AptoNow’s groundbreaking academic scheduling platform has been built using open-source higher education data models including Salesforce, Microsoft and CAUDIT. This offers the AptoNow platform advantages over other products that have legacy data models that have not kept pace with modern teaching and learning methods.
In this article, Dr. Ken Moore, Data Science Lead at AptoNow, discusses the value of system interoperability and the need for more well-structured, transparent data models for higher education SaaS solutions.
Universities are turning to cloud-based SaaS platforms to support their operations, but to fully leverage these platforms, a well-organised data schema and system interoperability is essential. Here are 3 key points on why:
Improved data quality: A well-structured and interoperable data schema makes it easier to identify and correct errors, a crucial step in compliance with regulations such as the Australian Privacy Principles (APP). Poor data quality further affects operations. According to a study by Gartner, 78% of organizations report that poor data quality negatively impacts their ability to make informed decisions.
Increased accessibility and Integration: Data interoperability between systems allows for easy access and analysis of data. This means less waiting on key metrics for decision-making and significant cost savings. Universities spend a significant amount of money on ad hoc desktop research of their own data. At AptoNow, we'd like to see our partner institutions quickly gleaning insight from their data stores without the need to scope entire projects to clean, integrate and analyse data. Further, the same study by Gartner referenced above found that organizations that prioritize data governance see nearly a 15% improvement in operational efficiency.
Higher quality analytics: A well-organised data schema enables higher quality analytics, giving universities a more comprehensive and view of their operations. With increased ability to conduct broader and deeper analyses, questions about institutional performance can be met with far more evidence than ever before. Well-organised institutional data can help institutions more quickly generate the evidence they need to inform the context-heavy and nuanced decisions they are regularly faced with.
Open source data schema are becoming increasingly popular in the higher education sector. For example, both Salesforce and Microsoft provide open source data schema for higher education institutions. They provide a standardised and centralised way to store and manage data, making data access, sharing and analytics much easier for institutions.
At AptoNow, we are adopting and building upon this approach with our SaaS solutions. We delight in empowering our university partners with increased ability to manage data and generate valuable insights to help improve operations and support decision-making. Reach out today to discuss your needs.
Referenced Articles:
"Gartner's 2018 Data and Analytics Survey" by Debra Logan, Rita Sallam, et al.;
"The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education report: The Impact of Technology on Higher Education" by The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education