Two large transformation initiatives, the HCM project and the ERP project, have been launched to modernise the administrative systems that support CERN’s day-to-day work, making them more efficient, more integrated and easier to use. These projects will affect up to 35 000 people and are expected to be completed between the end of 2028 (HCM) and end of 2029 (ERP).

From longstanding systems to a modern foundation
On the HR side, several systems are used in parallel, including Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS), SmartRecruiters, PeopleFluent LMS and Sopra HR Access for payroll. On the finance and procurement side, CERN mainly relies on XRP Ultimate (commonly known as “Qualiac”), in place since the early 1990s. Many people also interact daily with EDH, the electronic document system used, for example, to request absences or initiate purchases.

Over the years, these systems have been extensively adapted, leading to increasing complexity that is difficult and costly to maintain.

What are the HCM and ERP projects?
The HCM project will introduce a single platform covering the full personnel life cycle, from recruitment and onboarding to career development, performance management, learning, time and absence management, and payroll.

The ERP project will modernise financial, procurement and supply chain processes.

A key objective of both is to embed processes into integrated platforms. For example, some functions currently handled through EDH, such as absence requests, will move to the new systems over time.

Why now?
CERN’s existing HR landscape has fallen behind what modern platforms now offer. In addition, CERN was informed in 2025 that XRP Ultimate will need to move to a cloud-based version, a change that, due to the level of customisation, effectively requires a full reimplementation.

Rather than simply replacing systems, the Organization is using this moment to rethink and simplify its processes, moving closer to market-standard solutions to reduce maintenance efforts and benefit from ongoing innovation.

What will this mean for the CERN community?
For most people, this transformation will mean

• fewer fragmented tools and processes;
• more intuitive and user-friendly systems;
• increased self-service capabilities.

Some familiar ways of working will evolve, including a gradual shift away from certain EDH-based processes. Supporting the community through this change with communication, training and phased adoption will be an integral part of both projects.

A shared effort across CERN
The projects are led by the Business Computing Group in the FAP Department, in collaboration with stakeholders across HR, IPT, SCE, OSI and EP, and the Project Leads report to the Joint HCM/ERP Steering Committee (JSC), which ensures alignment and coordinated decision making.