13 New Features/functions within the Ellucian SaaS Model
Note: Argos and MS BI are new for some departments, but have been in our ORU environment for the past 5 years.
| No. | Component / Tool | What It Is | How It Functions at ORU | Role in Overall System | New or Variance from Current System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ellucian Experience Premium | Unified user experience and portal interface for students, faculty, and staff. | Provides personalized dashboards, mobile app, and customizable cards for daily tasks and notifications. | Primary user interface uniting all Ellucian components in one environment. Allows personalized customized views and minimizes screens users have to click between. Allows job/task optimization for each user group. | New function and feature that personalizes the user experience and streamlines and aligns repeatable tasks. |
| 2. | SaaS Data Lake (Ellucian Insights Foundation) | Managed data warehouse-as-a-service with 2 TB storage and embedded Business Intelligence and AI. | Aggregates data from SIS, Finance, HR, Apply, etc., enabling analytics and reporting. | Central analytical hub feeding dashboards and decision support tools. Merges and manages data across any system inside or outside of the Ellucian Banner system. | New system, function, and feature that allows all systems to integrate their data and use business intelligence at a new level. Includes running data analytics across the entire ORU data environment. |
| 3. | Ethos Integration Framework | Unified data model and open API architecture for cross-system interoperability. | Connects Banner, Apply, Experience, and external ORU systems with consistent data exchange. | Integration backbone ensuring clean, secure data flow across the enterprise. | New system, function, and feature that allows more integrations across all ORU campus systems. |
| 4. | Experience SDK | Developer toolkit for custom cards and features within Experience. | Allows ORU IT to build branded extensions, dashboards, and new workflows safely. | Facilitates UI customization without affecting SaaS upgrade paths. | New feature that allows programmability inside the Ellucian system for automation and streamlining functions. |
| 5. | Data Connect | Low-code integration and automation platform within the Ellucian Cloud. | Enables quick data pipeline creation between Ellucian and third-party systems. | Streamlines integration and data movement for institutional agility. | Improved methodology to allow the same direct data access into the system via Excel or other 3rd Party system. |
| 6. | Self-Service Data Admin & User Provisioning (Ethos) | Configuration and identity provisioning features within the Ellucian platform. | Allows secure user provisioning (via Ethos) and limited role configuration without IT intervention. | Empowers departments to manage access while maintaining governance and security. | New function and features for better system wide data security. |
| 7. | Intelligent Platform Processes | No-code workflow builder for automating institutional approvals and forms. | Automates processes like change-of-major, refunds, and departmental approvals in Experience. | Orchestrates cross-departmental workflows, boosting efficiency and consistency. | New functions and features that allows more agile development across 3rd party systems as well as intelligent forms and processing inside the system. |
| 8. | Ellucian Insights | SaaS analytics and dashboarding platform over the data lake. | Delivers self-service dashboards, KPIs, and visual analytics inside Experience. | Front-end BI layer driving data-informed decisions across ORU. | New function and reporting system that has potential of replace Argos or work with Argos. More flexible in the long-term. |
| 9. | Enterprise Extensibility (Platform Capability) | Open extensibility framework within the Ellucian Platform. | Allows ORU to build custom logic, fields, and connectors in a SaaS-safe way. | Ensures long-term adaptability and innovation across systems. | New function and features that replaces the need to build customized forms that are not supported by Ellucian. Works in conjunction with the reporting system of Insights, Argos, Experience, and ISE Enterprise scheduler. |
| 10 | ISE Enterprise Scheduler | Third-party job automation suite for Banner environments. | Automates batch jobs, data loads, and reports; handles dependencies and notifications. | Keeps critical Banner operations running reliably and efficiently. | New system, functions, and features that allow much more system streamlining and automation within all operations. |
| 11. | Argos | Third Party Reporting Tool | Used for 1,200 reports, mostly in Finance | Allows users to report on the system within the Banner and Salesforce systems. | Not new - yet it will work in the new environment. |
| 12. | Microsoft BI | Third-party reporting tool with Business Intelligence | Used for most departments outside of Finance | Allows users to report system within the Banner and Salesforce systems | Not new - yet it will work in the new environment. |
| 13. | Form Fusion | Third-Party Forms and document creator by Evision for higher education. | Allows ORU to use pre-built forms and document templates, and creates custom forms and documents | Integrates with the new Intelligent platform and accommodates any shortcomings in the Banner system as it relates to forms. | New functionality that was embedded in the new contract as an add-on system with Evision. ORU was not using Form Fusion as a product with Evision. |
| 14. | IntelleCheck for Payroll | Third-party check writing forms and design by Evision for higher education. | Evision's Intellecheck Payroll enhances the payroll process with greater efficiency and customization, while also providing substantial savings to your bottom line. It streamlines and offers more design control over AP and Payroll output, student refund payments, and direct deposits. | Potential use for Finance/Payroll. Will need to be tested. | A new part of the system was embedded in the new contract as an add-on with Evision. ORU has been using ACOM. This is a one-year contract with ACOM due in December. Will need to evaluate both and renew ACOM for another year until we go-live. |
| 15. | Intellecheck for Accounts Payable | Third-party check writing forms and design by Evision for higher education. | Evisions Intellecheck for Accounts Payable enhances the AP payment process with greater efficiency and customization, while also providing substantial savings to your bottom line. It streamlines and offers more design control over AP and Payroll output, student refund payments, and direct deposits. | Potential use for Finance/Payroll. Will need to be tested. | A new part of the system was embedded in the new contract as an add-on with Evision. ORU has been using ACOM. This is a one-year contract with ACOM due in December. Will need to evaluate both and renew ACOM for another year until we go-live. |
| Summary: ORU has been used to using Argos, Excel, and Business Intelligence. In the new environment, we will be able to continue using Argos, Excel, and Business Intelligence. Forms and document template and custom forms and document creation will be available through EVisions Forms Fusion, Intellecheck Payroll and Accounts Payable. The great news is that the 13-15 new features available in the new environment may ultimately replace or enhance all the tools we are using today. We can keep Argos and MS BI and augment them with the new tool sets. The new tool sets (features) are new to ORU and need to be learned (20% there) and applied as much as possible before Go-live. The new environment, equipped with ten new features, provides ORU with the ability to modify and customize using supported tools. | |||||
13 New Features_functions within the Ellucian SaaS Model (PDF)