Transforming Higher Education with AI-Powered ERP: EDUCAUSE 2025 Insights

Higher education is at a crossroads. Institutions are being asked to do more with fewer resources, deliver better student outcomes, and stay resilient in an environment where change is constant. For many leaders, the biggest challenge is balancing innovation with stability, finding ways to evolve without disrupting mission-critical systems.

At EDUCAUSE 2025, Astute Business Solutions will share how combining ERP strategies with GenAI-powered automation is helping higher education institutions meet these challenges head-on. From enhancing agility to improving decision-making, ERP plus AI is no longer just a vision for the future. It is happening now, and this is what it means to Make Your ERP Astute.

Why Higher Education Needs AI-Powered ERP

ERPs like PeopleSoft, Ellucian Banner, E-Business Suite (EBS), and JD Edwards remain the backbone of higher education. They manage core functions such as finance, HR, procurement, and student systems that keep institutions running every day. But on their own, these systems cannot always keep pace with the demands of agility, insight, and scale.

This is where AI, and specifically GenAI, comes in. Integrated with ERP systems, AI can:

• Automate routine tasks like invoice processing and expense management
• Provide actionable insights through real-time analytics
• Detect risk and improve compliance in contracts and financial processes
• Enable institutions to operate with greater agility and efficiency

When ERP and AI work together, institutions gain a foundation to make ERP Astute and ready for the future.

Insights We’re Bringing to EDUCAUSE 2025

Let’s explore the key points that we will be discussing.

• ERP Strategies Without Disruption
  Astute helps institutions extend the life and value of existing ERP systems. Whether you run PeopleSoft, Ellucian Banner, EBS, or JD Edwards, our phased approach to ERP transformation ensures you gain new capabilities without the disruption of a full replacement project. The result is agility, efficiency, and scalability delivered on your terms. This is a practical way to make ERP Astute while protecting existing investments.
• AstuteAP – Automated Invoice Processing
  Finance teams in higher education spend countless hours on manual invoice entry, validation, and approvals. AstuteAP eliminates these inefficiencies by using AI to automate the entire process, improve compliance, and free teams to focus on strategic initiatives. This is how institutions make their AP function faster.
• AstuteCLM – GenAI-Powered Contract Management
  Contracts often determine the pace of institutional projects, but outdated processes slow them down. AstuteCLM accelerates contract creation and approvals, flags risks early, and ensures compliance, helping institutions reduce delays and move forward with confidence. It is how you make your contract management process Astute.
• AstuteExpense – Smarter Expense Management
  Expense reimbursement should be simple, yet it is a pain point for many institutions. AstuteExpense automates expense tracking, enforces policy compliance, and provides real-time visibility into spending. The result is fewer errors, happier employees, and tighter financial control. That is what it means to make expense management Astute.
• Data and Analytics for Decision-Making
  From enrollment forecasting to resource management, institutions rely on accurate, real-time data. With Oracle Analytics and Astute’s expertise, leaders gain the insights needed to make better decisions that improve student outcomes and optimize campus operations. By embedding AI in reporting, we help institutions make their analytics function faster.

Real-World Success Stories

Astute’s work with leading institutions shows the measurable impact of ERP with AI strategies:

• Peralta Community College District advanced its digital transformation by migrating critical ERP workloads to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. With Astute’s support, Peralta achieved greater scalability, stronger data protection, and improved service delivery for students and staff.
• Gallaudet University streamlined resource management and improved system stability by migrating PeopleSoft to Oracle Cloud with Astute’s expertise. The shift accelerated processing while strengthening operational resilience.
• University of Idaho boosted scalability and cut costs by moving to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Guided by Astute, the migration delivered stronger performance and reliable day-to-day operations.
• Oregon State University enhanced security and cost-effectiveness through a strategic migration of its Ellucian Banner system to OCI, reinforcing the university’s commitment to innovation.
• San Diego Community College District modernized its PeopleSoft applications on Oracle Exadata Cloud Service, gaining improved performance, reliability, and readiness for future growth.
• Montana State University transitioned from Oracle Database Appliance to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Base Database Service, achieving significant improvements in efficiency, scalability, and overall system performance.

These stories demonstrate that transformation is not a distant vision. With Astute, higher education institutions are already making their ERP systems future-ready.

Preparing Higher Education for What’s Next

Institutions are under constant pressure to deliver better student outcomes, manage resources wisely, and remain agile in the face of change. The combination of ERP and AI is no longer optional; it is the foundation for future-ready operations.

Astute helps higher education leaders address today’s challenges while building long-term resilience. With proven solutions like AstuteAP, AstuteCLM, and AstuteExpense, institutions can reduce inefficiencies, improve compliance, and redirect resources to strategic priorities. This is how you Make Your ERP Astute.

From Vision to Action in Higher Education

The future of higher education will be defined by leaders who embrace ERP plus AI as a catalyst for agility, efficiency, and better student outcomes. At EDUCAUSE 2025, Astute Business Solutions is ready to show how institutions can take practical steps today that deliver measurable impact tomorrow.

Schedule your strategy session with Astute and explore how to Make Your ERP Astute.