de Novo Archives - de Novo Solutions

de Novo Solutions' proven 4-dimensional managed service strategy to help Local Government clients maximise ROI and unlock the full potential of cloud

By Richard Twelvetrees, Value & Experience Director, de Novo Solutions

Today, many Local Governments continue investing in cloud applications and managed services for essential processes like Financial Management (ERP/EPM) and People Management (HCM).

Maintaining transformation momentum while demonstrating genuine value realisation is challenging. How full is your ‘Value Realisation Glass’? Recent media reports have highlighted ‘suboptimal’ cloud implementations in the public sector; however, these complex stories aren’t often what they seem. Articles like this should present alternative strategies and improvement approaches for discussion.

The potential gap between projected value and actual value realisation may indicate an organisation is struggling to extract the maximum from its investment.

See:
Three new mandates for capturing a digital transformation’s full value

June 15, 2022 | Survey

Failing to achieve the anticipated value and transformational outcome goals can have widespread consequences. In my opinion, there are typically three main impact areas: Continuing Operational Inefficiency, User Dissatisfaction and Low Organisational Morale, and Financial and Strategic Setbacks.

Unlike traditional on-premise solutions, cloud means continuous service improvements through regular vendor updates. However, the update cadence requires a re-evaluation of how to calculate and monitor value, considering the regular stream of innovation and resulting business changes.

The actual value of a service update ebbs and flows and is unique to each organisation’s circumstances, cloud configuration, transformation maturity, and user expectations.

To help measure ongoing value realisation, de Novo Solutions has developed Value as a Service™ (VaaS™) – the new standard in Oracle Cloud managed services.

As a pioneering cloud implementation and managed service delivery organisation, de Novo brings proven expertise and a strong reputation to the market. With VaaS™, we have crafted a new service that is transforming the value equation.

VaaS™ shifts the value realisation narrative from a static ROI (Return On Investment) measure to a dynamic, on-going client centric value conversation.

The VaaS™ 4-dimension value measurement framework, inspired by Design Thinking, covers cognitive, strategic, and practical human experiences, encouraging clients to explore value. Regular value calibration identifies strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, fostering action and collaboration throughout the digital transformational journey.

DIMENSION 1

OPTIMISATION

Exploring knowledge share, recommendations, advice and contextual guidance to optimise performance

DIMENSION 2

EFFICIENCY

Streamlining and automating services to reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while maximising release capabilities

DIMENSION 3

ADOPTION

Analysing service engagement and performance commentary to establish improved user experiences that make a difference

DIMENSION 4

INNOVATION

Assessing and planning the potential use of new features, exploring improvements and innovations to assist the client’s journey

VaaS™ ‘Value Action Reports (VAR*)’ are generated quarterly. Clients often present these reports at internal Steering or Project Governance meetings helping stakeholders to understand the service trajectory and value. Over time VAR outputs create a unique, personalised journal for each client, reflecting their digital transformation vision, objectives and success criteria.

VaaS™ Module Innovation Tracker

*VAR – It should be noted de Novo Solutions VAR should not be confused with the football VAR, [I leave the reader to fill in the appropriate witticism].

To learn more about Value Realisation and Value as a Service™ join our webinar on 9th October 2024 at 12 noon for an in-depth discussion. For more details and to register, please contact michelle.clelland@de-novo-solutions.com.

Ready to Explore VaaS™?

For a conversation on this article or on Value as a Service™ please do not hesitate to contact us.

Why are mergers happening more often?

Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) increasingly view mergers as avenues to develop growth and excellence. Achieving a smooth transition and unification is essential for centralised back-office services, and automated digital-first transformation is the future. Embracing technology enables a trust to navigate the complexities of mergers more effectively, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and advancing the journey to becoming a High-Quality Trust.

Powering mergers with digital automation

Trusts encounter multiple complex challenges during mergers, including disparate, duplicated systems, communication alignment, and slow disconnected data silos. A digital transformation provides tools and frameworks to overcome these hurdles. Adopting cloud technology means processes and systems are automated, streamlining stakeholder involvement and expediting the value of data across the trust. The growth of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) enhances operational efficiency, exception analysis with data-driven decision-making as emerging technologies are embraced.

Mergers aim to:

Improve educational standards

Deliver economies of scale

Develop innovation and evolution

Foster collaboration and unity

Balance flexibility and autonomy

Accelerate growth ambitions

Optimising back-office efficiency and innovation

Well-run centralised back-office support services are vital to any trust’s reputation and performance. Post-merger by consolidating and reducing low-value administrative functions with automation on a unified platform, streamlined processes will result, eliminate duplication, and freeing time to focus on high-value strategic activities. Cloud agility and responsiveness will enable a trust to adapt more quickly and cascade a culture of continuous improvement across operations.

