LAKE is delighted to share news of another successful SunSystems upgrade. In this article, Michelle Calver, Project Manager for St John Ambulance reflects on the service provided by LAKE in support of their recent upgrade to Infor SunSystems 6.4.
“Working closely with LAKE, we successfully upgraded SunSystems from version 4.4.2 to 6.4. The project reduced technical risk, modernised our Finance platform, and supported our wider Finance Operations Transformation—while maintaining seamless day‑to‑day Finance operations for the organisation.”
The challenge
“We needed to move SunSystems, which is a long‑standing, business‑critical system onto a fully-supported version. The project needed to maintain momentum with early delivery of design decisions and tight resourcing, while also ensuring that structured testing, training, cutover, and post‑go‑live support were delivered effectively.”
Our approach with LAKE
“From the outset, LAKE worked hand-in-hand with our technology and Finance teams to shape delivery plans, share expertise, and quickly resolve challenges. Regular working sessions and clear documentation — often backed by recorded walkthroughs — kept everyone aligned and enabled swift decision‑making.”
When internal capacity was limited, LAKE showed exceptional flexibility, providing additional consultancy and hands‑on support to keep progress steady. Their proactive and collaborative approach helped us manage delivery risks and respond to evolving needs throughout configuration and testing.”
Outcomes
- Successful delivery of the SunSystems 6.4 upgrade, achieving our objective to reduce technical risk and improve long‑term sustainability.
- Stronger collaboration across our Technology and Finance teams, with clearer communication and joint problem-solving.
- A structured hypercare phase to track, prioritise, and resolve post‑launch issues transparently.
- Valuable lessons captured to refine governance, communication, training, and testing for future projects.
What stood out about LAKE’s support
- Flexible and responsive: Scaled support and removed delivery blockers efficiently.
- Collaborative: Worked seamlessly as part of our team, promoting open communication and shared ownership.
- Technically strong: Provided clear, actionable guidance to support confident decision making.
- Knowledge focused: Enabled smooth handover and built internal confidence with thorough walkthroughs and updates.
Summary
“LAKE were a key partner throughout our SunSystems upgrade – collaborative, flexible, and deeply knowledgeable. Their support meant we could modernise a business‑critical platform without disruption to daily Finance operations. We appreciated their clear communication and hands‑on approach, which made complex challenges simple to navigate.”
Michelle Calver, Project Manager, St John Ambulance
About St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance is England’s leading first aid charity, dedicated to saving lives through community training, volunteer-led first aid coverage at public events, and support for the NHS. With a history stretching back to 1877, they train thousands of people in first aid and mental health, operating as a registered charity with thousands of volunteers.
