Digitalisation lessons HR Technology Supplement
Suky Baines, head of finance
transformation, Transport for Wales
“Transport for Wales, a not-for-pro t
company wholly owned by the
Welsh Government, is responsible for
the development of a high-quality,
safe, integrated, affordable and
accessible transport network. This
includes a £5 billion investment in the
Wales and Borders rail service over
the next 15 years.
We wanted to streamline our
processes and be able to access
data wherever the location, to improve ef ciencies. To do
this we started with a discovery phase consisting of
workshops with the key users affected by transformation
changes within the organisation.
In conjunction with our consultants, we were able
to scope out the requirements with our targeted
planned ‘go live’ dates. We then ran a procurement
exercise using the scoping document to source
suppliers for the work, enabling us to determine the
required budget.
We used Agile methodology in the project, involving
key users so we could make the decisions as a group.
The main challenge that can arise in such a project is
that users will always have different requirements. Some
may even be resistant to change, though fortunately we
did not experience that. It’s crucial to meet everyone’s
needs in one solution.
Using Agile project methodology helps you arrive at
decisions quicker. Key to this is managing the project
with a plan of assigned tasks to ensure you meet your
timelines. There will always be some areas throughout
the implementation that will make you question how
you will use the system differently.
We measured success with ROI and key metrics
around ef ciency, and of course by happy end-users
and the bene ts they have seen from using the system.
One of the most enduring challenges is ensuring that
planning goes beyond the rst three to ve months. It’s
vital to have a strategic vision to help evolve your initial
phase. But I’d caution against trying to do too much too
soon – phase your programme of implementation. Have
a detailed plan, don’t overlook your data and do ensure
compliance with the GDPR legislation.
Also remember that digital transformation affects
every area of the business and requires teams to
co-ordinate and collaborate. To successfully lead digital
transformation leaders must be intentional in building a
digital culture, including changing legacy technology
and structures that hinder transformation.
Encourage collaboration across departments with
strong communication. When all departments are
aligned, a strong company culture forms, allowing for a
successful and con dent transition.”
hrmagazine.co.uk October 2019 HR 19
/hrmagazine.co.uk