When the City of Doncaster Council, one of the UK's largest metropolitan boroughs serving more than 310,000 residents, set out to modernise its enterprise resource planning (ERP) and asset management systems, it became clear they needed more than just another piece of software. They needed a purpose-built solution that would streamline operations, reduce cost and complexity, and enable better service delivery for residents.
At the heart of Doncaster's transformation is TechnologyOne. As the leading SaaS+ provider for UK local government, we help councils modernise operations, streamline financial management, and unlock long-term value for their communities. Doncaster's recent move to our OneCouncil platform is a powerful example of this in action.
Doncaster has been a pioneer in ERP adoption, implementing its first system back in 2013. Over a decade later, however, the council faced the familiar challenge of managing multiple legacy systems nearing end of life. Alongside this, they were juggling an increasing number of disparate applications for finance, asset management, works orders, timesheets, and costing, all while under growing pressure to deliver value for money for residents. The council recognised that meaningful change required consolidation, digitisation, and a future-ready approach that could support evolving service needs.
In a market where local authorities are under ever greater financial pressure, Doncaster set a bold ambition: to reduce the cost of its ERP and asset management systems by around 20% initially, with the potential to exceed 50% through further rationalisation and consolidation.
That ambition hinged on finding a partner who understood local government, could deliver an integrated cloudERP solution and provide value without increasing costs.
After a rigorous procurement process involving more than 700 functional requirements, the council selected TechnologyOne's SaaS+ OneCouncil solution, purpose-built for UK local government, to replace its multiple legacy systems. This single, fully integrated platform brings together finance, asset management, and works orders under one roof, providing anytime, anywhere access and a unified experience for staff, suppliers, and residents. By centralising operations, the platform eliminates duplication, reduces complexity, and enables more efficient, transparent service delivery.
The benefits of this approach are already clear. By replacing multiple legacy systems with a single integrated platform, Doncaster will streamline operations, reduce costs, and create a foundation for better outcomes across the council. Staff can access intuitive tools that simplify their daily work, while managers gain real-time insight into finances and assets, enabling faster, evidence-based decisions that improve service delivery and responsiveness.
Speaking to our partnership, Faye Tyas, chief financial officer and assistant director of finance at City of Doncaster Council said: ‘This is an ambitious step forward in our digital journey. We were determined to find a proven, integrated cloud ERP solution that not only matched our current capabilities but allowed us to expand. TechnologyOne's SaaS+ platform delivers exactly that.
‘We believe this programme will provide better system capabilities with no increase in cost, and the potential for around 50% cost reduction through rationalising and consolidating our asset management systems. Importantly, it enables us to deliver better outcomes for our staff and residents while reducing IT overhead.'
The challenges faced by Doncaster are far from unique. Across the UK, councils continue to grapple with fragmented legacy systems, rising operational costs, and ever-growing expectations from residents. TechnologyOne's SaaS+ approach addresses these issues through a fully integrated ERP platform designed specifically for UK local government. Delivered via the cloud, the solution reduces operational overhead and ensures rapid, low-risk deployment.
With native integration across finance, asset management, works orders, and other key functions, councils gain a single source of truth, eliminating data silos and duplication. Our partner-focused model means TechnologyOne supports councils throughout implementation and long-term adoption, reducing risk and complexity while enabling ongoing operational improvements.
For Doncaster, this transformation represents far more than cost savings. It signifies a cultural and operational shift: staff are freed to focus on delivering high-quality services rather than wrestling with outdated systems, while the council is equipped to plan strategically, respond with agility, and deliver meaningful outcomes for its community.
By combining innovation, integration, and a partner-focused approach, Doncaster is demonstrating how modern technology can underpin smarter, more effective local government.
Emma Foy is Local Government Lead at TechnologyOne
Click here to learn more about how our SaaS+ ERP solution is making life easier for our communities.
