TechnologyOne is one of Australia's largest enterprise software companies, built specifically for government, education, health, and community services. If you work in local government, a university, or a health service in Australia or New Zealand, there's a good chance TechOne runs your financials, HR, or asset management.
The big story right now is the mandatory SaaS migration. TechnologyOne is moving everyone from on-premise to their cloud platform, and on-premise support is being wound down. This isn't a "maybe one day" thing - it's happening now, and organisations that delay will face increasing costs and risk.
TechnologyOne Platform Overview
TechnologyOne's platform covers a wide range of enterprise functions:
- Financials - General ledger, accounts payable/receivable, budgeting, fixed assets, purchasing
- Human Resources & Payroll - Employee management, payroll processing, leave management, compliance reporting
- Property & Rating - Rates management for local government, property valuation, compliance
- Asset Management - Asset lifecycle, maintenance scheduling, condition assessment, capital works planning
- Student Management - Enrolment, progression, academic records (universities and TAFEs)
- Enterprise Content Management - Document management, records management, electronic forms
- Performance Planning - Strategic planning, KPI tracking, reporting dashboards
SaaS Migration - What You Need to Know
TechnologyOne's SaaS migration is the single biggest change for existing customers. Here's what it involves:
What Changes
- Infrastructure - Your TechOne instance moves from your servers (or hosted environment) to TechnologyOne's cloud platform in Australian data centres
- Interface - Desktop client is replaced by Ci Anywhere (browser-based). If you haven't already migrated to Ci Anywhere, that's step one
- Updates - Automatic updates managed by TechnologyOne. You no longer control when patches and upgrades are applied
- Customisation - Custom code and heavy customisations need to be reviewed. SaaS has stricter guardrails on what customisations are supported
- Integrations - Existing integrations (APIs, file imports/exports, database connections) may need reworking for the SaaS architecture
Migration Risks
- Custom configurations - Heavily customised instances need more work. Some customisations may not be supported in SaaS
- Integration rework - Direct database connections won't work in SaaS. Integrations need to use APIs instead
- Change management - Staff used to the desktop client will need retraining on Ci Anywhere's browser interface
- Data migration - Historical data, attachments, and archives need careful handling during the move
- Timeline pressure - On-premise support is being phased out. Delaying migration increases risk and cost
Ci Anywhere Transition
Ci Anywhere is TechnologyOne's browser-based interface. If you're still using the desktop client, moving to Ci Anywhere is a prerequisite for SaaS migration:
- Browser-based access from any device (Chrome, Edge, Safari)
- Responsive design for tablet and mobile use
- Digital forms and workflow approvals from anywhere
- Improved search and navigation compared to the desktop client
The transition to Ci Anywhere isn't just a technology change - it's a user experience change. Staff workflows and processes may need adjusting. Screen layouts, navigation paths, and keyboard shortcuts all differ from the desktop client.
Integration Challenges
TechnologyOne environments typically have multiple connections to other systems:
- Banking - Bank file processing (ABA files for Australian banks), payment gateway connections
- Payroll services - Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting to the ATO, superannuation clearing houses
- GIS systems - Mapping and spatial data for councils (property, assets, planning)
- Document management - External DMS systems, scanning solutions, archival systems
- Reporting - Business intelligence tools, data warehouses, Power BI or Tableau dashboards
- Third-party portals - Customer/citizen portals, student portals, supplier portals
In a SaaS environment, integrations that previously used direct database connections or file shares need to move to API-based approaches. This is one of the most underestimated projects in a SaaS migration.
How HELLO PEOPLE Can Help
We're a Perth-based software company with 18+ years of experience across enterprise systems, integration, and custom development for Australian organisations.
Our TechnologyOne Services
- SaaS migration support - Planning, testing, and managing the transition from on-premise to SaaS
- Ci Anywhere transition - User training, process redesign, and change management
- Integration redevelopment - Rebuilding integrations for the SaaS architecture using APIs
- Configuration review - Assessing custom configurations for SaaS compatibility
- Custom development - Building portals, reporting solutions, and extensions alongside TechOne
- Independent advice - Objective assessment of your TechOne environment and migration readiness
Free TechnologyOne assessment. We'll review your current setup and give you practical advice on your SaaS migration path. Get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SaaS migration mandatory?
Effectively yes. TechnologyOne is phasing out on-premise support. While there's no hard cutoff date published for all customers, the direction is clear and on-prem customers face increasing costs and risk by delaying.
How long does migration take?
6-18 months depending on your complexity. Simple financials-only environments are faster. Large councils or universities with multiple modules, heavy customisation, and many integrations take longer.
Can I use third-party consultants?
Yes. Many organisations use independent consultants alongside TechnologyOne's own services team. We bring cross-platform enterprise experience that complements TechOne-specific knowledge. Talk to us about your migration.
Summary
TechnologyOne's SaaS migration is the defining project for most TechOne customers right now. Getting it right means careful planning around customisations, integrations, user transition, and change management. If you need independent advice or hands-on help - book a free assessment.