University Health Network – SAP Innovation Awards 2025

University Health Network required an upgraded business foundation to support strategic growth and innovation. The existing ERP platform lacked flexibility and real-time data access, and it didn’t integrate well with other systems, limiting support for new lines of business and automation. SAP S/4HANA Cloud was implemented across multiple organizations and countries, unifying data and enhancing real-time reporting tools. This strengthened key processes, freed up resources for improved patient care, and enabled real-time data-driven decisions to advance healthcare innovation. - 5435 Download the Document

PUBLICEntry Pitch DeckUniversity Health NetworkDarlene Dasent, Executive Vice President & CFO, UHNHealthcareHarnessing data and driving innovation forpatient care, education and research
COMPANY NAME:HEADQUARTERS:INDUSTRY:WEBSITE:NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:Company information2University Health NetworkToronto, ON, CanadaHealthcarehttp://www.uhn.ca/44,000UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital, the world’s #1 publicly-funded hospitaland #3 hospital in the world. UHN consists of 10 sites and more than44,000 TeamUHN members. Our pioneering achievements include: thefirst clinical use of insulin in the world, the first globally successful singleand double lung transplant, and Canada’s first social medicine housinginitiative, providing affordable housing for some of the most medically andsocially complex patients.Partnered with the University of Toronto, we treat the most complexpatient and specialize in biomedical research in the neurosciences,cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectiousdiseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine.UHN is a $3.5 Billion organization, consisting of Toronto GeneralHospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre,Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education andWest Park Healthcare Centre.PUBLIC
CHALLENGE: SOLUTION: OUTCOME:Harnessing data and driving innovation3To real-time reporting access to criticaldataIn products scanned in real-time fordelivery across UHN annuallySaved annually in manual processesthrough automation of invoice processing3 weeksUniversity Health Network$54M 6,000 hoursThe World’s #3 Hospital, needed an enhancedbusiness foundation to help fuel continue growthand industry leading innovation. UHN’s existing ERPplatform configuration lacked sufficient flexibility andsophistication to accommodate strategic growth.Challenges included: Lack of real-time access to data No direct integration with other clinical,business, operational & research systems Limited ability to support new lines ofbusiness with increasing complexity associatedwith innovative world leading research and clinicalcare Inability to automate processes acrossprocurement, supply chain & accounts payableSegregated systems integrated, data unified,and powerful real-time reporting tools enabled.Key processes strengthened including procurementand supply chain. Process optimizations are freeingup human resources to improve upon and enhancepatient care, education, research and innovation.Hundreds of people, across 6 countries, andmultiple organizations implemented one of thebiggest software transformations ever inCanada’s healthcare sector, and one of only ahandful in the world, and with no disruption topatient care.Powerful Reporting Tools enhanced our ability toprovide exceptional patient care by strengtheningfinancial insights of units, allowing for more effectiveresource allocation, and ensuring timely and high-qualitycare. Predictive analytics and forecasting help usanticipate operational needs, manage challengesproactively, and optimize costs. These advancementscreate a more responsive and efficient healthcareenvironment, prioritizing patient well-being.Clinician, scientists, educators and business partnerscan now employ real-time data and analytics to drivestrategic decision-making, and get life-saving drugs,tools and innovations to patients.PUBLIC