How Kuali is Transforming Research Administration with Process Automation

Research is what drives innovation, and universities lead the way in making new discoveries. But behind every great research project, there's a tangle of administrative tasks—like managing grants, tracking compliance, and handling data entry. These tasks can slow down progress and overwhelm administrators. As research gets more complex, many schools struggle with these inefficient processes.

So, how can universities streamline research administration, cut through bottlenecks, and free up time for impactful work?

At Kuali, we believe the answer lies in process automation. With our no-code platform, we help colleges and universities work smarter and reduce mistakes. Our tools adapt to the changing needs of research administration, making life easier for administrators and faculty. Let's dive into how Kuali's process automation is transforming universities and why it's essential for the future.

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The Challenges of Modern Research Administration

Managing research projects isn't easy. Universities juggle many tasks—grant applications, compliance reviews, budget approvals, and more. The workload on administrators has only grown as funding becomes more competitive and compliance rules change.

Here are some common challenges:

• Manual, Time-Consuming Processes: Many administrators are swamped with paperwork and manual form routing. This slows down research and increases the risk of mistakes.
• Grant Management Overload: Getting grants is crucial for research projects, but the process can be a bottleneck. Delays in approvals can mean missed funding opportunities.
• Compliance Concerns: Following rules like FERPA, HIPAA, and GDPR is tricky. When done manually, there's a high risk of errors that can have serious consequences.

At Kuali, we've seen these challenges firsthand. That's why we've created solutions tailored to higher education to tackle them head-on.

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How Kuali Is Changing the Game with Process Automation

Kuali Build, our no-code platform, has become a game-changer in research administration. By automating tasks like grant routing, budget approvals, and compliance checks, Kuali helps universities lighten the load on administrators. This allows staff to focus on more valuable work, like securing new funding and supporting faculty.

But Kuali isn’t just about making things faster. It's about making them better. Here’s how Kuali’s process automation stands out:

• Streamlined Grant Management: Kuali lets universities handle the entire grant lifecycle more efficiently. For instance, instead of manually tracking proposals, our automated workflows route forms to the right people at the right time. One of our partner schools, the University of Utah, cut their grant approval times by 40% using Kuali Build. This means researchers can focus more on their projects and less on paperwork. Plus, the automation ensures that no steps are missed, reducing the chance of errors in the application process.
• Built-in Compliance Checks: Kuali includes compliance processes within workflows, ensuring research proposals meet regulations before moving forward. This reduces the risk of human error and ensures that sensitive data is always handled securely. Schools like Indiana University have used Kuali Build to automate compliance workflows, reducing manual checks and ensuring every step meets their standards. With Kuali, the risk of non-compliance is minimized, and administrators can rest assured that all regulations are being followed.
• Enhanced Collaboration Across Departments: Research often involves multiple departments. Kuali’s automation makes collaboration easy by keeping everyone informed. With our platform, you can set up notifications, reminders, and status updates, so no one is left in the dark. Faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville found that using Kuali Build improved cross-department communication, leading to faster project approvals. The shared visibility into project status means fewer delays and misunderstandings, making the whole process smoother.

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Why Kuali's Automation is Essential for Your Institution

As universities face tighter budgets and increasing research demands, automation isn’t just an option—it’s essential. Kuali’s process automation helps schools not only work more efficiently but also adapt to the ever-changing research landscape.

Here's why Kuali's approach to automation is essential:

• Scalability for All Research Projects: Kuali Build can handle both small projects and large, multi-institution initiatives. Our flexible platform grows with your research needs, allowing for easy scalability without adding strain on resources. Whether you're managing a single department's projects or a multi-campus research initiative, Kuali Build adjusts to fit your needs.
• Reducing Risk with Smart Workflows: Kuali's workflows are designed to ensure every step is completed accurately and on time. This reduces the risk of missed deadlines, compliance errors, and lost funding opportunities. Our customers have reported up to a 60% reduction in errors after using Kuali Build. This means fewer headaches and more successful projects.
• Empowering Administrators and Faculty: Kuali’s no-code platform empowers administrators and faculty to create their own workflows without relying on IT support. This means they can quickly adapt to changes, whether it's a new compliance rule or a different grant process. The power to make changes on the fly means less waiting and more doing.

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Best Practices with Kuali for Embracing Research Process Automation

If you're thinking about using automation for research administration with Kuali, here are some best practices to get started:

• Start Small with Kuali Build: Automate simple tasks like form routing or approval workflows first. Kuali Build's intuitive interface makes it easy to start small and then scale up to more complex tasks like compliance tracking and grant management. Starting small allows your team to get comfortable with the system before tackling more complex processes.
• Engage Stakeholders Early: Automation impacts multiple departments. Use Kuali's collaborative tools to involve everyone from the start. With Kuali Build, you can easily share workflows and gather feedback to ensure a smooth transition. Early involvement leads to better adoption and fewer roadblocks down the line.
• Leverage Kuali's Community: One unique aspect of Kuali is our community-driven approach. Join our community of higher education institutions to share best practices, learn from peers, and get support in your automation journey. By connecting with others who are using Kuali, you can gain insights and tips that you might not have considered.

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Real-World Impact: Success Stories with Kuali

Many universities have embraced research process automation with Kuali and are seeing impressive results. For example, the University of Iowa automated their grant submission and review process with Kuali Build. They reported a 50% reduction in approval time, allowing researchers to focus on their work instead of chasing paperwork. This kind of time savings directly translates to more research and innovation.

At the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Kuali Build was used to streamline compliance workflows across departments. This not only ensured adherence to regulations but also improved communication among faculty and staff, leading to faster decisions and fewer delays. The clear communication and streamlined process helped to create a more efficient research environment.

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The Power of No-Code with Kuali Build

One exciting feature of Kuali Build is its no-code platform. Administrators can build and customize workflows without needing IT support. This means research administrators can automate processes quickly, adapting workflows to their specific needs.

For instance, Kuali Build allows users to drag and drop form elements to create workflows tailored to their needs. You can automate processes like grant management, compliance tracking, and even specific tasks like data entry. This flexibility makes it a powerful tool for transforming research administration. By using the drag-and-drop interface, even those with little technical expertise can build sophisticated workflows in no time.

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Final Thoughts: Kuali's Vision for the Future of Research Administration

The future of research administration is in process automation, and Kuali is leading the way. By streamlining workflows, reducing manual tasks, and ensuring compliance, our platform helps universities improve efficiency and focus on what truly matters—supporting groundbreaking research.

With Kuali Build, there's no need to stick with outdated, manual processes. Our no-code tools empower administrators to create their own workflows, helping schools stay agile and efficient. And because Kuali Build is designed specifically for higher education, it comes with the features you need right out of the box.

No-code platforms like Kuali Build also foster a culture of collaboration among departments. Administrators can easily share workflows, gather feedback, and make changes in real-time. This collaborative approach leads to more effective processes and a stronger community within the school.

In conclusion, Kuali Build offers more than just automation—it offers a tailored solution designed for the unique needs of higher education. Our platform is built with you in mind, ensuring that you have the tools you need to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Are you ready to take the first step? Embrace Kuali's automation and watch your institution flourish.