Blog v2 - Searchlight Consulting

Understanding and Managing IT Risks, Costs and Opportunities during M&A Part 3: IT Opportunity Valuation

When you have performed a risk assessment and established a view of the cost components to acquire, run and manage an organisation. It will then be key to identify the areas of opportunity to increase the value of the acquisition by uncovering and unlocking additional value through exploiting the IT assets more smartly. Part 3:

Understanding and Managing IT Risks, Costs and Opportunities during M&A Part 2: IT Cost Analysis

Once an IT Risk Assessment has investigated and quantified the potential IT risks it is key to assess the IT costs associated with an M&A event with an organisation, ensuring an ‘eye’ remains on the potential risks and associated warranties that may be required should critical risks materialise. Part 2: IT Cost Analysis IT costs

Guide to Mergers & Acquisitions Part 3: Optimise & Transition

After you have redesigned and transformed the acquired company, you may believe you have completed your efforts to maximise value from your acquisition. However, there are still two stages remaining to reach the best return on your investment: Optimisation and Transition. Part 3: Delivery: Optimise & Transition Your design and transformation activity will have put

Guide to Mergers & Acquisitions Part 2: Identify & Assess

Once you have identified and assessed the opportunity for M&A, and believe it is worth pursuing, it is time to envisage and quantify the actual benefits you can achieve through acquiring the company. It is unlikely that just taking over the company and letting it operate the same way will maximise the potential return. So,

Guide to Mergers & Acquisitions Part 1: Identify & Assess;

Corporate mergers and acquisitions are a vital part of keeping our economy vibrant. They do this by building greater value through better leadership, management and releasing untapped potential through focused investment. However, according to the Harvard Business Review: “Companies spend more than $2 trillion on acquisitions every year, yet the M&A failure rate is between

Driving an effective data transformation

At Searchlight Consulting, we provide guidance in aligning business, digital, application and technology strategy delivery approach, and management of portfolio programmes. Ultimately, helping businesses to upgrade their operational and digital capabilities to better serve their clients. Typically, with data transformation at the core of programmes and projects. Here are some key tips and insights we

Your Journey to the Cloud – Part 3: Optimisation & Improvement

In Part 1 of the “Your Journey to the Cloud” guide, we covered Cloud Assessment & Planning. In Part 2, we covered Cloud Transformation & Implementation. This final part covers ongoing Optimisation & Improvement. Cloud Optimisation & Improvement Having delivered your new cloud capability, it is time to embed and build on your achievements so

Understanding and Managing IT Risks, Costs and Opportunities During M&A Part 1: IT Risk Assessment

Understanding and Managing IT risks, costs, and opportunities during M&A, is a follow-on series of blogs, from Searchlight’s Guide to M&A, which set out how to maximise your chances of success in M&A. Searchlight’s – Understanding & Managing M&A Risks, Costs & Opportunities We at Searchlight have worked extensively in M&A and Private Equity led

Your Journey to the Cloud – Part 2: Transformation & Implementation

The Searchlight guide to Cloud Transformation is built upon our vast experience in managing and driving transformations for firms of all sizes. This blog is the second part of the three-part series. Before diving into this blog on the Cloud Transformation and Implementation, you’ll want to read part one of the guide - “Your Journey

Planning Cloud Strategies for 2022

With all the upheaval that has happened over the last two years, most organisations will have jumped into or accelerated their move to cloud application. However, not all this activity will have been fully planned, or backed with a clear cloud strategy and business case. With survival at stake for many companies, a ‘Just Do

Digital & Cloud Transformation – Does data remain a key ingredient for success?

At Searchlight, we have always understood the importance of data in any digital and cloud transformation. We actively manage the migration of data and its cleanliness in all our transformation programmes, to maximise the value of our clients overall investment.

How to Build a Robust Business Case for Cloud Transformation

Before combating the transformation journey, we advise that teams first focus on building a strong Business Case, which is owned and championed by business stakeholders.

Controls and the move to the UK Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)

This may seem like a dull and perhaps confusing term, but the Controls and UK SOX are actually very interesting and important.

Your Journey to the Cloud – Part 1: Assessment & Planning

Cloud computing is now twenty years old, so there are many lessons to be gained from the pioneers on how to succeed in this critical transformation for your business.

