City of Camrose Invests in Corporate-Wide Software, Will Enhance Services for Residents

The City of Camrose is undertaking a significant new project aimed at enhancing services for residents through the implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This $5.4 million project, funded from the General Infrastructure Reserve, was approved by Council during the Regular Council meeting on May 27, 2024.

An ERP system is a corporate-wide software that runs all of the essential day-to-day business operations such as finance, HR, procurement, and others. At its most basic level, an ERP system helps to efficiently manage all these processes in one system.

"This project represents both an exciting opportunity and a considerable investment for the City," said Travis Bouck, Finance General Manager for the City of Camrose. "While it will require substantial resources and effort, the benefits to our residents and our municipal operations will be significant."

The City began the procurement process in November 2023, immediately after being notified that as of January 1, 2025, the current ERP system would no longer receive software updates and as of January 1, 2026, would no longer be accessible.

A new ERP system is necessary to replace the current Finance and Human Resource system, which has been in use for 30 years. Without this upgrade, critical services could face disruptions starting January 1, 2026 but "we are committed to ensuring uninterrupted services for our residents throughout this complex transition," Bouck assured.

Residents can anticipate several improvements, including the ability to pay utility and tax bills online through a user-friendly City portal. The new system will also provide enhanced access to billing information, giving residents greater control and transparency over their accounts.

"This project will modernize our customer service capabilities," Bouck stated. "Residents will enjoy improved online services, and our internal processes will become more efficient, making information more readily available to staff and enhancing the overall customer service experience."

In addition, the new ERP system will significantly increase cybersecurity measures, which inevitably leads to increased operating costs, estimated to rise by approximately $400,000 annually. "This investment is necessary to provide a reliable, secure system that meets the needs of our community," Bouck added.

Contract negotiations with the selected vendors are expected to conclude by June 30, 2024, with the project set to commence on July 1, 2024. "We have a tight 18-month timeline to implement the new system, which may present challenges but we’re confident that we’ll be successful," Bouck noted.

For more information, please contact:
Travis Bouck
General Manager of Finance
Phone: 780.672.4426
tbouck@camrose.ca