Category: Case

  • Strategic Sourcing Advisory

    Strategic Sourcing Advisory

    Evaluation and Recommendation for Strategic IT Managed Services.

    The client engaged Proj3ctS to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its Application Development & Management contract. The objective was to assess the current outsourcing agreement (including service performance), contractual alignment, and strategic fit, in light of an upcoming decision point.

    Approach

    We conducted a structured assessment process involving:

    • In-depth stakeholder interviews across Business, IT, and Procurement
    • Review of contractual documents, SLA reports, and service delivery plans
    • Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the performance
    • Evaluation of the evolving scope of services since contract inception

    Outcome

    The project culminated in a detailed sourcing recommendation, enabling the client to make an informed strategic decision. Based on our findings and guidance, the client chose to continue the partnership.

    Impact

    This engagement reinforced the client’s sourcing strategy, ensured alignment between service delivery and business needs, and strengthened the foundation for the future.

  • Empowering Ambits with Scalable Back-Office Automation

    Empowering Ambits with Scalable Back-Office Automation

    Proj3ctS enables Ambits to scale with a future-proof, low-code solution that halves administrative costs and enhances user experience.

    Ambits, a fast-growing Belgian startup specializing in leadership mentoring, faced a significant challenge: a manual, inefficient back-office process that hindered scalability and transparency. To support their growth ambitions, Ambits turned to Proj3ctS for a tailored digital transformation.

    The Challenge

    Ambits connects executives and management teams with experienced mentors through structured six-month programs. With a growing client base, the administrative burden of managing mentor-mentee journeys became unsustainable. Initially handled via Excel by a single student worker, the process was inaccessible, error-prone, and lacked scalability. A later switch to off-the-shelf mentoring software proved too rigid, unintuitive, and disconnected from Ambits’ existing tools.

    The Solution

    Proj3ctS stepped in to lead the transformation. Leveraging its expertise in digital strategy, architecture, and project management, Proj3ctS designed a scalable solution built on the Microsoft Power Platform. The new application was developed using low-code technology, ensuring rapid deployment and seamless integration with existing tools like Jotform and Outlook.

    Proj3ctS coordinated the entire project lifecycle: from high-level architecture to stakeholder alignment to ensure that the final product met Ambits’ unique operational needs.

    Key Features & Results

    • Automated Communication: All forms and emails are now automatically routed to the right stakeholders, eliminating manual follow-ups.
    • Centralized Data Access: Key users have real-time access to relevant data based on their roles, improving transparency and collaboration.
    • Integrated Time Tracking: Mentors can now log their hours directly in the platform, offering valuable insights into program efficiency.
    • User-Friendly Interface: Designed with simplicity in mind, the platform ensures a frictionless experience for both internal teams and external mentors.
    • Cost Efficiency: Administrative costs have been reduced by 50%, freeing up resources for strategic growth.

    A Scalable Foundation for Growth

    The application went live in May 2023, just six months after project kickoff. Since then, many mentoring projects have been successfully migrated to the new platform. The solution is fully scalable, allowing Ambits to onboard new users without significant increases in licensing costs.

    “Proj3ctS quickly understood our complex workflows and translated them into a powerful, intuitive tool. The result is a back-office that supports our operations instead of slowing them down,” says Gerrit Sarens, CEO of Ambits. “We now have a clear, real-time view of our mentoring programs, which is essential for our continued growth.”

    Looking Ahead

    Ambits is now operating with a robust digital backbone that supports its mission: delivering impactful mentoring experiences. With all essential features in place, the organization is ready to explore future enhancements and “nice-to-haves” that will further elevate the user experience.

    “Together with Proj3ctS, we’ve built a solution that aligns with the four pillars of successful digital change: people, process, technology, and data,” says Dries Vandevyvere of Proj3ctS. “Delivered on time and within budget, this project empowers Ambits to focus on what truly matters—growth and meaningful mentorship.”

