Southern Cross University (SCU) has been on a steady path of modernisation, aiming to simplify financial operations, enhance security and make life easier for both staff and students. For more than seven years, Xetta has been part of that journey, supporting SCU through change, growth and ongoing digital transformation.
When SCU first adopted Xetta in 2018, the university was looking for a payment platform that could evolve with them. Since then, the relationship has grown into a partnership grounded in trust, open communication and a shared commitment to improving the experience for students and staff. As SCU’s transformation goals expanded, the university needed a way to keep its systems modern without placing additional strain on already stretched internal teams.
This became particularly clear as major upgrades approached. Large-scale system updates required time, specialist knowledge and careful coordination, all of which were difficult to deliver alongside BAU operations. As Rick Frkovic, Senior Manager of Financial Operations, explained, “Our Tech Services team is highly capable, but a Xetta upgrade involves a level of complexity and testing that extends beyond our current in‑house expertise and capacity.”
“Like most universities, our ITS and Finance teams face constant pressure to manage day-to-day operations. The greatest benefit of outsourcing the heavy lifting for our Xetta upgrade is the ability to schedule the project within a defined timeframe and have confidence it will be completed as planned. This approach mitigates the risk of delayed upgrades and future enhancements,” says Rick.
“By removing the challenge of coordinating resource availability across teams and juggling project tasks alongside daily responsibilities, we’ve gained a higher degree of certainty for future improvements to Southern Cross University’s payments ecosystem – enhancements that align directly with the University’s strategic objectives.”
Xetta’s Managed Upgrade service provided the support SCU needed. Instead of delaying updates or adding pressure to internal teams, SCU gained a guided, end-to-end upgrade process delivered by Xetta specialists who understood their technical environment and operational goals. Each upgrade was planned, executed and tested collaboratively, ensuring it aligned with university infrastructure and met all security and compliance requirements.
The effect was immediate. SCU moved onto newer versions of Xetta sooner than anticipated, gaining access to modern browser-based functionality, enhanced security features and more streamlined workflows. According to Rick, “The managed upgrade moved Southern Cross’s ability to deploy a modern version of Xetta ahead at least 18 months, if not two years.”
For SCU, these upgrades weren’t just technical milestones; they were the foundation for broader improvements across the university. As Rick put it, “Upgrading gives us the platform to launch enhancements. It opens the door for us to do more for students and staff right across the university.”
Security was a major driver behind SCU’s continued investment in modernising its payment environment. With evolving fraud threats and high compliance expectations, SCU needed confidence that its systems were secure by design. Xetta’s architecture removed the need for the university to handle card data directly, aligning naturally with SCU’s cybersecurity framework. As Rick noted, “We don’t have to worry about PCI DSS compliance or storing card details. Xetta handles that. It aligns with all our cybersecurity requirements by default.”
By taking the complexity of upgrades off SCU’s plate, Xetta freed up staff to focus on areas of higher value: supporting students, refining processes and progressing digital transformation initiatives. Darryl Anderson, Customer Success Manager at Xetta described this approach best: “Our job is to perform the detailed technical analysis and testing to free up SCU to focus on student experience and future growth”
The predictability and smoothness of each upgrade cycle have given SCU renewed confidence in its ability to stay current. With upgrades delivered reliably and on schedule, SCU can plan its roadmap with greater certainty and far less operational risk. As Rick shared, “For us, it’s a smart investment. The cost of not upgrading is far greater. We get value for money every time.”
After more than seven years of working together, SCU continues to see Xetta as a dependable part of its digital evolution. Looking ahead, Rick summarised their confidence simply: “We know that when the next upgrade comes, we’re doing it with Xetta.”
SCU’s experience reflects the reality for many institutions: modernisation requires momentum, and momentum requires support. With Xetta handling the complexity in the background, universities like SCU can move forward with clarity and confidence, focusing on delivering the best possible experience for their communities.
Get in touch with our friendly team to chat about your managed upgrade.
