10 Things They Won’t Tell You About Forecasting
We all get fixed on forecasts, but none of us can see into the future. A forecast is basically a guess – an educated guess. What we can do is study what has happened in the past. By analysing past data for patterns and trends, we can make an educated guess about future outcomes. Unless we get lucky, it will probably be wrong.
20 Transformational Innovations Changing the Future of Work
Celebrating the 20 finalists from this year’s Innovation & Transformation awards. Trailblazers who are redefining workforce planning, customer experience, and operational excellence. From AI to culture change, these organisations are proving that bold thinking drives real-world results.
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Busting myths around hybrid working at RSA
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Busting myths around hybrid working at RSA
Bringing data together in one version of the truth to drive understanding, learning and improvement for hybrid working. Using the data to help shape their home, office and hybrid working strategy, to improve attraction and attrition.
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Creating time for meaningful conversations at Water Plus
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Creating time for meaningful conversations at Water Plus
At the heart of the Innovation & Centre of Excellence is an internal talent growth programme driving improvement through automation and robotics. This isn’t about replacing people, this is about releasing mundane tasks that shouldn’t take a human to do, so the humans can add real value to customers.
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Crowd sourcing innovation making it easier for all passengers at Northern Rail
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Crowd sourcing innovation making it easier for all passengers at Northern Rail
Focussed on “doing the right thing” making travel and access to travel by train easier for people who may have previously faced challenges. From dementia friendly signage, sign language, accessible toilets and using VR to help customers and front-line colleagues.
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Driving employee engagement and customer satisfaction at Ocado
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Driving employee engagement and customer satisfaction at Ocado
Focussing on people development to drive employee engagement and customer satisfaction. Holistic approach to development, covering all levels to raise standards. Demonstrating a people focus strategy and culture to bring the very best out in everyone.
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Extending the reach and value of resource planning at Legal & General
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Extending the reach and value of resource planning at Legal & General
Introducing a framework of understanding to use data to make better decisions. Launching Verint Workmanager to track and distribute work to support working practices for frontline employees. Transforming leaders, supporting long-standing processes and people to work in a different more future-minded way.
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Transforming customer journeys with the CI Squad at FIS
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Transforming customer journeys with the CI Squad at FIS
Using a continuous improvement framework to understand and fix the root cause of issues. Partnering with operational and specialist teams to plan, deliver and sustain improvements. Listening to customers and colleagues to understand what needs to change and making over 100 improvements in the first year.
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Unlocking the power of data and actionable insight at Firstsource
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Unlocking the power of data and actionable insight at Firstsource
Maximising the power of data to build a capability providing insight and foresight into risks that would otherwise disrupt the operation. Information is no longer dealt with in isolation as the platform brings different teams together to discuss and plan jointly.
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Work-life-balance in a blended work environment at Student Loans Company
2023 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Work-life-balance in a blended work environment at Student Loans Company
Redefining flexi-time at scale to provide flexibility for both the business and its people improving employee satisfaction and customer experience. Engaging with key operational stakeholders has been crucial to the success of this initiative, with over 1,000 colleagues now experiencing better work-life balance.
2023 Planning Awards: Introducing planning at the Department for Education
2023 Planning Awards: Introducing planning at the Department for Education
This team now manage and prepare for customer contacts, especially for peak, which now plays out more like a normal week. Resource intensive reporting has been eliminated, with one version of the truth well established. They are better equipped and prepared, with far less pressure on team members and improved engagement as a result.
2023 Planning Awards: Putting nurses at the heart of resource planning at Fresenius Kabi
2023 Planning Awards: Putting nurses at the heart of resource planning at Fresenius Kabi
The Day in the Life programme has helped nurses and planners understand each other’s challenges, so they work much closer together. A single resource model now works across all areas of this field operation. Improved engagement and better process have led to operational improvement, ensuring that all patients are visited in a timely manner.
