Rapid Growth

Having grown massively both organically and by acquisition, this large media conglomerate recognised the opportunity for business improvement and savings to be realised from a shared services approach. A substantial IT innovation project had been established right across the scope of technology for the business. In-house and office (managed) print was one of eight categories targeted.

Immediate action

An audit was commissioned to develop a meaningful understanding of the scale of the opportunity.  The project required collection and analysis of data from many tens of companies and locations in the UK, US and Germany, as well as detail-gathering on the underlying contractual and commercial position across hundreds of individual local agreements.

Tangible results

The assessment phase was delivered to budget on an aggressive timeline, revealing a $1m+ annual savings opportunity.  We went on to commission and manage an expanded assessment, covering sites in a further fifteen US cities.  As a result of the success of the initial phases, we were retained to project manage the supplier selection process in the US, UK and Germany, together with subsequent contract negotiations.

Solution Strengths

Acert was engaged because of our relevant competencies including:

• Deep knowledge of the managed print market, solutions and delivery models;
• Global supply-chain co-ordination and solutions architecture experience
• Multi-faceted project management across the technical, information-gathering, solution architecture and market entry elements of the programme
• Rapid engagement and project onboarding capability

Ability to bring in additional associates and resources for short-term requirements

Business Impact

The assessment phase covering c.30,000 staff and c.140m pages per annum was completed in under five months.  Market entry and supplier shortlisting for the three territories followed quickly, with new contract development and negotiation over the following five months.