Enabling a connected future for independent education
The Digital Transformation Challenge
Led by SMC’s Perth team with support across SMC’s national network, the engagement supported AngliSchools’ transformation across Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
Prior to engaging SMC, AngliSchools operated across multiple schools with inconsistent processes, disparate software platforms, manual workarounds, spreadsheet-based reporting, duplicate data and limited enterprise-wide visibility. Schools maintained a high degree of operational independence, creating challenges in governance, reporting, process consistency and collaboration.
SMC partnered with AngliSchools to define business requirements, improve processes, lead a comprehensive ERP and Student Information System selection process, negotiate commercial outcomes and prepare the organisation for implementation. The engagement combined SMC’s Digital Transformation Consulting and ERP & Enterprise Systems Consulting expertise across multiple phases of the SMC Digital Transformation Model.
Streamlining Operations Across a Growing School Network
As AngliSchools continued to expand its network of schools across Australia, leadership recognised the need for a more integrated and scalable approach to technology, governance and business processes.
SMC was engaged as an independent, client-side advisor to guide the organisation through a major digital transformation journey, from strategy and planning through to solution selection, commercial negotiation and implementation readiness.
Key Highlights
- 18 schools and more than 16,000 students supported through a future-focused transformation program.
- Enterprise-wide review of processes, systems, governance and reporting requirements.
- Independent selection of a future ERP and Student Information System platform.
- Commercial negotiations completed to achieve a strong long-term outcome for the organisation.
- End-to-end transformation support spanning Strategy & Roadmap, Select & Negotiate, Plan & Implement and Review & Optimise.
Project Sanpshot
Client: AngliSchools
Industry: Education
Locations: Western Australia, Victoria & New South Wales
Engagement: Digital Transformation, ERP & Student Information System
Services: Digital Transformation Consulting, ERP & Enterprise Systems Consulting
SMC Model: Strategy & Roadmap, Select & Negotiate, Plan & Implement , Review & Optimise
SMC Office: Perth
Historical Terminology
At the time of delivery, this engagement was described using SMC’s prior terminology, where this phase of work was referred to as Analyse & Blueprint. This phase is now referred to as Strategy & Roadmap under SMC’s current Digital Transformation Model. While the terminology has evolved, the scope, rigour, and outcomes delivered remain unchanged.
About AngliSchools
AngliSchools is a network of low-fee Anglican schools delivering education across Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. With more than 2,500 staff and over 16,000 students, the group supports communities through high-quality teaching and learning in a caring Christian environment.
As the organisation continued to grow, leadership sought greater consistency, stronger governance, improved visibility and scalable systems capable of supporting its long-term vision.
The Need for Connected Systems and Consistent Processes
Like many multi-campus education organisations, AngliSchools had accumulated a diverse portfolio of systems, processes and ways of working over time.
Schools often operated independently, resulting in inconsistent processes, duplicate information, manual reporting activities and varying user experiences. Leadership faced challenges obtaining timely enterprise-wide insights, while staff relied heavily on spreadsheets and workarounds to overcome system limitations.
The organisation required a clear roadmap to modernise its technology environment, reduce risk, improve operational efficiency and establish a foundation capable of supporting future growth.
SMC's Digital Transformation Approach
SMC provided independent, client-side digital transformation advisory to help AngliSchools navigate each critical stage of its transformation journey.
Through SMC’s Digital Transformation Consulting, ERP & Enterprise Systems Consulting and Business Process Improvement capabilities, we worked closely with stakeholders across the organisation to:
- Review and improve current-state business processes.
- Develop future-state operational requirements.
- Define detailed business and system requirements.
- Conduct market research and solution evaluations.
- Facilitate a competitive selection process.
- Negotiate commercial arrangements.
- Prepare the organisation for implementation.
Importantly, SMC remained independent throughout the process, ensuring every recommendation was aligned with AngliSchools’ strategic goals, operational requirements and risk profile.
Experiencing similar challenges across your organisation?
Explore the SMC Digital Transformation Model to understand where these challenges may sit within your broader transformation journey and what to consider next.
Process
Phase 1: Strategy & Roadmap
SMC engaged stakeholders across finance, enrolments, operations, technology and administration to analyse current systems, identify pain points and define future-state objectives.
Using our transformation methodology, we assessed opportunities across:
- People
- Process
- Technology
- Data & AI
- Transformation Leadership
This work provided AngliSchools with a business-led foundation for making future technology decisions before moving into system selection.
Phase 3: Plan & Implement
Following selection, SMC supported AngliSchools through Plan & Implement, establishing implementation readiness and the governance foundations required for successful delivery.