2024 Data, Analytics & Insight Awards: Angela Morton at BT Business
In BT’s defence sector, Amanda innovated reporting by transitioning from traditional, static methods to dynamic dashboards, enhancing decision-making for sensitive defence contracts. Facing high-security clearance challenges and the need for meticulous staff retention, her approach uses visual cues to highlight key metrics, significantly improving operational efficiency and strategic planning. This shift towards action-based reporting has been well-received, demonstrating the impact of adaptability and innovation in reporting within the sector.
2024 Data, Analytics & Insight Awards: Chantal Lowson at Macmillan Cancer Support
Chantal’s leadership journey at Macmillan Cancer Support showcases her transformative approach to management. Transitioning from a single Data Analyst Insights team to leading three specialist teams, she exemplifies embracing change, fostering trust, and leveraging technology for organisational improvement. Her strategy prioritises people, performance, and continuous learning, demonstrating the impact of multifunctional teams and data-driven decisions. Chantal’s story is a testament to the power of leadership in navigating challenges and driving substantial business improvements.
2024 Data, Analytics & Insight Awards: Homeserve Speech Analytics Team
HomeServe’s journey with speech analytics since 2015 transformed customer service, blending technology for efficiency and satisfaction. Initially aimed at operational improvements, it evolved with advanced telephony for better service delivery. This shift not only streamlined processes but also enriched customer interactions. Rich joined-up data is linking actions to outcomes and enabling continuous improvement. Their commitment to technological advancement has set new standards in customer care, highlighting the role of technology in enhancing service quality.
2024 Data, Analytics & Insight Awards: Katie Harrison at NFU Mutual Agencies
Katie enhances business efficiency by expertly utilising Management Information (MI) to align with stakeholder needs. She champions incremental changes and fosters collaboration between data analysts and operational teams, ensuring MI insights translate into actionable strategies. This approach not only improves decision-making and productivity but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement. Her leadership exemplifies how insightful, collaborative efforts can lead to significant organisational benefits, demonstrating the critical role of effective MI application in operational success.
2024 Data, Analytics & Insight Awards: Mike Connor at Capita Regulated Services
Mike’s journey at Capita exemplifies dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit. Starting in 2014 as a customer service representative, his interest in operational efficiency led to his role as a performance analyst. Skilled in Power Query and Power BI, Mike turned SLA data into actionable insights, enhancing service delivery and customer satisfaction. Overcoming challenges with advanced tools, his work improved operational efficiency and inspired peers towards continuous improvement. A commitment to continuous learning and development is driving organisational success through data-driven decisions.
2024 Data, Analytics & Insight Awards: Ravi Kumar Samala at Firstsource
Firstsource Solutions revolutionised its risk management with a digital-first strategy, under Ravi’s leadership. This case study highlights the transition from expensive, rigid third-party tools to custom digital solutions, enhancing operational risk management and business continuity. Implementing in-house tools like the Operations Health Dashboard significantly cut costs and improved efficiency. This transformation not only saved £170,000 in licence costs over two years but also fostered a robust risk-aware culture, showcasing the impact of digital innovation on organisational resilience and efficiency.
2024 Data, Analytics & Insight Awards: Steven Hunter at Hiscox
At Hiscox, Steven transformed corporate planning by adopting advanced methodologies and improving data management. His benchmarking efforts and use of the Minto Pyramid Principle for communication enhanced strategic operations in the UK. Steven’s initiative underscored the importance of innovation and foresight, driving Hiscox towards operational excellence and sustainable growth. This case highlights the significance of strategic planning and data-driven decision-making in the competitive business landscape.
2024 Data, Analytics & Insight Awards: The AA Forecasting Team
The AA’s forecasting team has been pivotal in optimising breakdown services through a predictive model linking weather data to breakdowns, improving resource allocation and response times. Their analysis has driven digital advancements, streamlining operations and enhancing customer interactions by filtering simpler queries online. They also evaluate economic and market trends for strategic planning. This work ensures The AA adapts efficiently to customer needs and maintains leadership in service excellence, highlighting the team’s essential role in operational and strategic decisions.