Experts Discuss SIS Market "Shakeup": Rethinking Your Strategy for a Modern SIS
In a recent webinar hosted by ListEdTech, industry experts Charlie Moran (Moran Technology Consulting) and Justin Ménard (ListEdTech) offered one of the most candid and data-driven perspectives we’ve seen on the current state of the Student Information System (SIS) market. Their frank discussion, grounded in decades of analysis, made one thing abundantly clear: for many institutions, especially small and mid-sized colleges, the status quo is not sustainable.
As someone fortunate to learn from experts like Charlie and Justin—and working hands-on with schools facing these same challenges—I want to share a few reflections. For institutions exploring what’s next, especially those without massive IT teams or $10M ERP budgets, there are more viable paths forward than the legacy roadmaps suggest.
What the Experts Actually Said
The SIS Market Is Consolidating Fast. Ménard shared data showing 44% of U.S. higher ed institutions use an SIS that hasn't been updated in 10 years or more. Meanwhile, "many of these vendors are being acquired, or their products sunsetted, forcing institutions to consider costly migrations." Moran added, "We know that PowerCampus is going away. We know CAMS is going away... So there are fewer and fewer solutions."
The Anthology and Ellucian Shake-Up. Moran highlighted that Anthology recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with Ellucian reported to be the “stalking horse bidder." This is a huge shift, as Ménard pointed out. Ellucian already owns about 35-36% of the market; if this acquisition proceeds, a single vendor will control approximately 45% of the entire North American SIS market.
Cost and Complexity Are Outpacing Capacity. While Workday and Oracle are major players in the market, both experts noted that these systems are resource intensive. Moran put it simply: "There is no one-size-fits-all. But many of the newer options are expensive and require very mature IT organizations to support them."
Salesforce Isn’t Technically an SIS — But the Market Is Watching. This was the key insight for us. Moran was direct: “Salesforce doesn’t have an SIS."
He is 100% correct. Salesforce does not offer a native, out-of-the-box product that performs every function of a student information system.
But as he also noted, the real question is about fit: "What systems can you adopt that actually reflect how your institution wants to work?" This is where the platform ends and the partner begins. The gap isn't just the tech; it's the method.
Why This Matters Now
At Tondro, we’ve worked with several institutions under 10K enrolled students that were struggling with legacy platforms like CAMS and PowerCampus. We heard variations of the same themes: "We can't afford Oracle or Workday. We don't have time for an 18-month implementation. We don't want another system no one knows how to use."
That's when our team got clever and why we forged a new path.
Our Approach: A Distinction Without a Difference
Yes, Salesforce is a CRM. But by leveraging Education Cloud and Tondro’s proven 3-Pillar implementation framework, we have configured a full, end-to-end SIS that performs just like its 'purebred' legacy competitors.
Better, actually.
Since most schools already have a Salesforce license in some capacity, it leverages an investment they've already made in the platform. We've proven this model multiple times with very compelling results.
A smartly configured CRM vs. a purpose-built SIS platform becomes a distinction without a real difference. Our SIS clients (four and counting) get a single source of truth that manages the entire student lifecycle—from recruiting to student records, billing, and financial aid. They get real-time dashboards, not disjointed spreadsheets. They get workflow automation, not manual workarounds.
Implementation in under 10 months
Total cost under $800K (with some T&C that apply)
Modular rollout model with early wins, minimize disruption to workflows
Built on a no-code platform staff can actually use and manage
This isn’t a workaround; it’s a category transformation, and it’s delivering results. For San Francisco Bay University (SFBU), a school that lacked infrastructure to support growth, here are some early metrics:
80% reduction in registrar manual work
2,000% increase in domestic enrollment in under a year
40% fewer help desk tickets post-launch
~75% adoption among staff, goal of 100% adoption
This is only possible because we don't install software; we reimagine the foundation using our 3-Pillar Framework:
Process: Streamline and simplify before you digitize.
Data: Clean, audit-ready, and standardized from day one.
Culture: Prepare your team to adopt, adapt, and own the change.
So, what Should Small and Mid-Sized Schools Do?
If you’re feeling stuck, here’s what we recommend:
Take stock: What is your legacy SIS really costing you in time, errors, and frustration?
Can you say with confidence, we trust our data? If not, what opportunities are you missing?Be realistic: Can you afford a traditional SIS replacement—in time, money, and staff capacity?
Explore alternatives with an open mind: Just because Salesforce isn’t a "classic SIS" doesn’t mean it can’t do the job. We were told by the VP of Strategy at SBFU that they took the meeting to be polite. A healthy dose of skepticism is warranted; we get it.
Final Word
There’s no single answer for every college. But as the SIS market shifts and consolidates, the institutions that stay nimble—and reimagine what a modern system can do—will be the ones that thrive.
Salesforce-as-SIS isn’t an overnight silver bullet, but with the right implementation partner, it is a powerful, proven, and achievable foundation for growth and retention. We’ll be happy to show you how it works.
Resources:
Watch the SFBU Case Study Video
Read the SFBU Case Story
Request the detailed Salesforce-as-SIS Implementation Guide
Schedule a 60-minute SIS demo