Cranfield University

Optimum, the ERP training consultancy, was appointed by Cranfield University to train Unit4 Business World (Agresso) ERP system users at its Shrivenham campus in the UK.

Optimum’s user-focused training programme was designed to give 100 non-finance staff training on how to use the university’s Agresso business management system to buy goods and services following a major upgrade undertaken at the campus.

The role-based courses and materials were developed to give users both a broad understanding of Cranfield’s requisitioning system as a whole and to train each user specifically how to carry out their individual part of the procurement process. The Optimum programme will then be used to ‘skill the trainers’ and rolled out internally to an additional 300 users.

Ian Sibbald, financial controller at Cranfield University, said: “Optimum’s user-focused approach to training struck a chord. Business World (Agresso) is a complex system and it makes sense to tackle training from the point of view of exactly what knowledge it is that you need to impart.”

He added: “Using a professional training company adds value because new users aren’t being told by their peer group, or a finance person, or even someone within the university, how best to use the system. The fact that it is an external authority can give the training extra credibility.”

Cranfield University, which has a global reputation for postgraduate research into science, technology, engineering and management, has used Agresso as its core business management system since 2003.