Business Intelligence (BI)

SAP Business Objects provides a platform of tools to enable staff to report on data held within the University's core business systems and to gather business intelligence to support decision-making.

Business Objects offers registered users the ability to:

• Read and refresh centrally-held reports from within the institutional repository (Central University Reports);
• Develop, format, and analyse reports for personal use;
• Schedule and export reports to PDF or Excel - including through email; and
• Explore information spaces through visualisations of high-level datasets.

IT Services develops and maintains dashboards, and information spaces within Explorer, built to data definitions agreed between relevant stakeholders. These tools enable the monitoring of performance against strategic objectives.

Facilities

Planon software underpins services which are provided by Facilities Management including:

• FM Helpdesk - used as a single point of contact for all maintenance requests and activities;
• Recording costs, space references, technicians and contractor details against maintenance jobs;
• Tracking maintenance jobs through to completion;
• Planned preventative maintenance (PPM); and
• Recording space utilisation data used in support of FEC for capital projects, research funding, and statistical returns of estate management information.

Facilities Management also use Janus Access Control to manage access to secured buildings across campus and to University car parking facilities.

Finance

Agresso Business World is the University's core finance system and is primarily used by professional services staff within the Finance Office. Professional services staff within other departments, including in Finance Teams across the Faculty structure, also use the system.

Agresso supports these key activities:

• Financial accounting and management accounting;
• Management of research funding;
• Procurement;
• Raising and collecting student tuition fees;
• Raising and collecting student accommodation fees;
• Statutory returns; and
• Strategic and operational planning through provision of business information and monitoring performance

Human Resources (HR)

CORE HR is the University's core business system for HR management, including staff and honorary identification. CORE HR replaced JAsPer (Alta HR) and offers self-service to employees. Further information about CORE HR is available from the Human Resources Intranet site [staff only].

CORE HR is administered by Human Resources. Staff may access their own personal HR data through TULIP, including:

• Personal details;
• Historical payslip information;
• Car park usage and charges;
• Portfolios of activity; and
• Academic publications and research output via IRIS.

Research

Members of staff with a research role have access to the Integrated Research Information System (IRIS) which is available through TULIP. IRIS is used to:

• Set up research proposals and develop applications for funding;
• Monitor the progress of funding applications through to award;
• View budget reports;
• Produce tailored management information based on research projects;
• Record research outputs and connections as part of managing staff research profiles.

IRIS is supported by the Research Support Office.

Student Records

SPIDER (Student Programmes, Information, Degrees, Examinations and Registrations) is the University's student record system. SPIDER is administered by Student Administration and Support Division (SAS) and is used to record and maintain data relating to the admission, academic registration, assessment and examination, progression and award of students.

Staff and students have access to the system - student access is via the Liverpool Life student portal, and staff access is via SPIDER.

SPIDER supports these activities:

• Processing of applications and administration of admissions records;
• Maintenance of students' personal information;
• Administration of student academic records;
• Recording data in support of compliance with UKBA immigration requirements;
• Maintenance of information relating to the provision of student welfare support; and
• Production of statutory returns (e.g. to HEFCE/HESA).

Academic Timetabling and Room Bookings

The Online Room Bookings and Integrated Timetabling (ORBIT) system is administered by Student Administration and Support Division (SAS) to deliver:

• Individual online timetables for students and staff;
• Improved optional module choices for students, including those on Combined Honours and Joint Honours programmes;
• Efficient, coordinated, cross-University timetabling; and
• Improved management information and support for effective use of the University's estate.

TULIP

The University of Liverpool Information Portal (TULIP) is a portal through which staff can access an extensive array of applications. TULIP applications can be used to:

• Administer and maintain personal staff details;
• Manage records associated with Professional Development Review (PDR);
• Search the staff telephone directory;
• Request replacement staff ID cards;
• Access student email lists and student academic information;
• View, amend and submit module specifications;
• Access student academic timetables (ORBIT web timetables);
• Set up research proposals, build and monitor progress with applications for funding, and maintain a research profile (through IRIS); and
• Explore MI dashboards.

All staff who are registered with the Managed Windows Service (MWS) can access TULIP. New staff should activate their computing account to register with the MWS.