The path to avoiding digital transformation failure

Delivering technology programmes can be difficult, but if pitfalls are avoided through planning, and action executed effectively, organisations will deliver transformative outcomes. Take a look at our infographic below which shares our advice on getting transformation right first time. Download as a PDF

The pillars of successful transformation

Communication, consistent wins and accountability are the pillars of any successful transformation programme. While this sounds simple, it is rarely achieved. Often, as larger transformation programmes are undertaken, support for these programmes does not permeate the entire organisation resulting in diminishing returns. Below, I detail how this tends to happen and how, through using the

Understanding today’s digital technology challenges

Organisations are modernising and adapting to new tech-focused environments at pace, with large investments in digital transformation. However, digital transformations can often lead to misalignments between strategy and business technologies. According to research by McKinsey (2018), only 16% of digital transformations succeed. The research goes on to highlight core factors to executing a successful transformation,

It’s a hat-trick of CCS Frameworks!

Searchlight Consulting have been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Software Design & Implementation Services (SDIS) framework This week Searchlight received the great news that Crown Commercial Service (CCS) have named Searchlight on a new framework focused on helping central, local government and other public sector buyers with their back-office transformation programmes.

Searchlight Consulting on DOS 5

Searchlight Consulting have been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Digital Outcomes & Digital Specialists 5 (DOS 5) framework Following our success with joining the G-Cloud 12 framework last year, we are very pleased to announce that Searchlight Consulting will be bringing its expertise in designing and delivering digital business solutions to

Searchlight Consulting on G-Cloud 12 Cloud Support

Searchlight Consulting have been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) G-Cloud 12 framework We are very pleased to announce that Searchlight Consulting will be bringing its expertise in programme, project and portfolio management for digital, cloud and technology-enabled change to the Public Sector having been named as a supplier on the

Process Mapping Needs a Purpose

Process mapping is boring?! Open any book on business change, process improvement, enterprise architecture or systems implementation methods and one activity is certain to feature early on in the recommended approach - process mapping. Documenting a graphical representation of the processes, activities and tasks that the organisation performs to execute its business. Whether that be

Execution Control: Improving cloud-based application implementations.

Make the delivery of your cloud-based software even better in 2020. Too many technology-enabled change programmes  struggle  to deliver on their promise and some just simply fail.  Whether judged on benefits delivery, or achievement of time, cost and quality,  the rate of  success is lower than it should be.  Historically, and even the latest research

Gabor Hizsak, Finalist – Business Analyst of the Year 2019

Searchlight Consulting’s Gabor Hizsak selected as Finalist in the UK IT Industry Awards The UK IT Awards are a prestigious industry recognition scheme organised by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, and set the performance benchmark in IT, recognising exceptional people, projects and technology innovation. UK IT Award Finalist This year Searchlight Consulting is

Mentoring the next generation of business technology leaders

With so many products, technologies and vendor options available to those looking to grow, support and improve their business, which business applications are the right ones to choose? Here are 5 considerations to take into account when choosing.

Five essential considerations to drive real business benefits from IT

Searchlight’s Innovation Hub with Central England Co-operative

How can high growth organisations continue to grow with the same positive trajectory of success and acceleration? For high-growth organisations, it’s important to maintain the level of growth it’s essential to establish your roadmap.

Transform at pace – tackle the issues that arise from business growth

Great British Scaleups: The Fifth Dimension

We’re delighted to have been named as one of the eight fast-growing UK tech SMEs! Attending an event in London earlier in November, Searchlight was recognised as a fast-growing company in the technology sector with great potential for scaleup growth.

Get ahead of your competitors by following our 5 key steps.

Here are your 5 steps to make the most out of technology. The manufacturing industry has increasing pressure to compete in this volatile market and economic environment. How can you ensure you are investing in the right business applications to enable growth?

Thrive through constant change: how to apply agility to your business application strategy

The manufacturing industry has increasing pressure to compete in this volatile market and economic environment. We are operating in an era in which many of the accepted political norms have been turned on their heads and the pace with which technology is progressing means most of us are still catching up with what we can do today, let alone thinking about the possibilities that tomorrow may bring.

Integration – it’s dangerous not to!

Application, data and information integration has been at the forefront of many a CIO’s mind for a pretty long time now. Integration tools and platforms have similarly existed in many guises, dating back to the mid-90s.

The New Era – Making the most of Technology

Change is happening at a rapid pace. Very quickly transformation in market structures and technology can lead to misalignment between strategy and business technologies.

