What you need to know about the upcoming Umoja upgrade

Sunitha Korithiwada, Director of the Enterprise Resource Planning Solution Division, discusses the upcoming Umoja upgrade:

When will this upgrade take place?

The upgrade is scheduled to start on Friday 5 April 2024 at 5 PM EDT (23:00 CEST) and is anticipated to last until Wednesday 10 April 2024 at 8 PM EDT (Thursday 11 April 2024 at 02:00 CEST).

Who should users contact during the blackout period?

Users should contact their HR team and/or local travel offices in the event of an emergency.

What changes will users see after the upgrade?

• Users will now be able to access Employee Self-Service (ESS) and Manager Self-Service (MSS) through all major browsers including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari

• ESS/MSS portal applications have been refreshed for a more modern look

Will there be any new features and functionality?

No new features will be activated at this stage. However, thanks to this upgrade, we will be able to roll out new features and functionalities over the next months and years, such as significant improvements to the user experience.

Will users have to take any training to use the upgraded Umoja?

No additional training is required at this stage.

What does the Umoja upgrade entail?

This is a large-scale upgrade – it encompasses a transition to new hardware, an advanced in-memory database, and an upgrade of the application software to Enhancement Package 8.

It also involves migrating several custom-built functionalities in the area of Human Capital Management (including Human Resources, Payroll, Organization Management, Health, and Life Insurance) to the standard solution.

Why is the Umoja upgrade needed?

The upgrade is necessary to ensure continued support from the vendor, provide a platform for the delivery of valuable innovations to users and enable Umoja to keep pace with technological advances.

It will open opportunities for an improved user experience. The upgrade to the system will be a crucial element in the Secretariat’s success in achieving its mandated goals through improved functionality, security, performance, and risk reduction.

How did this upgrade come about?

In its final meeting, the Umoja Steering Committee endorsed the upgrade of Umoja to SAP ERP 6.0 Enhancement Package 8 (EhP8) and acknowledged that the upgrade would be a complex undertaking, involving parallel workstreams, interdependent activities, and collaboration among stakeholders across business and technical teams.