eRA technology is a highly effective solution to support the complexities of research program administration. The promise of eRA technology is real – articles and vendors assure us eRA technology can lead to decreased administrative burden, improved cost savings, and better results. While searching for the right eRA solution for your organization, be sure to ask these four questions.
What questions should you ask before adopting an eRA solution?
Different eRA solutions on the market offer varying levels of support and functionality. It’s important to know where the gaps are in your current system so you know what to look for in a new solution. That may sound obvious, but there’s more to it. It’s also important to know the finer details of what a potential eRA solution offers and how stable the technology might be.
When you’re considering a new technology, knowing where to start and what questions to ask can feel overwhelming. If you’re not an expert, how can you know what to look for (or look out for)?
To get started, be sure to ask these four questions of any potential eRA vendor:
- Do they understand your specific industry? What is the potential vendor’s track record with organizations like yours? Can they provide case studies and proof of success in your industry?
- Do they have any references? Always ask for references, and verify whether you can speak with any of their current or former clients. If they can’t give you anyone to speak to, that’s a red flag.
- How many of their clients use workarounds or customized solutions? After asking for references, ask those clients how well the solution is working for them. Ask specifically whether that client has had to develop workarounds or add-ons or if the client has needed to customize the system to make it work for them.
- What is their implementation track record? Do they successfully and quickly ramp up their product? How much of a burden will the implementation place on your team? What is their customer satisfaction rating for quick and effective implementations?
What are the benefits of an eRA solution?
The reason it’s so important to conduct due diligence with a new eRA solution is that the right solution truly can improve your team’s conditions and outcomes. It can support your workflows, speed up your processes, increase accuracy, and more.
Some of the most notable benefits of adopting an eRA technology solution include:
- Increased efficiency. An eRA solution will help teams minimize or even eliminate waste in their workflows, as well as optimize processes, reporting, and communication.
- Improved accuracy and compliance. A smart solution will help teams not only track and adhere to compliance requirements, but also minimize errors and the risks associated with them.
- Simplify reporting. eRA systems can automatically pull reports and send them to designated stakeholders.
- Expedite proposal development. With an eRA solution, teams can streamline workflows and speed up the entire proposal development process.
- Enhance transparency. A smart eRA solution will provide instant visibility into any proposal’s status, keep key stakeholders in the know, and deliver enhanced visibility and transparency.
- Reduce administrative burden. eRA solutions are the most effective way to reduce administrative burden by automating repetitive processes, improving accuracy, and completing busywork on behalf of your team.
In the end, an eRA solution can save significant time, money, and effort for research administrators.
How does Cayuse stack up?
The Cayuse Research Suite is purpose-built for research administrators, enabling them to manage activities throughout the research lifecycle effectively. Our team prioritizes innovation, technical expertise, and client support. That competence and commitment to excellence have allowed Cayuse to develop a strong track record of success.
