Navigating Complexity in Higher Ed Procurement
Procurement in higher education is anything but straightforward. Funding is episodic. Governance is decentralized. Hiring cycles are slow. And technology environments—though modernized—often lack the operational scaffolding to support long-term success.
At North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), a leading HBCU with a forward-thinking approach to technology, the team implemented JAGGAER as its Source-to-Pay (S2P) platform of record. Yet over time, institutional knowledge faded, system ownership blurred, and evolving stakeholder priorities outpaced the available capacity.
The university wasn’t seeking to replace its system—instead, it aimed to strengthen what was already in place, improve usability across departments, and ensure long-term sustainability without placing additional strain on its internal team.
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RiseNow’s Response: Managed Services, Tailored to Reality
RiseNow entered not with a blueprint, but with a mindset: meet the client where they are, and scale support to what they can sustain.
We began with a comprehensive system assessment, capturing institutional knowledge, surfacing latent risk, and identifying areas for optimization. Then we embedded ourselves as a long-term partner—providing procurement managed services through a flexible delivery model built for higher education realities.
Services Delivered:
System Process Documentation
Captured day-to-day admin workflows and converted tribal knowledge into scalable, referenceable SOPs
Contract Lifecycle Management Support
Guided multiple re-implementations of JAGGAER Contracts, adapting each time to stakeholder evolution—particularly as legal began leveraging external AI-enabled repositories
Governance and Role-Based Access Control
Replaced individual-based permissions with scalable role structures to support compliance, audits, and onboarding
ERP Integration Maintenance
Partnered with IT to ensure consistent data exchange between JAGGAER and Banner, including support for issue triage and regression testing
System Admin Continuity
Trained two successive administrators and provided interim coverage during a multi-year open req—ensuring no disruption in functionality
Release & Optimization Guidance
Conducted proactive release reviews, advising on low-lift, high-impact improvements that aligned with internal capacity and appetite for change
Results: Institutional Capability Without Institutional Overhead
What differentiates RiseNow from traditional consulting firms isn’t just platform knowledge—it’s our ability to operate within the unique constraints and priorities of each client. We focus on delivering practical, sustainable outcomes by supporting day-to-day operations, enabling internal teams, and maintaining continuity over time.
For institutions like NC A&T, success isn’t about rapid transformation. It’s about making consistent progress, maintaining system stability, and ensuring that technology investments continue to serve their intended purpose—even as staffing, funding, or organizational priorities shift. NC A&T is back on the path it set with JAGGAER, which continues to exceed the value and expectations of the original project.
Whether supporting knowledge transfer, optimizing existing functionality, or expanding adoption across new departments, RiseNow provides strategic procurement managed services that integrate with your team and your reality.
Let's Talk About Long-Term Support
If you're facing challenges related to turnover, ERP integration, or capacity constraints, and need experienced support to keep your procurement systems running effectively—RiseNow is ready to help.
Let’s design a support model that aligns with your goals and helps you make the most of your technology investment.