This involved:
- Governance frameworks
- Resource planning
- Data migration planning
- Change readiness planning
- Detailed project planning
- Scope validation
- Integration planning
The outcome was a comprehensive implementation foundation with clearly defined responsibilities, governance structures and project controls.
Phase 2: Select & Negotiate
SMC led a structured market evaluation process, helping AngliSchools compare solution options, review implementation partners and assess overall business fit.
This included:
- Vendor market research
- RFP management
- Demonstration management
- Reference checks
- Commercial evaluation
- Contract negotiation
The result was a clear technology and implementation pathway aligned with AngliSchools’ strategic objectives.
Organisations evaluating ERP or other enterprise systems can explore SMC’s ERP & Enterprise Systems Consulting services for independent guidance across strategy, selection and implementation.
Considering your own ERP options? SMC’s Cloud ERP Guide explores the key considerations for evaluating solutions and preparing for transformation.
Phase 4: Review & Optimise
SMC continues to provide trusted advisory support to help ensure project governance, risk management and business alignment are maintained throughout the broader transformation journey.
Building Confidence for Implementation and Long-Term Transformation
The engagement provided AngliSchools with far more than a software selection exercise.
The organisation now has:
- Clearly documented future-state processes.
- Enterprise-wide business requirements.
- A selected solution and implementation approach.
- Strong governance foundations.
- Improved visibility into transformation risks and priorities.
- Greater leadership confidence in project delivery.
- A roadmap capable of supporting future growth and operational consistency.
By taking an independent, structured and business-led approach, AngliSchools was able to move forward with clarity, confidence and a significantly reduced level of implementation risk.
SMC supports education organisations navigating complex technology, process and operating model change through independent, client-side transformation advisory.
The Future
With planning complete and implementation underway, AngliSchools is positioned to modernise core operations, improve data visibility, enhance user experiences and support a growing network of schools through an integrated technology ecosystem.
The transformation is expected to strengthen governance, support decision-making and create a more connected experience for staff, students and families across the organisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
SMC partnered with AngliSchools as an independent, client-side digital transformation advisor, supporting the organisation from Strategy & Roadmap through Select & Negotiate and Plan & Implement. SMC helped define business requirements, improve processes, evaluate ERP and Student Information System options, support commercial negotiations and establish the foundations for implementation.
As AngliSchools grew, its schools were operating with inconsistent processes, disparate software platforms, manual workarounds, spreadsheet-based reporting and duplicate data. This made enterprise-wide visibility, governance and process consistency more difficult. AngliSchools needed an integrated and scalable technology environment that could better support its growing network of schools.
SMC led a structured and independent solution and implementation partner selection process. This included market research, RFP management, solution demonstrations, reference checks, commercial evaluation and contract negotiation. The process helped AngliSchools identify a technology and implementation pathway aligned with its business requirements, strategic objectives and risk profile.
The engagement provided AngliSchools with clearly documented future-state processes, enterprise-wide business requirements, a selected solution and implementation approach, stronger governance foundations and improved visibility of transformation risks and priorities. It also established a roadmap to support greater operational consistency and future growth across the school network.
Independent ERP advisory helps education organisations make technology decisions based on business needs rather than vendor preferences. For AngliSchools, SMC brought a structured, client-side approach to process improvement, requirements definition, solution selection, commercial negotiation and implementation readiness. This gave leadership greater clarity around responsibilities, governance, project controls and key transformation risks before implementation progressed.
Planning an ERP Transformation?
Choosing the right ERP is about more than selecting technology. Our Cloud ERP Guide explores what to consider when evaluating your options, reducing risk and preparing your organisation for successful transformation.
Planning a Complex Digital Transformation?
SMC provides independent, client-side advisory across strategy, system selection, implementation and optimisation to help organisations reduce risk and maintain control throughout transformation.
"AngliSchools have really appreciated the great work SMC have done during the Analyse & Blueprint phase of our Project. They quickly understood our business, ran focused and engaging workshops, and clearly mapped our AS-IS and Could-Be processes. Their presentations were clear, engaging, and really brought our key pain points to life, making a strong case for moving forward. With their support, we're set up for success and excited for what's next."
Kylie Donaldson,
Finance Project Manager
About the Author
Mile Dimkovski is Executive Director at Solution Minds Consulting, where he leverages more than a decade of experience guiding mid-market and enterprise organisations through complex digital transformations and enterprise software-enabled change. Mile’s deep expertise spans business process improvement, technology selection and implementation, and benefits realisation — helping clients streamline operations, modernise systems, and maximise return on investment. Known for his collaborative, client-centric approach, he has been a key leader in shaping SMC’s advisory offerings and delivering outcomes that matter.