Educate-WI is a state-approved educator preparation program that has helped thousands of professionals transition into teaching and leadership roles through flexible, cohort-based certification tracks. As demand continued to grow, so did the pressure on their internal systems. They needed an even more efficient way to manage student flow, course access, and payment processing – without disrupting the platform their team was already familiar with.
Leadership understood that technology would determine how far they could scale. However, a complete rebuild wasn’t the right move. They needed a partner who could enhance their existing system, preserve what was working, and prepare for long-term growth.
“We knew our systems had to evolve to support future growth, but we didn’t want to start from scratch or lose what was already working well. Swip Systems understood that immediately. Instead of forcing a rebuild, they helped us enhance, connect, and extend our existing platform so it could work the way we needed it to.”
— Linda Maitrejean, CEO, Educate-WI
The Challenge
Educate-WI had grown significantly, but its technology needed to be enhanced to keep up with the growth. Their existing developer had built a foundation that worked, but was no longer available. They needed someone who could keep up with the speed of program expansion and the demand for better digital experiences from students and instructors.
As enrollment increased, workflows needed to be strengthened. Student onboarding required manual steps and instructors had to jump between multiple platforms to manage coursework. Every new enrollment added more work – and more administrative tasks. Educate-WI didn’t want to scrap everything and start over, but they needed a partner who could strengthen what was already in place while preparing them for what was coming next.
The Solution: Strategic Enhancement Over Rebuild
Swip Systems stepped in to maintain and enhance their existing software while mapping out an upgrade path that made use of what was already working — a core philosophy of our Maintain & Modernize approach.
Swip Systems began by taking stock of what was already working. The team focused on strengthening the existing platform and adding the integrations that would help Educate-WI scale sustainably.
One of the first priorities was connecting the organization’s web portal to its Learning Management System (LMS). Swip developed a secure API that allowed the two systems to communicate seamlessly, giving students and instructors a unified experience with a single login. This integration made it easier to track progress, access materials, and keep everything in sync.
Next came the question of stability and future growth. Swip provided cloud infrastructure guidance to move Educate-WI’s application into a scalable, reliable environment – one that could grow as enrollment and program offerings expanded.
As the technology foundation strengthened, Swip worked with Educate-WI’s leadership to map the entire student enrollment journey. From first contact through registration and course completion, the team identified where manual processes and system gaps were causing bottlenecks. Automating payment processing eliminated unnecessary handoffs, allowing students to gain course access faster while reducing administrative overhead.
Swip also refined the user interface and overall experience to make navigation simpler for both students and instructors. The refreshed design helps to reduce support requests and improve the clarity of key workflows.
Finally, Swip helped Educate-WI look ahead. Together, they outlined a long-term software strategy that aligned with future program launches and licensing expansions. Each improvement was part of a broader plan, ensuring the system could continue to evolve instead of requiring another major overhaul in a few years.
The Impact
The day-to-day experience was improved. Students could log in and get everything they needed without logging into multiple systems. Instructors had a clear view of their courses and participants.
Behind the scenes, the Educate-WI team gained something even more valuable — confidence in their technology. With an even stronger foundation and a strategic plan in place, their platform now supports expansion without limiting it.
Considering a Similar Upgrade?
If you’ve invested years into your current system, you shouldn’t have to start over to grow. Swip Systems helps organizations modernize by enhancing and connecting what already works, saving time, protecting your investment, and moving you forward with confidence.
Let’s talk through your upgrade path. Whether you’re exploring enhancing your current systems, API integrations, or long-term software strategy, our team can help you define the best next steps.