Several years ago, UniWell Laboratories engaged an implementation partner to replace its legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) software with a powerful, next-generation business management solution that was an ideal fit for its needs. But lacking an internal champion and a strategic plan, the implementation didn’t take advantage of the new software’s powerful capabilities. In fact, UniWell’s initiative initially didn’t get off the ground at all.

Recent research conducted by McKinsey shows that approximately 70 percent of business transformations do not reach the goals set by the organization. The research identified several reasons for this phenomenon, including a need for data-based planning, problems in the transformation execution itself, and a lack of relevant internal experience that can be found in an executive such as a seasoned chief information officer (CIO).

“The CIO is focused on driving and growing the business through transformation—they’re the transformation executive, essentially. But many mid-market organizations don’t have anyone in that seat,” says Eric Sluss, a Chief Information Officer with Net at Work’s Fractional CIO & Advisory group. “The organizations that succeed in their transformations, those organizations invest in the expertise needed for their transformations —whether full-time or part-time—to help plan and actually bring their organization through the journey.”

Defining a fractional Chief Information Officer

Sluss and his team provide fractional CIO (fCIO) resources that help organizations plan and execute digital transformations. These fCIOs are change agents focused on aligning technology strategy with business objectives, developing tactical execution plans, and executing the plans. Their services are tailored to the needs of each organization, and can include developing strategic plans, turning around poor performing projects, building the future IT operating model, and providing software and vendor selection services, and more.

When UniWell decided to re-implement their new ERP, they brought in a Net at Work CIO to help manage the project from every angle. When completed, the re-implementation helped optimize the company’s manufacturing, supply chain, and financial reporting processes.

A shift in focus yields tangible benefits

UniWell’s chief financial officer, Bryan Polozola, says that Net at Work has helped UniWell move from being a purely tactical company to a strategic company. “Tactical companies tend to stay focused on fixing the problems that got them in trouble yesterday,” he explains. “Strategic companies focus on predicting tomorrow’s problems and finding ways to prevent them.”

The company’s fCIO advisory services from Net at Work were tailored to their needs, and included industry best-practices, change management, and deep operational insights. Today, UniWell is realizing benefits from their transformation, including: 

• Achieving 14% year-over-year growth
• Providing nearly instantaneous MRP reporting
• Leading to better pricing and terms with new supply chain insights.
• Supporting proactive workflows with automated alerts from their ERP

Other benefits of working with an fCIO can include:

• Increased efficiency: Improve efficiency by streamlining operations and processes.
• Enhanced security: Manage and improve the organization’s security and compliance to meet best practices, standards, and industry regulations.
• Better decision-making: Make better decisions by leveraging technology, data analysis, and strategic insights to inform and enhance strategies and operations.
• Better program and project outcomes: Deliver better employee experiences by creating change management initiatives to guide employees through the transformation’s impacts.
• Vendor and technology team management: Better manage technology vendors and services along with developing the internal IT organization.

UniWell is now poised for continued growth, and Polozola credits their relationship with Net at Work’s Fractional CIO & Advisory group with much of the success. Polozola explains, “[Our new ERP] is capable of so much, but those capabilities are hidden without experts highlighting it and putting it to work. That’s what Net at Work does. Through their understanding of our business…and technology as a whole, our Fractional CIO is definitely delivering a return on our investment.”

Contact us and we will have a Fractional CIO reach out, today!