Major glitch in Matrix as UK government projects watchdog rates shared services cluster red

Summary

public sector Major glitch in Matrix as UK government projects watchdog rates shared services cluster red Nine-department ERP overhaul judged unachievable without urgent action The UK government has admitted that two major planks of its multibillion-pound shared services strategy are in serious trouble. Matrix, a project that involves moving nine government departments to shared ERP and HR systems, has been rated red by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), which monitors the planning and delivery of major government projects.This rating means the project has "major issues" with its schedule, budget, quality, or delivery of benefits, and the problems "do not appear to be manageable or resolvable" at this stage. Matrix is just one of five clusters the government is betting will save £4.3 billion by migrating a total of 17 departments and 300 arms'-length bodies onto shared tech platforms. The NISTA report for fiscal 2025-26 says the rating reflects "a number of material issues" identified during project planning. In 2024, Matrix awarded Workday a contract for SaaS finance and HR software and Cognizant a system integration deal with a combined value of £144.3 million. Matrix was scheduled to begin going live in May 2026, but experienced delays. In March, the Matrix Programme Board met "to consider the case for re-baselining the programme, including the development of a rectification plan and the consideration of several planning scenarios.""Replanning is intended to establish a more realistic, credible, and achievable forward plan in response to ongoing delivery challenges. Current emerging analysis indicates a delay of 3-6 months, which would move the Phase 1 user go‑live to late 2026," the NISTA report says. Although "system issues have now been resolved," the "single biggest risk to this is departments being unable to find functional subject matter expert capacity to undertake the high level of testing they have identified as bei...