Business Value Planning Services
Microsoft has launched a new Software Assurance benefit to help customers identify, unlock, and capture the business value of Information Worker (IW) solutions. Through structured, multi-day Business Value Planning Services (BVPS) engagements (3, 5, 10 or 15-day engagements), a Microsoft Partner will work with customers to identify, design, and implement improvements to an existing business process using IW solutions. This initiative will provide customers with a number of benefits:
• Realize a greater return on existing Office System and IW technology investments
• Solve real customer business problems with a familiar technology platform
• Build a convincing business case for Office System and IW adoption within the customer organization
• Receive 3rd party solution analysis and services through Microsoft Partners
How can SmarTek21 help you?
As we are certified Microsoft BVPS Partner, we conduct BVPS workshops to identify, scope and generate more services work. BVPS engagements focus on business process improvements, which would provide direct access to the Business Decision Makers and Line of Business managers across customer’s organization that will drive future consulting engagements.
How BVPS works?
BVPS follows a joint investment model, wherein Microsoft subsidizes some of a partner’s efforts to drive customer adoption of IW solutions through partner-led service engagements. Partners can use BVPS engagements to sell follow-on implementation services for the proposed process and technology improvements, using the following approach:
• Partner-funded strategy briefings with customers to generate demand for BVPS engagements
• Microsoft SA funded BVPS engagements to identify business process improvements and to build a business case for implementing the proposed improvements
• Customer funded implementation of the proposed BVPS Solution
To learn more about BVPS visit https://iwsolve.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/BVPS/
Success Stories of BVPS
|
Process Analyzed |
Client Dept. |
Current State Summary |
Benefits of Proposed BVPS Solution |
|
Employee Handbook Update |
HR |
§ Manual processes via email
§ Risk of not having content available in a timely fashion – follow-ups required
§ Document versioning issues |
§ At least 40% improvement in cycle time (from average of 38 days to 22 days), which will reduce the risks associated with outdated Handbooks
§ Eliminate risk of errors from manual handling of content between different document versions |
|
IT Change Request (CR) Processing |
IT |
§ Change Request workflow driven through email attachments, decreasing process effectiveness
§ Information captured through existing Word CR form does not promote effective usage (filtering, search, sorting) at later stages in process
§ Manual CR processing requires 50% of a resource’s time, approx: 20+ hours/ week |
§ Form-based CR Solution, with Back-end Data Capture significantly reduces manual labor steps currently required
§ Automated workflows decrease time and effort to manage process
§ Reduced follow-ups required through pre-submission CR validation |
|
Integrated Marketing Planning |
Marketing |
§ Manual processes via email
§ Too much / not enough info – no standards
§ Format changes required: PPT to Doc
§ Multiple versions of documents
§ No visibility into status / timeframe failures |
§ Simplify visibility into status
§ Single version, one truth
§ “Right” amount of info
§ No manual cut/paste between documents
§ Automatic notification to ask for and get comments/approvals |
|
Managing Recurring Meetings |
IT |
§ Lack of consistency in use of Meeting Workspaces
§ Duplication of efforts through use of both existing and new systems
§ Lack of clear business case for Meeting Workspaces usage |
§ Single entry of documents into existing systems; less or no rework
§ Better preparation by presenters and participants improves quality of discussions and speeds decision making process
§ Improved note taking and notes sharing |
|
Supplier Performance Management |
Supplier Relations |
§ Long cycle (as long 30 days) to prepare for quarterly vendor review meetings
§ Many review/approve process bottlenecks
§ Multiple document versions – sent via email
§ Multiple locations where final version is published – risk |
§ Implement collaborative document software to significantly streamline and automated the process
§ Codify and communicate workflow from collaboration portal – provides visibility into process progress
§ Automate bottleneck issue escalation process
§ Work from one document with version control enabled
§ Ability to quickly pick and consolidate elements from multiple sources to create final presentation |