SapphireNow – Advanced Capabilities

SapphireNow – Advanced Capabilities After bringing together its customers, prospects and partners, SAP painted a bold vision of where ‘intelligent’ business applications are heading in the future at their SapphireNow event in Florida. This year, the theme was “Intelligent Enterprise” focusing on three key potential benefits: Embedding AI/machine learning into core business processes to allow

SapphireNow – Speed of implementation and business persuasion

SapphireNow – Speed of implementation and business persuasion If SAP is to be believed, Cloud and HANA adoption is accelerating. Businesses no longer discuss the commercial value of implementation, but rather how to get the most value out of their investment. SapphireNow, the three-day flagship event for SAP, its customers, prospects and partners, pushed heavily to

Searchlight leads Wiggle-CRC to customer-focused growth

Searchlight leads Wiggle-CRC to customer-focused growth Leading online tri-sports retailer Wiggle-CRC came to Searchlight Consulting to help them bring their IT platforms and processes into the 21st Century. Wiggle were in hyper growth and their current ageing IT estate needed updating to ensure it was fit for purpose. Searchlight worked with Wiggle-CRC to devise and implement

The 4th industrial revolution: it’s time to focus on the end-consumer

Today’s end-consumer requirements are changing so rapidly that the B2B model operated by many manufacturers is becoming outmoded. New technology is having such a dramatic impact on the way people live that companies are increasingly being urged to think of the end consumer first and foremost.

Searchlight, official sponsors of CIO Retail Connect

The CIO Retail Connect event is the one-stop shop for CxO’s and other senior retail IT executives from top UK retailers. Being an official sponsor meant we could fully immerse ourselves in all aspects of this forum.

Future proof your business – Getting the basics right

Through a series of highly interactive sessions, PEX Europe Spring 2018 offered the opportunity to learn, share and challenge everything you need to be a business of the future, with leading industry peers.

Don’t Let Technology Lead the Business Strategy

Don’t Let Technology Lead The Business Strategy It’s time to act on your transition from SAP ECC to whatever lies ahead. Support for ECC is ending in 2025 and SAP would like you to move to its S/4HANA platform, but is it the right choice for your business? Whether you choose to move to S/4HANA

What’s your navigator? Make this your journey, not SAP’s

What's your navigator? Make this your journey, not SAP's Support for SAP ECC is coming to an end and the time to act is now, however companies are struggling to understand where the real business value is in moving to a new ERP platform. The product roadmap from SAP itself is one which seems to

Right Culture, Right Expertise

This is the fourth and final instalment in our series of blogs exploring how retailers can balance the dual aim of investing in technology to improve their customer proposition.

Business-led, not IT-led

This is the third in our series of blogs exploring how retailers can balance the dual aim of investing in technology to improve their customer proposition.

Is technology clouding retailers vision?

How are retailers balancing the dual aim of investing in technology to improve their customer proposition while ensuring smooth-running business operations through an aligned corporate and IT strategy?

Be brave, think differently

This is the second in our series of blogs exploring how retailers can balance the dual aim of investing in technology to improve their customer proposition.

Retailers’ must take radical new approach to technology

Retailers’ are not using technology as effectively as they could be and in some cases it is actually having a detrimental effect on their business, according to a new report from Searchlight Consulting.

Separate goals, common challenges

The business world has become fixated on having the latest technology, tools and systems, believing they are required to win customers and navigate their way through a time of constant change and economic uncertainty.

Roadmap to 2025: make this your journey, not SAP’s

Do you have a compelling reason to move your business to a new ERP platform?

As a CxO, is your data future-ready?

Data has always been essential to the running of any businesses.

Designing GDPR Compliance into your business operations

With GDPR, the rules regarding the processing and maintenance of European personal data are about to undergo a tremendous transformation

IT’s A Balancing Act

Being a CIO today involves balance. The need to balance “keeping the lights on” while introducing new technologies.

November’s Searchlight Hub – spotlight on Innovation & Digital

Highlights from our recent Searchlight Hub event at which around 30 Associates met to discuss our spotlight topic of Innovation & Digital Disruption.

Video overview of what we do, now available on YouTube

We’re always keen to get Searchlight Consulting’s name out in the wider-world. So, we recently commissioned a short “explainer” animation.

Are your IT systems helping or hindering growth?

So you’ve come up with your great idea for starting a business. Through hard work and personal investment, you’re starting to get the business off the ground.

Creative Aesthete or Control Freak?

Enterprise Architecture (EA) is a relatively immature profession, despite having been written about since the late 1980’s.

Looking from different perspectives!

It does not seem to matter what problem you are faced with, it pays to look at it from a variety of perspectives before jumping to a conclusion.

Curbing consumer promiscuity

Loyalty is about retaining (profitable) customers not boosting short term sales with the acquisition of promiscuous ‘deal seekers’!