  • IT Transformation

    IT Transformation

    Situation

    The organization faced significant challenges in its IT department, including leadership challenges, lack of ownership, unclear vision, and excessive governance structures. These issues hindered our ability to innovate and respond to market demands effectively.

    Key Project Areas

    The transformation of the IT organization focused on several critical areas.

    First, we aimed to balance demand and supply, ensuring that our IT resources were allocated efficiently to meet the needs of the business. We also undertook a comprehensive organization design, restructuring the IT department to improve efficiency and accountability. Clearly defining roles and responsibilities was another key area, as it helped enhance ownership and performance within the team.

    We established clear levels in the Target Operating Model (TOM) to streamline operations and simplify the application landscape for better integration and usability. Improving vendor and contract management processes, along with executing effective service management, were also essential components of the project. Implementing stringent budget control measures ensured financial discipline, while enhancing visibility and transparency across all IT processes helped build trust and accountability.

    Balancing the run and build aspects of IT was crucial for continuous improvement, and optimizing the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) led to better project outcomes. Strengthening project management practices ensured that projects were delivered on time and within budget.

    Project success

    The transformation project resulted in a new and future-proof IT organization that is easier to manage and more responsive to business needs.

    We achieved better control over our budget, reduced third-party risks, and streamlined IT processes.

    The application landscape is now more manageable, and the IT services are more reliable and efficient.

  • Transforming from biotech to biopharma

    Transforming from biotech to biopharma

    Creating a new value chain to serve unmet patient needs

    💡Operation built from scratch: process, systems and data. But foremost on the “make-it-happen” spirit of the people

    💡Change is the only constant in life: Assume variability and preserving options

    💡Our 3 E approach: stable Existing basis, Evolved for new markets & Extended our capabilities

    💡Cross-functional to balance between “efficiency & stability” and “speed of innovation”

    💡By partnering with experienced organizations and building bridges between individuals, teams & key stakeholders

    If it doesn't happen, make it happen

    Full presentation

  • End-to-End Automation

    End-to-End Automation

    On the CIO Forum in September 2021 I had the opportunity to present about End-to-End automation at Galapagos.

    Key take-away’s

    • Build with a vision: End-to-End, integrated and focused on business value.
    • It is about People & Process first. Technology is the enabler.
    • Think big, start small, and scale fast: Make it happen (show the value in pilot) & set up the governance (accelerate towards the future).
    • You need to break the ceilings, in order to accelerate digital and become data-drive.

    “The Galapagos organization has learned to deliver faster & more efficient with People & Process and the ITS organisation as key enabler”

    “Data, automation & innovation are cornerstones to take smarter decisions & make it happen.”

    If it doesn't happen, make it happen
  • IT Project Cost Management: going from Biotech to Pharma

    IT Project Cost Management: going from Biotech to Pharma

    Key learnings and insights from the session with ISPE COP for Projectmanagement:

    1. Bio-tech and pharma are 2 different animals
    2. Why talk about cost management if you can speak about (earned) value management
    3. Zero Based Budgeting is just a fancy term for “the closed wallet”
    4. It is all about the culture. Also in cost management. Model the behavior you want to see!

    Full presentation

  • IT system and business process integration

    IT system and business process integration

    Roll-out of core Purchase2Pay and Account2Report processes, integration with several satellite applications, migration to new applications and implementation of the standard business processes.

  • InfoHub 4 drug commercialisation

    InfoHub 4 drug commercialisation

    Implementation of all business processes and supporting IT systems for the commercialization of a first drug product.

    Management of several tracks: Set-up for the SAP ERP system, integration with 3rd parties, creation of an analytics solution and extension of the CRM application.

  • Software R&D: BI and digitalisation

    Software R&D: BI and digitalisation

    Design, build and test a PowerBI reporting solution, integration of the digital customer portal and development of software enhancements on Microsoft AX for mobile field service management application.