Driving Business Transformation
“The only constant in life is change” – Heraclitus
Everyone must have heard this once or twice…
From supply chain disruptions to economic recessions, and even a fundamental shift in how we perceive the working day, business have had to navigate an ever-changing environment. In the UK business landscape has undergone significant transformation over the past five years, facing a series of macroeconomic challenges that have forced companies to adapt and reframe their operations.
A recent study conducted by The Manufacturer [1] in April 2024 highlighted a notable trend: 69% of UK supply chain companies intend to relocate all or most of their suppliers closer to home in the coming year. This shift reflects a broader movement towards resilience and adaptability in the face of global uncertainties.
Embracing change is the new business imperative, in today’s rapidly evolving market the business landscape, the ability to change and adapt has become a critical factor in achieving long-term success. The key challenge for all businesses now lies not simply in coping with change, but in developing a framework that actively embraces it.
This involves reconsidering both the economic climate and the accompanying emotional landscape that affects workforce morale and productivity. By focusing on these areas, business can create a culture of adaptability that turns change from a threat into an opportunity. This shift in mindset and strategy is essential for navigating the uncertainties of the modern business world and maintaining a competitive edge.
According to Harvard Business Review [2], business transformation is a broad term that describes the process of making significant changes to a business’s systems, processes, people, and technology. The goal is to create a more efficient and agile organisation that can better meet the needs of the future.
While the terms ‘change’ and ‘transformation’ are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings: change is about improving a specific aspect of a business, but transformation is about reinventing how an organisation does business, the modification of long-term behaviours and preparing and adapting for the future. Transformation has been the buzzword for how organisations make the right moves to achieve their full potential.
Some key elements for a successful business transformation are:
Clear Strategic Vision and Strong Leadership
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Data-Driven Decision Making
Technology Integration
Change Management and Employee Engagement
Delivering a transformation project is complex, especially aligning all the elements, but the key is for the leadership to be human-cantered. To support this, shared vision of success will alleviate some emotional burden that difficult transformations carry. According to McKinsey Global Survey [3], three core actions are especially predictive of transformations that capture the most value:
Using an objective fact base to identify opportunities of improvement
Communicating a compelling reason for why a transformation is necessary
Matching the company’s best talent to its most crucial initiatives
Having worked in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, I have gained invaluable insights into efficiency and innovation from these industries, which are at the forefront of technology and operational excellence. I have matched some of my experiences and lessons learnt to the key elements of Business Transformation.
One of the key lessons from my time at McLaren Automotive and Brompton Bicycles is the power of cross-functional collaboration. In complex projects, such as developing logistics solutions for the Ultimate Series Vehicles (such as Speedtail) or diversifying product portfolio with new colour variations or finishes, I have observed that success hinges on the seamless integration of insights from various departments. This also allows for a better holistic view of both the implementation and impact.
The second is data-driven decisions making. At Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC), I led a standard costing improvement project which highlighted the importance of data. Worked with the finance team to remodel standard costs and provide structure for our operations team to map production processes, and therefore create a foundation for better-informed pricing strategies and commercial initiatives.
Technology integration is essential in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, whether implementing a full part traceability system, developing a hybrid vehicle production strategy, or introducing new model year changes. By ensuring that updates to operational procedures are accessible and free of ambiguity, organisations can facilitate smoother transitions. Embracing cutting-edge technologies can significantly boost operational efficiency and enhance product quality.
In fast-paced environments, agile project management principles proved invaluable. The ability to adapt quickly to the changing market demands and internal constraints is crucial for successful business transformation.
The importance of sustainable supply chain optimisation should not be underestimated. As a packaging engineer, I developed cost-effective and appropriate packaging solutions worldwide, which improved efficiency and contributed to the company’s sustainability goals. In my role as EMEA Business Transformation Lead, I spearheaded the 3PL Improvement Programme, where the introduction of a double decker not only reduced the number of parts damaged, thereby decreasing wate, but also minimised the number of trucks required to move product from the manufacturing site to the warehouse.
Perhaps the most critical lesson from my career spans across all roles, the importance of effective change management and stakeholder engagement. Success is dependent on bringing people along on the transformation journey.
The lessons described above have an applicability that extends far beyond these domains and are universally valuable. By understanding they key principles behind successful transformations and adapting them to specific industry needs, companies across all sectors can drive meaningful change, increase operational efficiency, and foster a culture of innovation and adaptability.
By embracing these lessons and applying them across my career, I look to continue facilitating organisations foster a culture of creativity and resilience, and ultimately deliver meaningful change sand sustainable business value.
The combination of my knowledge, skills and expertise, with proven methodologies in project management, data analysis, and strategic planning, I look to continue working with organisations to drive meaningful change and deliver tangible business value.
Words by Tania Herrera-Lasso Regás
Edited by Connor Ovenstone
