Overview
Based in Scotland’s capital city, the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) provides a comprehensive range of public services to over 498,800 citizens. With 63 councillors representing 17 wards, elected every four years, the Council has responsibility for political leadership, service delivery, and governance across the city.
As part of its digital transformation journey, the Council identified that its Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) system was aging and needed to be upgraded. Alongside the upgrade to R12.2, the Council aimed to take advantage of new functionality and implement a heavily customised Advanced Collections system.
Fudgelearn was selected by the incumbent systems integrator to deliver the change management and training element of this transformation—equipping the Council’s central finance functions and an internal trainer with the skills and knowledge to cascade learning across the wider organisation.
The Challenge
CEC faced a two-fold challenge:
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System Modernisation – Upgrading to Oracle EBS R12.2 while embedding new functionality and processes.
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Knowledge Transfer – Ensuring staff were confident and proficient in using the new system, despite the complexities of a heavily customised Advanced Collections solution.
Covid-19 restrictions added further pressure, meaning all training had to be delivered virtually while still meeting the tight timelines to ensure users were ready for go-live.
Our Approach
Fudgelearn worked closely with the Council’s key stakeholders, internal trainer, and the systems integrator to design and deliver a fit-for-purpose training programme.
Key steps included:
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Scope Definition – Agreement on training topics, delivery methods, and supporting documentation.
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Tailored Content – Development of training manuals and presentations covering:
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Bridging the Gap – Focus on highlighting the key differences between the Council’s existing R11i system and the upgraded R12 system.
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Virtual Delivery – Training delivered via Microsoft Teams, supported with recordings for future reference and ongoing use.
This approach not only trained key users but also prepared the Council’s internal trainer to deliver training more widely in a cost-effective, sustainable way.
Benefits & Outcomes
The collaboration between CEC, Fudgelearn, and the systems integrator delivered tangible outcomes:
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Proficient Users – Central finance teams and trainers developed strong competence in new processes and system navigation.
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Knowledge Cascade – The internal trainer was able to share knowledge organisation-wide, reducing costs and creating a self-sustaining model.
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On-Demand Learning – Training recordings and supporting manuals provided ongoing reference material, boosting user confidence post go-live.
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Future-Proofed Capability – Staff now have the skills to maximise the functionality of R12.2, ensuring smoother operations and long-term value from the system upgrade.
Result
The City of Edinburgh Council successfully upgraded to Oracle EBS R12.2 with confident, well-trained staff, and a sustainable internal training model—ensuring citizens continue to benefit from reliable, efficient public services.