Measuring success and improvement

Trustees that support a MAT bring valuable external perspectives and objectivity. Assisting with prioritising new methods and innovations, balancing contexts, and value are important considerations. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) provide useful benchmarks for discussion, highlighting the importance of due diligence and feedback on realignment decisions to drive value and growth savings.

How does your trust measure up?

Success rate: 70-90%

70-90% of mergers fail to meet their intended objectives, highlighting why due diligence and strategic re-alignment planning is essential

Synergy realisation: 20-30%

20-30% of mergers achieve the anticipated synergies, underscoring that post-merger integration and commitment is essential to drive value and growth savings

Employee retention: 30%

30% of employees voluntarily resign within 365 days following a merger, highlighting importance of change management, communication, and cultural integration to retain talent

In summary

Remaining flexible and open is important in post-merger life. It is the people and culture that help make a trust. People and people management are just as essential as the balance sheet when aspiring to unlock the full post-merger potential. It will take planning, focus, give and take, and understanding to recognise the benefits and value outcomes associated with a merger in order to provide better educational outcomes for all.

As trusts embark on their merger journeys, we at de Novo Solutions stand ready to partner with organisations on their digital transformation journey, driving innovation, efficiency, and success every step of the way.

Better empowering and enabling today's Chief Financial Operating Officer (CFOO)

Navigating today’s complex Multi Academy Trust (MAT) Back-Office operation is a key challenge for a Chief Financial Operating Officer (CFOO). With rocks and reefs waiting to catch out the business service support team that manage the Trust’s Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Payroll and Reporting activities.

The continuing emergence of Trust CFOO underlines the important connection between finance and operations. A properly equipped and empowered CFOO will better support the C-Level with one eye on the Trust’s balance sheet and the other on Back-Office operational performance.

Trust challenges continually evolve in shape and placement meaning that an effective radar warning system is needed to navigate a safe passage to High Quality Trust.

Our MAT clients are circumnavigating challenges such as:

A Trust often experiences ‘choppier waters’ with Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activities – growth pains to be overcome to prevent unnecessary risk and poor performance. Multiple legacy overlapping business applications left as shipwrecked data silos or islands strewn across the Trust will cause danger if left unsecured, unmarked, and unmanaged.

Our Trust clients typically want to address major M&A headaches – looking for lifeboats to overcome:

Post M&A consolidation is the essential ‘SOS lifejacket’. Centralising processes, rationalising terms, suppliers, and systems, while developing new scalable and consistent ways of working.

Our digital experts are MAT Pilots and alongside the CFOO strengthen the Trust ‘bridge’ to be better equipped for all weather conditions.

A better-informed Trust C-Level Team will anticipate and predict conditions as opposed to just responding to them, determining the best course ahead to achieve the Trust’s future vision.

Harnessing modular and integrated Oracle and ServiceNow Cloud technologies – for the Back-Office will mean Trust automation and efficiency savings. Improving Trust transparency, control, and continuous innovation will deliver better educational outcomes benefiting the Trust, community, and pupils alike impacting:

Finance

Revolutionising Trust finance execution with streamlined solutions for budgeting, reporting, and forecasting reducing administration for improved strategic MAT decisioning

Procurement

Collaborative procurement initiatives to leverage economies of scale within MAT by pooling resources and negotiating bulk contracts achieving significant cost savings across the Trust

Human Resources

Improving people and talent management strategies to ensure all Trust employees are attracted, developed and retained contributing to deliver inspiring education for pupils

Payroll

Supporting sophisticated payroll eligibility rules and payroll processing frequencies with detailed cost control management and Trust compensation reporting and modelling analysis tools

Reporting

Game-changing analytics with deep insights into financial performance, operational effectiveness using predictions to anticipate future trends, areas for improvement, and mitigate risk

So, if you are charged with transforming your Trust’s Back-Office future and this article has stimulated your ambitions for financial and people management activities – please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Let us navigate your success as experts in MAT focused Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow digital Back-Office transformations.

LANGSTONE, South Wales — 25th March 2024 — de Novo Solutions, a leading Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow digital transformation consultancy based in Langstone, South Wales, has announced the relocation and expansion of its Guildford satellite office premises to 1 Bell Court on Leapale Lane. The move to this prime central-office location reflects de Novo’s commitment to growth and innovation following several recent contract wins.

Launched in 2021, de Novo Solutions is a specialist SME digital technology consultancy which has honed a niche in the experience economy by ‘re-imagining the world of work’ through the delivery of data driven personalised experiences over standardised business processes using Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow technologies.

