Empired (ASX:EPD) has secured a “multimillion-dollar” deal with Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) to build a Microsoft-based platform.
Terms of the agreement will see the Perth-based services provider develop the CEWA administration of schools (AoS) platform, which will form the core engine for the digital transformation of LEADing Lights.
Specifically, LEADing Lights is a digital ecosystem connecting the learning community to various communication, collaboration and productivity tools, learning resources, student information, HR and financial management systems.
The AoS is expected to deliver benefits and opportunities to the 80,000 students in CEWA schools, their parents, teachers and school staff across 170 schools and offices.
“We are excited by the transformational benefits and impact the LEADing Lights program will have on the Catholic education community throughout Western Australia and look forward to working with Empired as a key partner,” Catholic education head of digital transformation, Aidan McCarthy, said.
Empired managing director, Russel Baskerville, said there are extensive opportunities for digital transformation in the education sector.
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed services provider, closed the 2017 financial year with a net profit turnaround from a $1.7 million loss last year to $3.2 million for the year ending June 30.
Revenue was up five per cent to $167 million and EBITDA was also up 106 per cent to $15.4 million. Net debt was reduced from $30.3 million to $13.8 million, representing a material reduction in the company’s borrowings and improvements to its working capital liquidity.
The company highlighted a couple of its key growth markets during the financial year, with sales up 32 per cent in NSW and 67 per cent in Auckland.
Empired also made some changes to its US operation, which it expects will lift results in 2018.
