15 man-days saved

annually across the Global Office and 33 member schools.

80% faster delivery

process reduced from 1 week or more to just 1 to 2 days.

3-week deployment

rapid API integration into existing systems.

Net-zero impact

total elimination of international shipping and paper waste.

Company Overview

Founded in 1988, CEMS is a global alliance of leading business schools, multinational companies, and NGOs. They deliver the world-renowned CEMS Master in Management (MIM). With 33 member schools across five continents and over 1,100 students from 78 nationalities, CEMS is a benchmark for academic excellence and responsible leadership.

Story Snapshot

Faced with a complex, paper-based diploma process involving multiple stakeholders across the globe, CEMS needed to modernize its certification workflow. By implementing BCdiploma, the organization transitioned to a fully digital, automated system, significantly reducing processing time, operational workload, and environmental impact while improving the overall experience for both staff and graduates.

Higher education

16 HQ employees (Network of 33 schools)

Process automation

The Challenge

Global process fragmentation: CEMS faced a highly manual workflow where every diploma required two physical copies: printed, stamped, and mailed across 33 global institutions. This created massive coordination bottlenecks.
Operational risks and rising costs: the reliance on physical shipping led to frequent transit delays and damaged documents. High administrative overhead and international courier fees significantly increased the cost per graduate.
Scaling limitations: with 1,100+ students, the manual print and archive system was impossible to scale efficiently. It diverted valuable resources from core educational missions.
Sustainability gap: the carbon footprint of global logistics was increasingly misaligned with the commitment of CEMS to responsible leadership and environmental impact.

The Solution

CEMS implemented BCdiploma to transition from manual handling to a fully automated, API-driven credential system.

Seamless API integration: the system was fully integrated into the CEMS infrastructure in just three weeks, enabling automated triggers for diploma issuance.
Branded digital delivery: diplomas are sent directly from the CEMS email domain to ensure brand consistency, high deliverability, and trust.
Hybrid workflow flexibility: while the API handles bulk automation, the admin interface allows for manual issuance when specific adjustments are needed.
Automated archiving: digital copies of all credentials are automatically retrieved via API and stored, eliminating the need for manual scanning or physical filing.

The Results

Radical efficiency gains

The automation of the workflow significantly lightened the administrative load:

Centralized savings: 7 full man-days saved at the CEMS Global Office.
Network-wide impact: approximately 2 hours saved per member school, totaling 8 additional man-days across the 33 institutions.
Total time saved: 15 man-days per year reallocated to high-value tasks.

Modernized graduate experience

The 1,100+ annual graduates now receive their credentials in a secure, verifiable digital format that can be shared instantly on LinkedIn or with recruiters. Graduate satisfaction has remained high, reflecting the demand for modern, digital-first academic services.

Sustainability and security

By removing the need for physical transport and paper, CEMS has significantly lowered its carbon footprint. Furthermore, the blockchain-based technology of BCdiploma ensures that every diploma is tamper-proof and instantly verifiable by third parties worldwide.