About the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering
The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering is a leading research and educational institution in Edmonton, AB. As one of Canada’s largest engineering schools, its IT department supports over 250 professors and 3,000 graduate students.
The Challenge: Centralizing IT Procurement
The UofA’s Faculty of Engineering needed a way to streamline its IT procurement. Previously, individual professors and departments managed their own IT purchases. This decentralized approach led to major issues:
- Inconsistent Technology: A mix of different hardware platforms and systems created compatibility issues.
- High Costs: Without centralized purchasing power, the faculty was paying higher prices for hardware and software.
- Increased Workload: The IT team was overwhelmed with support requests due to system inconsistencies, increasing wait times and costs.
The faculty required a centralized, user-friendly solution to standardize its technology, reduce costs, and free up IT resources.
The Solution: A Custom E-Procurement Portal
Microserve partnered with the UofA’s IT team to design and build a custom e-procurement portal. Through close consultation and an in-depth review of the department’s needs, Microserve developed a system that was simple, accessible, and tailored to the faculty’s unique workflow.
The portal’s intuitive design and collaborative development process built confidence with future users from the start.
The Results: Unprecedented User Adoption and Savings
The new system’s success was evident almost immediately, far surpassing initial expectations.
- 100% User Adoption: The portal was initially predicted to have a 60% uptake, but it quickly soared to 95% and has since reached 100% adoption, demonstrating a universal buy-in from staff.
- 30% Reduction in Costs: By standardizing technology configurations and lowering purchasing prices, the faculty’s IT department was able to optimize compatibility and streamline support-related costs by 30%.
- Less Strain on IT: With a consistent technology platform, the IT team’s workload was significantly reduced, allowing them to focus on more strategic projects.
Rick Patsula, the Director of IT for the UofA’s Faculty of Engineering, praised the personalized support. “One of the nice things about dealing with Microserve is that it’s still personalized and whenever we’ve had an issue it was addressed quickly…you don’t get this kind of personalized touch with the other services we have on campus…there’s a lot of trust here.”
The Microserve Advantage
This case study is a testament to Microserve’s collaborative, client-first approach. We went beyond simply creating a solution and continue to support and adapt the e-portal based on client feedback.
Regardless of your organization’s specific needs, Microserve has the experience and expertise to deliver a solution that’s perfectly suited for you. Our commitment to a personalized, collaborative relationship ensures solutions are aligned with your unique requirements.
For more information about our IT solutions, contact us today.
