Mythics Feat. In E&I Spotlight: Mythics For Oracle & Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative

REBROADCAST FROM THE E&I COOPERATIVE SERVICES SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT: MYTHICS FOR ORACLE

Supplier Spotlight: https://www.eandi.org/media-room/technology-insights/supplier-spotlight-mythics-oracle/

SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT: MYTHICS FOR ORACLE

Why IPHEC Selected E&I’s Mythics for Oracle Contract

by Michelle Nettuno, Category Marketing Manager, Technology, at E&I Cooperative Services

Aaron Carter, Assistant Vice President, Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative (IPHEC), shares why they selected the E&I Mythics for Oracle agreement and how it’s helping IPHEC institutions.

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What ERP requirements were IPHEC institutions looking to fulfill?

IPHEC had a general licensing agreement with Oracle, and the term was ending. We were looking for ways to engage Oracle for ERP and related products, services, and licensing, and expand upon those offerings.

We needed an award outlet, and we initially thought we would go directly with Oracle, but we decided it would be beneficial to work with a supplier that could help us navigate the legal and other requirements involved in working directly with a large company like Oracle.

Why did IPHEC decide to use the E&I Mythics for the Oracle contract?

Our relationship with E&I led us to this contract because we have had success working with the cooperative. The ease of using the agreement, coupled with its advantageous pricing, is very attractive to us. The overall target was Oracle, and finding an avenue to work with them more easily and efficiently was critical.

In Illinois, we have requirements for all suppliers awarded by the state. Educational institutions have to handle certifications, disclosures, sign-offs, registrations, and more, which may be broader than in other states. This particular contract is a valuable tool because it offers the opportunity to have Mythics help us navigate all the red tape.

Lastly, the E&I Mythics contract includes the full suite of Oracle offerings, and that helps us and our partners develop broader plans for our technology base. That’s very exciting! There’s nothing worse than engaging with a supplier and then being limited in what you can see and use. Having a broad spectrum is really important.

What work has Mythics for Oracle done with your institutions so far, and what are the results?

Just days after the signature, we ran all types of licensing agreements with them—including large-dollar purchases — to keep things moving. Now that we have the contract offering, the plan is to expand the use of Oracle ERP beyond the handful of schools that were originally engaged in these offerings to all 13 IPHEC institutions. The potential to engage with Oracle through Mythics is actually available to all higher education institutions in the state.

We’re still a bit too early for new product implementation, but Mythics helped square away existing products and services under this contract umbrella. We’re at the stage where we can pivot and look for other opportunities we can expand upon through the award.

Working with Mythics has been really great. They provide excellent support services, they’re easy to work with, and they always keep us in the loop. It’s been such a welcome partnership, different from the normal corporate structure for getting approvals. With so many things going on here, the ability to be nimble with our requirements is very refreshing.

What are your future plans to work with Mythics through the E&I contract, if any?

The exciting part is working with E&I when you have a quality agreement that checks several boxes. E&I makes it so much easier to engage in products and services without having to handle the procurement process, which can be challenging at times.

This agreement is our go-to Oracle outlet. It takes care of your foundation, and you can go on from there. Any future activity will be conducted under the agreement because it gives us the opportunity to enhance our offerings and because Mythics provides added value. Oracle ERP is now accessible to institutions that didn’t have it previously.

The goal is for all 13 IPHEC institutions to know that the opportunity exists, because in the past, we didn’t have these offerings at such advantageous pricing and with a complete catalog. Some institutions are implementing ERP on a one-off basis, so the ability to engage statewide is really attractive. The opportunity to improve through this partnership is really exciting for us.