Why Universities Are Switching
Legacy platforms are expensive, fragmented, and stuck in the past. See how a modern approach is different.
The Problem with Legacy Systems
Universities worldwide share the same frustrations with their existing platforms.
System Fragmentation
Most universities run a separate SIS, LMS, messaging tool, billing system, and document platform — none of which talk to each other.
Staggering Costs
Legacy SIS platforms cost $100K–$5M per year depending on institution size. Large-scale migrations have been reported to cost hundreds of millions.
Years-Long Implementations
Enterprise SIS deployments routinely take 1–7 years. Industry data shows 40% of higher-ed ERP rollouts exceed their timeline by at least 6 months.
Outdated, Clunky Interfaces
Users across review platforms consistently describe legacy systems as 'confusing,' 'clunky,' and 'unintuitive,' with workflows requiring dozens of clicks.
Costly Infrastructure
On-premise systems require dedicated IT teams, expensive hardware, and constant security patching. Maintenance fees have been rising 3–5x faster than inflation.
Vendor Instability
Major ed-tech consolidation has left institutions scrambling. A leading SIS+LMS conglomerate filed for bankruptcy in 2025, affecting hundreds of universities.
One Platform vs Many
What typically requires 3–5 separate vendors, UniPortal delivers in one.
| Capability | UniPortal | Traditional SIS | Typical LMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Information System | |||
| Learning & Assessments | |||
| Real-time Messaging | |||
| Billing & Tuition | |||
| Complaint Management | |||
| Document Requests | |||
| Push Notifications | |||
| Attendance Tracking | |||
| Analytics Dashboard | |||
| Unlimited Custom Roles | |||
| Any Language + RTL Support | |||
| Mobile PWA | |||
| Modern UI | |||
| Deployment Time | 1–2 weeks | 6 mo – 7 years | Weeks–months |
The Status Quo Isn't Working
Common issues reported across legacy platform categories — based on publicly available user reviews and industry reports.
Legacy SIS / ERP
Traditional student information systems built in the 2000s, often requiring on-premise servers and large IT teams.
Outdated interface with a steep learning curve — workflows require dozens of clicks for basic tasks.
- Implementation costs range from $50K to millions
- Maintenance fees rising faster than inflation
- Customization requires dedicated IT resources
- Integration between modules often isn't seamless
- Interfaces feel stuck in the early 2000s
Cloud-Only SIS
Newer cloud-native SIS platforms promising modernization, but often at astronomical cost with long rollout timelines.
Confusing structure with too much information — enrollment system is difficult to use.
- Multi-million dollar annual licensing fees
- Full rollouts taking 4–7+ years
- Integration problems with existing systems
- Data stores require manual checking and matching
- Limited flexibility despite 'cloud-native' branding
Traditional LMS
Learning management systems that handle courses and content, but nothing else — billing, messaging, and admin live elsewhere.
Dozens of clicks to complete basic tasks — mobile app more frustrating than useful.
- LMS only — no SIS, billing, or admin capabilities
- Requires separate systems for everything else
- Basic quiz engines with limited options
- Interactive content requires paid third-party add-ons
- A major LMS vendor went bankrupt in 2025
The UniPortal Difference
All-in-One
SIS + LMS + messaging + billing + documents + analytics in a single platform. No more stitching together 5 vendors.
Weeks, Not Years
Deploy in 1–2 weeks, not 1–7 years. Docker-based setup means your team isn't stuck in implementation limbo.
Modern Experience
Built with modern technology. No legacy interfaces, no dozens-of-clicks workflows. Mobile-first PWA on any device.
Unlimited Roles
Create any role with granular permissions. Department heads, lab supervisors, advisors — no artificial limits.
Predictable Pricing
Simple tiered pricing based on university size. No per-module fees, no surprise maintenance hikes.
Any Language
Ships with English and Arabic. Need another language? Request it and we'll add it — the platform is built to support any language with full RTL.
Ready to Modernize
Your Campus?
Join universities that have replaced scattered spreadsheets, disconnected email threads, and outdated systems with one unified platform.