IT strategy for iconic restaurant chain

Case Study

Synopsis

An iconic High Street restaurant chain with over 450 locations needed help defining and delivering the IT Strategy underpinning the strategic objectives of the business.

Ann was brought in by the Global Finance Director and the IT Director to support the development of the strategy and assist the IT Director to present and secure funding for a multimillion pound from the parent company.

The client wanted Ann to perform an interim role, supporting the IT Director to both secure funding and deliver the foundational layer of the IT strategy. A key pillar of the strategy was to work with the suppliers as early adopters to help develop their fledgling solutions for the multi restaurant marketplace.

Client

An iconic High Street restaurant chain with over 450 locations needed help defining and delivering the IT Strategy underpinning the strategic objectives of the business.

What help were they looking for?

Ann’s breadth of skills was paramount to achieving this.

Strategic thinking and the ability to define strategic aims in compelling business terms and high-level plans ensured that key stakeholders bought into and supported the IT Strategy prior to presenting and securing funding at the Board
Programme management and leadership skills were required to clearly define the separate projects required to deliver the strategy, and ensure all team members were clear on plans, deliverables, and the important part they played in ensuring success
Operational understanding and analysis skills to ensure critical requirements were identified and ways of working developed to maximise benefits
Supplier management and collaborative ways of working to ensure the new solutions being developed by the suppliers delivered the requirements and benefits identified by the client, maximised efficiency and simplified processes and support as much as possible
Leadership skills to form and lead a delivery driven team, whilst ensuring the team developed their own skills to be able to operate without Ann’s support

Timelines

Ann worked with the client for almost two years, structuring the deliverables into different phases.

Phase 1 – 6mths

Focused on defining the strategic requirements, securing stakeholder buy in, running RFI and tender process, culminating in achieving Board approval to proceed

Phase 2 – 10mths

Focused on developing and piloting the various solutions with the clients. This involved product workshops, significant lab and on-site testing, developing deployment and remote upgrade processes, as well as developing and finessing the employee and management training

Phase 3 – 10mths (including an overlap with Phase 2 to minimise timelines)

Focused on roll out of the different solutions across 450+ restaurants. This involved complex logistical processes to ensure that existing kit could be re-used rather than incurring substantial capital investment

Critical deliverables

Fully costed proposal and presentation to Board
Successful deployment to time and budget to c 450 sites (two countries and two currencies) of
- Integrated stock and ordering system (including feeds from EPoS)
- Closed loop three-way invoice matching
- Fixed EPoS solution and handheld devices
- Integrated payment solution via handhelds
- Wide area network and on-site Wi-Fi solution
- Booking system integrated with client web site and telephony solution
Development of team via detailed development plans, direct mentoring, and support
Development of new ways of working and supplier management processes