Inland Empire advances asset management and ERP overhaul amid timeline concerns

Inland Empire advances asset management and ERP overhaul amid timeline concernsThe California utility is preparing to award an Enterprise Asset Management contract and issue an RFP for financial systems, but faces a potential support gap as its legacy software phases out in 2030.

IEUA's current system, implemented in 2007, will lose vendor support, security patches, and technical assistance in 2030.

A phased modernization will roll out Human Capital Management in 2027, Enterprise Asset Management in 2029, and ERP Financials in May 2031.

The agency has completed vendor evaluation for the asset management phase and expects to bring a contract award to the board in the near future.

Staff are preparing to release an RFP for the final ERP financials phase.

Board members expressed nervousness over the 2031 financials rollout occurring after the legacy system's 2030 obsolescence date.

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) is moving forward with a phased modernization of its enterprise resource planning (ERP) and asset management software, though the transition timeline has sparked concerns over temporary gaps in system support. During a June 3 workshop meeting, Director of Information Technology Don Hamlett outlined the agency's roadmap to replace its current system, which was implemented in 2007. The legacy software is scheduled to reach the end of its life cycle in 2030, at which point the vendor will cease providing patches, security updates, and technical assistance. To mitigate transition risks, IEUA is executing the modernization in three phases. The first phase, focusing on Human Capital Management, is scheduled to go live in January 2027. The second phase will implement a new Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system by September 2029 to standardize workflows, track asset performance, and manage asset lifecycles. Hamlett noted that the agency has completed its vendor evaluation for the EAM system and expects to bring a contract award to the board for approval in the near future. The final phase, covering ERP financials such as purchasing, project accounting, and fiscal planning, is targeted for May 2031. Staff are currently preparing to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the financial system. The 2031 target for the financial rollout drew scrutiny from the board, as it falls after the legacy system's 2030 obsolescence date. President Eli expressed nervousness regarding the gap in security and technical backing, questioning how the agency would manage the interim period. Hamlett acknowledged the concern, noting that while the legacy software will still function, the lack of security updates poses a cybersecurity risk. He stated that the agency is working with third-party vendors to keep the system operational through the transition and suggested that IEUA could potentially expedite the timeline by allocating more staff resources to the project. "We're confident that we can make it to the end," Hamlett told the board. "It's important to complete as soon as we can, but we have a pretty good plan in place."