While investments are made and resources are built up during growth phases and cost and efficiency considerations fall into the background, companies have to focus on efficiency programmes when cost and margin pressure increases. Rising energy costs, a lack of or expensive raw materials and primary products, consumers’ demand for a sustainable value chain and a lack of skilled workers are just a few examples of the burdens that companies are facing.

Digitalisation is of particular importance in efficiency programmes. Companies can automate and optimise value creation processes. Depending on the degree of maturity, large savings and optimisation effects can be realised with just a few resources, such as the integration of some SaaS solutions. In this way, resources can be freed up that can be used elsewhere in a more value-adding way.

Before efficiency initiatives are launched haphazardly, a comprehensive status quo analysis by means of a digital health check is recommended. This provides information about the digital maturity level of a company and offers initial quick quins for implementation from the initial analysis. Structured surveys of employees from different areas of the company and status quo enquiries are used to determine information for further analyses. The individual stages of the value chain are examined according to multidimensional criteria and a maturity level is determined on the basis of industry standards. A comparison of the status quo and the ideal situation shows the necessary fields of action and the urgency.

Figure 1: Results of a Digital Health Check

Once the status quo is known, all value-added processes can be examined in detail and optimised. Often several optimisation options can be determined, which is why it is advisable to simulate the effects. A simulation should show the effects of the identified optimisation measures on the organisation, the workload of individual employees, throughput times and cost savings. At the end of this phase, a final selection of optimisation measures is available, personnel changes to the current organisational structure have been discussed and a prioritisation recommendation for the implementation roadmap has been created. A more efficient organisation also offers positive side effects, which, in addition to cost savings, lie in the increase in talent density.

Transformation projects change organisations and the challenges on the way to achieving the goals of the transformation projects are manifold. The need for structured and experienced project management that combines agile and classic project management methods should therefore be emphasised. Successful project management can become a differentiator for outstanding companies.

In addition to this aspect, we provide support in the efficiency competence area with these other topics:

  • E-Commerce Organisation: Development of a dedicated organisational unit for carrying out e-commerce activities in accordance with defined strategic requirements
  • Transformation in E-Commerce: Transformation in E-Commerce means the consistent alignment of the company with the E-Commerce strategy
  • Digital Disruption Health Check: Environment analysis of the extent to which there is a risk of digital disruption of the value chain and the business model by new dynamic, digital-savvy market participants
  • Strategic Cost Reduction Program: Effectively implemented strategic cost reduction programs enable companies to maximize their gross margins
  • Lean Digitalisation of White-Collar: Maximising efficiency in indirect areas through lean digitisation
  • Digital Operational Excellence: Analysis of the operational optimisation potential according to a digital transformation strategy and derivation of a roadmap with corresponding measures
  • Pricing Strategy: In the context of almost complete price transparency in e-commerce, a systematic multi-channel performance pricing (MCPP) strategy with a market data and performance-oriented condition model has proven to be a proven concept
  • E-Commerce Logistics: Establishment and optimization of holistic logistics adapted to the requirements of e-commerce distribution channels
  • Big Data Analytics: Identify strategically relevant aspects of big data and analytics and prioritise them according to their value contribution to the company

Contact one of our experts

Markus Fost, MBA, is an expert in e-commerce, online business models and digital transformation, with broad experience in the fields of strategy, organisation, corporate finance and operational restructuring.

Learn more

Markus Fost

Managing Partner
Markus Fost, MBA, is an expert in e-commerce, online business models and digital transformation, with broad experience in the fields of strategy, organisation, corporate finance and operational restructuring.

FOSTEC & Company is known from

View more

FOSTEC & Company GmbH

Marienstraße 17, D-70178 Stuttgart

info@fostec.com

+49 (0) 711 995857-0

+49 (0) 711 995857-99

Contact us now