City of Salford and The City of Liverpool have already started to implement the SAP solutions and will continue to work with SAP throughout the process to ensure a successful roll-out by 2017.
