Nexus Program
Photo of the BI building, where the PMO is located.
Why Nexus?
EPFL is confronted to numerous evolutions of its information system, involving its Finance and Human resources administrative processes.
The optimization and digitization projects of administrative management carried out in recent years (expense management, HR workflows, invoice dematerialization) have faced increasing technical and functional complexity, linked to the specificities developed since the implementation of its first administrative information system in 1999. The current situation now requires a return to solutions that are closer to IT standards and good business practices.
The EPFL Management has commissioned the Vice Presidency for Finances (VPF) and the Vice Presidency for Operations (VPO) to implement the transformation of the Finance and Human Resources information systems as well as the associated administrative processes: this is the Nexus program.
An Agile implementation
The Agile approach differs noticeably from the project management approach commonly used at EPFL. Agile projects are based on an iterative and incremental approach where requirements are not fully defined at the beginning of the project. This approach allows for results that are more tailored to the actual needs of users.
Two distinct transformation axes: Finance and Human resources
The new Finance and HR information systems (IS) will be gradually deployed until 2026.
Projects
This project aims to optimize the financial management processes by leveraging the implementation of the latest version of our SAP system (migration from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA).
The project will be carried out in several experimentation phases called PoC (Proof of Concept). Objective: ensuring a product adapted to the needs of the jobs and the EPFL community, thanks to numerous tests conducted throughout the project by users. Therefore, you will be regularly asked to participate in the analysis of existing processes and to gather your needs.
Until their replacement by 2026, you will continue to use the current Finances tools.
We will accompany and inform you throughout this transition.
This project aims to optimize human resources management processes by leveraging the implementation of a new comprehensive system: SAP SuccessFactors. This will enable the management of the entire professional journey of an EPFL collaborator using an integrated system.
Its implementation will be carried out module by module in 2024 and 2025:
- Performance: evaluation and objectives
- Recruitment
- Compensation
- Training.
For each of these modules, you will be regularly invited to participate in the analysis of existing processes and to gather your needs.
We will accompany and inform you throughout this transition.
News
Please refer to the french version of this page for the most up to date information.
Since the Agile approach has been favored for Nexus, the Finance IS project has completed the first of its three iteration phases.
This initial phase involved identifying business needs and addressing various topics (data models, project database, budget, external reporting). The second iteration phase will begin in March 2024 and conclude in June, before transitioning to the final “sandbox” phase for the rest of the year.
Upcoming deadlines:
- May-June 2024 (date to be confirmed): next Nexus information session,
- May-June 2024 (date to be confirmed): Change Committee meeting to provide an update on the new version of the financial management tools to be deployed in 2026,
- March to June 2024: Iteration workshops with the relevant teams.
The design, implementation, and deployment work is conducted module by module. The first module concluded in January 2024, with the deployment of the new process related to goal management and performance evaluation, along with its associated environment, to central services. The second module, which will replace Umantis, is the recruitment tool, scheduled to launch in April 2024: it is currently in the testing phase.
Upcoming deadlines:
- 23 April 2024: deployment of the new Recruitment and employee training tool,
- May 2024 (date to be confirmed): next Nexus Café information session,
- May-June 2024 (date to be confirmed): Change Committee meeting to present the new Performance tool and the future Recruitment tool,
- September 2024 to May 2025: Compensation module work,
- September 2024 to December 2025: Learning module work.
Useful links:
Questions
Do you have any questions? Suggestions?
The Nexus teams are here to assist you.
Contact us via this form. We look forward to exchanging with you!
Contact
Olivier Colomb
Program Management Officer
Marc Fromentin
Nexus – Finances Project
Laetitia Eynard-Machet
Nexus – Finances Project
Nicolas Meyer
Nexus – Human resources project
Yann Le Gallo
Nexus – Technology
EPFL PMOVPF
BI A1 477 (Bâtiment BI)
Station 7
1015 Lausanne