The company has secured the top floor of 1 Bell Court through a 5-year lease, encompassing 2,000 square feet of office space, comprising Board room, offices and break-out areas designed and reflecting the company’s reputation for creativity and innovation in design. This strategic move represents positions de Novo for continued success as it builds it delivery capability across the UK, attracting both local talent and customers in the process.

Tara Dewar, Chief Operating Officer, de Novo Solutions, said, “We have had a very strong year with record turnover alongside significant investments in our office infrastructure. The recent addition of our first overseas development centre in Chennai, India and now the relocation to 1 Bell Court in Guildford are crucial steps in achieving our growth objectives. The new office perfectly aligns with de Novo’s brand and values as a modern, inclusive, ambitious, and collaborative tech consultancy and we are excited to be writing this new chapter in the de Novo story.”

To accommodate current and future growth, de Novo Solutions is now moving its Guildford-based satellite office from Parallel House into a vast 2,000 sqft space to establish a true tech hub in the South-East of England.

Headquartered in Langstone, South Wales, de Novo Solutions boasts extensive experience in delivering innovation and generating value through tech and is the only SME digital consultancy to combine expertise in both Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow technologies.

Media Contact
Hannah Haffield
hhaffield@makemorenoise.co.uk
0121 594 0712 / 07939 468 567

LANGSTONE, South Wales — 11th January 2024 — Leading Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow digital transformation consultancy, de Novo Solutions, has unveiled the launch of its new development centre in Chennai, India. This strategic move aligns with the company’s unwavering commitment to growth and innovation, positioning the new centre as an innovation hub driving the development of its new industry cloud solutions and increasing its delivery and support capability.

The fast-growing Welsh consultancy, committed to ‘re-imagining the world of work’ has a proven track record in leveraging emerging technologies and analytics to deliver data-driven personalised experiences over standardised business processes. With the launch of the new development centre, de Novo Solutions aims to ensure the consistent development of its industry cloud solutions, underpinned by a growing and experienced workforce with advanced capabilities in technological innovation.

Since its official launch in 2021, the fast-growing consultancy has successfully developed and introduced a range of new solutions to market. This includes its next generation managed services offering, ‘Value as a Service™’ [VaaS™] for Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow applications. Additionally, the company has introduced its innovative industry cloud solutions, Odyssea™, driven by Oracle Cloud and designed to meet the needs of a range of sectors such as Local, Central Government and Education Sector – Multi-Academy Trusts.

This news comes after an exciting year of growth for de Novo Solutions, having established itself as one of the UK’s fastest-growing technology companies by doubling revenues to £5 million, with contracted projects exceeding £10 million.

Tim Warner, Founder and Chairman of de Novo Solutions, said: “We are incredibly excited to unveil the launch of our new development centre in Chennai, India. Not only will this strategic move enable us to drive continued growth and allow us to scale internationally, but more importantly, reinforces our commitment to upholding high standards of quality and excellence. This investment not only increases our delivery capability allowing us to scale but also ensures that we continue to provide our customers with cutting-edge solutions, helping them stay ahead in their respective industries by leveraging Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow technology platforms”.

Mark Sweeny, Founder and Chief Executive of de Novo Solutions, confirmed: “The market has enthusiastically embraced our differentiated service offerings and consumer demand for our services is accelerating, hence our need to expand and compliment the investments we are continuing to make in South Wales. India will enable us to double again in size over the next 12 months and allow us to accelerate our investments in our service propositions. It also positions us to expand internationally over time. The team we have recruited in India are incredibly talented and we are no doubt they will support us in achieving our new growth objectives for 2024 and beyond”.

Headquartered in Langstone, Wales, de Novo Solutions now employs a team of over 50 business and technical digital transformation specialists, experiencing a 50 % growth in headcount over the last 12 months.

Media Contact
Hannah Haffield
hhaffield@makemorenoise.co.uk
0121 594 0712 / 07939 468 567

de Novo Solutions' proven 4-dimensional managed service strategy to help Local Government clients maximise ROI and unlock the full potential of cloud

OPTIMISATION

EFFICIENCY

ADOPTION

INNOVATION

VaaS™ Module Innovation Tracker

Ready to Explore VaaS™?

For a conversation on this article or on Value as a Service™ please do not hesitate to contact us.

Why are mergers happening more often?

Powering mergers with digital automation

Mergers aim to:

Optimising back-office efficiency and innovation

Measuring success and improvement

How does your trust measure up?

Success rate: 70-90%

Synergy realisation: 20-30%

Employee retention: 30%

In summary

Better empowering and enabling today's Chief Financial Operating Officer (CFOO)

Our MAT clients are circumnavigating challenges such as:

Finance

Procurement

Human Resources

Payroll

Reporting

Ready to Get Started?

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