The problems we get called in to solve.
Every organisation is different, but the underlying problems repeat: systems that do not connect, reporting done by hand, security nobody has assessed, and IT that consumes more attention than it should. Here is how those engagements typically run and what changes as a result.
Cutting month-end reporting from nine days to two
Bringing a paper-based public service online, securely
From constant IT firefighting to predictable operations
Connecting branches, stock and the online store
Making clinical systems dependable across multiple sites
Automating donor reporting for a field programme
Cutting month-end reporting from nine days to two
The challenge
A multi-branch lending institution was producing management accounts by exporting data from its core banking platform, its loan origination system and two spreadsheets, then reconciling them by hand. Month-end consumed most of a five-person finance team for the better part of two weeks, and the board routinely made decisions on figures that were already three weeks old.
What we did
- Mapped every data source, definition and manual step in the existing month-end process
- Built an integration layer connecting the core system, the origination platform and the general ledger
- Agreed a single definition for each reported measure with finance and operations together
- Delivered an automated reporting pack and a live dashboard for the executive team
- Trained the finance team to extend the reporting themselves
- Month-end close reduced from around nine working days to two
- Manual reconciliation between systems removed entirely
- Board pack available on the second working day rather than the third week
- Finance team time redirected to analysis and forecasting
“The number we argue about now is the forecast, not last month actuals. That is a much better argument to be having.”
- Applications accepted online, removing the need for applicants to travel to submit
- Every action on a record logged and attributable for audit purposes
- Status enquiries largely handled by self-service rather than by telephone
- Processing capacity increased without additional headcount
“Our officers were sceptical at the start. What changed their minds was that the system matched how the work is really done, including the awkward cases.”
Bringing a paper-based public service online, securely
The challenge
A public body was processing applications entirely on paper. Applicants travelled to a single office, forms were filed physically, and status enquiries were answered by telephone if at all. Leadership wanted a digital service but had legitimate concerns about records management, audit trails and the security of citizen data.
What we did
- Ran discovery with front-line officers to map the process as it actually operated, exceptions included
- Designed an application portal with document upload, status tracking and automated acknowledgements
- Built role-based access control, full audit logging and retention rules into the design from the start
- Commissioned independent security testing before go-live and remediated the findings
- Delivered training, documentation and a handover pack so internal staff could operate the system
From constant IT firefighting to predictable operations
The challenge
A growing professional services firm had no internal IT function. Support was called in reactively whenever something broke, patching was inconsistent, and backups were configured but had never been tested. Fee-earning partners were losing billable hours to IT problems, and a major client had begun asking security questions the firm could not answer.
What we did
- Completed a full audit of infrastructure, endpoints, licensing and security posture
- Moved the firm to a managed support arrangement with agreed response targets
- Implemented managed patching, endpoint detection and multi-factor authentication
- Rebuilt the backup regime and ran a full restore test to prove recoverability
- Delivered staff security awareness training and produced the documentation the client required
- Recurring incidents substantially reduced through proactive patching and monitoring
- A tested, evidenced recovery position rather than an assumed one
- Security questionnaire from the client completed and accepted
- IT costs moved from unpredictable ad-hoc invoices to a fixed monthly fee
“We stopped thinking about IT, which is exactly what we were paying for.”
- Overselling on the online store substantially reduced
- Stock position visible across all locations from one place
- Daily reconciliation automated instead of assembled manually each week
- Branch performance comparable on a like-for-like basis for the first time
“We can finally see the whole business in one place, which changes the conversations we have about where to invest.”
Connecting branches, stock and the online store
The challenge
A multi-branch retailer had grown to several locations plus an online storefront. Each branch held its own stock records, the e-commerce platform maintained a separate catalogue, and the accounting system was reconciled manually. Overselling online was common and stock counts rarely matched the ledger.
What we did
- Consolidated branch systems onto a shared cloud-hosted platform with reliable connectivity
- Integrated point of sale, stock, e-commerce and accounting so inventory updated in near real time
- Automated daily reconciliation between sales channels and the general ledger
- Introduced consolidated reporting across branches and channels for the leadership team
Making clinical systems dependable across multiple sites
The challenge
A healthcare provider operating several facilities was experiencing regular connectivity failures that left clinicians unable to reach patient records. Backup arrangements varied by site, and there was no tested plan for what would happen if a primary system was lost.
What we did
- Redesigned site connectivity with resilient links and automatic failover
- Standardised infrastructure and backup arrangements across all locations
- Implemented monitoring with alerting to a 24/7 support team
- Documented and rehearsed a recovery plan with defined recovery objectives
- Reviewed access control against clinical role requirements
- Connectivity failures no longer interrupt access to patient records
- Consistent, monitored backup across every site with tested restores
- A rehearsed recovery plan with agreed and measured objectives
- Access to records aligned to clinical role rather than inherited over time
“Clinicians should not have to think about whether the system will be there. Now they do not.”
- Reporting cycle effort reduced from days to hours
- Data validated at source rather than corrected afterwards
- One dataset serving several different donor reporting formats
- Programme staff time returned to programme delivery
“The reporting used to dictate our calendar. Now it is something that happens in the background.”
Automating donor reporting for a field programme
The challenge
A donor-funded programme collected field data on paper and in spreadsheets, then spent several days each reporting cycle consolidating it into the formats different donors required. Errors were common, deadlines were tight, and programme staff were spending more time on reporting than on the programme.
What we did
- Introduced structured mobile data collection that works offline and syncs when connectivity returns
- Built a central data store with validation rules applied at the point of entry
- Automated production of each donor reporting format from the same underlying data
- Added a programme dashboard for internal monitoring between reporting cycles
Recognise your own situation?
If one of these sounds close to what you are dealing with, the fastest way forward is a conversation. We will tell you what we would do about it, how long it would take and roughly what it would cost.
Let us talk about what your technology should be doing for you.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to what you are dealing with, give you a straight assessment, and set out your options, whether or not you end up working with us.