The challenges SPI faced
The main objective of SPI, the land development agency to which the 84 communes in the Liège province and the provincial institution itself are affiliated, is the sustainable creation of added value and jobs within the province. Its activities include the development of business parks and support for the various municipalities, as well as activities that are in line with any needs of the time, such as the rehabilitation of disused sites and territorial intelligence.
Alongside its activities, SPI wanted to modernise and integrate its IT tools but its previous attempts at doing so had failed. These successive failures highlighted the need for a neutral, structured approach and for applying significant resources, including the involvement of the entire company. SPI first had to review its business processes before embarking on the digitisation process. It was against this backdrop that BDO Digital Advisory was selected in July 2020 following a public tender, to provide the expertise required for this far-reaching digital transformation.
The support from BDO
The project, entitled “SPInnove 2.0” and conducted in collaboration with BDO, ran for just over four years. The initial phase lasted just over a year, during which BDO’s expertise was able to help structure the overall project, implement an effective project management methodology and draw up the project specifications. After this phase, SPI quickly decided on the implementation of an ERP system. BDO then continued to play a major role in the subsequent phases of the project, particularly during negotiations with the selected subcontractor at moments when questions arose internally when choosing the integration aspects of the solution, as well as during its execution and putting it into production.
BDO, a key partner
Katia Visse, Process and Continuous Improvement Coordinator and Project Manager for the SPInnove 2.0 project at SPI, not only appreciated the valuable expertise of the BDO team but also their neutrality. The experts never promoted one commercial solution over another, but always advised the intermunicipal authority in a way that allowed them to make informed decisions. This was particularly the case when SPI decided not to integrate the accounting tool into the ERP system. BDO then guided the organisation through some complex yet necessary decisions to ensure that information was shared between the different departments.
Ms. Visse also highlights the essential and inspiring support she received from BDO on an individual level regarding change management, as they helped her deal with the internal resistance and reluctance which are bound to accompany such projects.
Finally, the head of the SPInnove 2.0 project also highlights BDO's professionalism and client focus, as well as the ease with which the BDO team was able to adapt to and integrate into the way the intermunicipal authority operates, aspects that she considers key to the success of SPI's digital transformation.
Visible results
Since implementing its digital transformation, SPI has seen significant improvements, such as improved structuring and use of data, smoother communication between the various systems and departments, and increased accessibility to information.
Are you wondering how to begin your digital transformation? Feeling lost amongst all the software solutions that are on offer? Contact one of our BDO experts for tailormade advice for your organisation.
Mariette Locus