Why Now is the Time for Higher Education Institutions to Move Banner or PeopleSoft to OCI

In an era of rapid digital transformation, universities and colleges are facing mounting pressure to modernize their technology infrastructure. Legacy ERP systems like PeopleSoft and Ellucian Banner, while historically reliable, are becoming roadblocks to innovation. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how institutions manage students, staff, operations, and data. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), paired with Astute Business Solutions’ deep expertise in higher education, offers a powerful path forward.

The Case for Urgency: Modernization Beyond Maintenance

Modernization is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. Higher ed institutions are being asked to do more with less: drive student success, enhance staff productivity, and meet rising expectations for digital services, all while managing tight budgets. Continuing to maintain on-premise ERP systems like PeopleSoft or Banner delays this progress and incurs rising costs in hardware refreshes, customizations, and compliance upkeep.

What’s more, competitors and peer institutions are already leveraging AI to enhance decision-making, streamline processes, and deliver exceptional experiences. Modernizing now means staying ahead of the curve, not struggling to catch up later.

Why Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)?

OCI offers a secure, scalable, and cost-effective platform designed for mission-critical applications like Banner and PeopleSoft. More importantly, OCI integrates cutting-edge AI and machine learning tools natively, enabling automation, prediction, and intelligent recommendations across campus operations.

Key benefits for higher education include:

• Cost Optimization: Pay-as-you-go pricing and reduced infrastructure overhead.
• AI-Driven Innovation: Native support for Generative AI (GenAI), Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), and AI analytics.
• Security and Compliance: Enterprise-grade data protection for sensitive student and institutional information.

AI-Powered Use Cases for Banner and PeopleSoft

The transition to OCI is not just about infrastructure—it's about transformation. Here are real, impactful use cases tailored to higher ed institutions:

Student Lifecycle Management

Automate onboarding, enrollment, and advising with AI agents, chatbots, and personalized digital assistants. This reduces administrative overhead and improves the student experience.

Financial Operations

Streamline financial aid processing, automate invoice management, and improve budget forecasting using AI-enhanced tools like Oracle Analytics Cloud and GenAI assistants.

Human Capital Management

Enhance talent acquisition, employee onboarding, and engagement using intelligent workflows, document automation, and virtual HR assistants powered by GenAI.

Help Desks and Support

Implement GenAI-powered IT and HR help desks to provide 24/7 support for students and staff, with seamless integration into platforms like MS Teams and ServiceNow.

Astute Business Solutions: Your Strategic Partner

With over 70 successful cloud projects, 19 years in business, and a recognized Oracle Innovation Partner for 2024, Astute Business Solutions brings unmatched expertise in higher ed ERP transformations. Whether you’re migrating PeopleSoft or Banner, our AI-powered solutions, managed services, and industry-focused accelerators ensure a seamless and value-driven transition.

Our offerings include:

• GenAI for ERP modernization
• Custom help desk bots for HR/IT/student services
• AI-enhanced document processing for financial and HR workflows
• Cloud infrastructure, database migration, and analytics solutions

A Clear Path to AI-Driven Modernization

1. Astute’s structured approach to modernization includes:

2. ERP Readiness Assessment

3. Roadmap Development for AI Integration

4. Migration to OCI

5. Workflow Transformation with GenAI

6. Continuous Optimization and Innovation

With ROI achievable in just 12–18 months and up to 30% operational savings, the question is no longer if higher ed should modernize—but how soon you can get started.

Take the Next Step

Modernization isn’t just about technology—it’s about unlocking the future of education. Let Astute Business Solutions guide your institution through an AI-driven transformation with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Schedule a Consultation