Is your organisation struggling to contain or reduce operating costs, experiencing rising customer complaints (maybe even losing customers), or suffering high staff turnover? Are you trying to do more with less but its not working?

If so, the real causes may include unclear internal structure, poorly coordinated or wasteful processes, missing or low quality data, lack of process automation, or unsuitable software tools.

It’s time to rethink how your business works!

Signs you may need help

• “Our staff costs are rising, but our revenue is not.”
• “Customer complaints are too high.”
• “Some staff are at risk of burnout.”
• “We are losing customers but we don’t know why.”
• “Our people spend way too much time in meetings.”
• “We have too many emails.”
• “Our people do too many manual steps, surely we could be more efficient.”
• “We don’t have the data we need.”
• “Several people keep their own spreadsheets with similar information.”
• “Reports are updated manually and staff are using out of date information.”
• “No one really understands how things work here.”
• “We have multiple systems but they don’t talk to each other.”
• “We tried new software, but it didn’t solve our problems.”
• “Staff are frustrated by unclear processes.”
• “We find problems but too often nothing is done to fix them.”
• “We are too dependent on a few experienced staff.”
• “It takes far too long to train new staff.”

If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. Elkera can help.

The businesses we help

Elkera works with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who experience the problems described above. We help them address cost pressures and productivity problems through improved business structure, processes and systems.

We particularly work with SMEs in knowledge or service based industries, not for profits and smaller government agencies who do not have experienced business analysts on staff.

Don’t let uncertainty hold you back

Many SMEs facing cost pressure or productivity problems have difficulty deciding on a strategy to overcome those problems. Managers may be concerned about the risks of finding the right consultant or they may be concerned about the value a consultant can provide.

The costs of delayed action are real and they compound over time. They undermine the future prospects of the business and the returns to the business owners.

The time to act is now!

Elkera minimises uncertainty

Elkera’s way of working involves a step by step approach that minimises the common uncertainties that prevent SMEs from acting in the most effective way to address cost pressure and productivity problems.

From the outset, Elkera’s consultant will be focused on finding improvements for your business that will provide a positive return on your total investment in the project.

We provide a continuously evolving business case for our work that gives you confidence about the way forward and removes many of the traditional barriers to hiring a consultant. Elkera’s way of working ensures that:

• you will be able to assess our understanding of your business before you make a financial investment, and
• at each step in the process, you will be able to assess the value of completed and proposed work before making a commitment to proceed further.

The key to this approach is to determine very early in the project if you can expect potential benefits that will justify your likely investment.

What we deliver

Elkera will definitely help you on the path to improved profitability and sustainability.

We will work with all your stakeholders to understand your business and the root causes of the problems you face. We will help you to devise and implement improved ways of working that will overcome those problems and put your business on a more sustainable path. You can expect at least:

• A clear picture of how relevant parts of your business work, the problems it faces and where there are opportunities for improvement.
• Recommended improvements to your internal business structure so that roles are optimally aligned to how your business ought to work.
• Identified changes for smarter, more consistent and automated processes that reduce cost and effort.
• Clear requirements for new software that may be required to support your business.
• A change plan that will guide implementation, including for any software procurement.
• A business case for any required investment.
• Assistance through any software procurement process.

Why Elkera?

• 20+ years of experience analysing business processes and systems, and helping clients to streamline and automate business processes.
• Innovation mindset with a practical understanding of how to implement new technologies.
• Extensive experience at senior levels across a range of businesses.
• Experience as the founder of several software businesses that developed completely new, innovative products.
• Extensive experience as a supplier and consultant working with government.
• Expertise leading complex software development and software procurement projects.
• Clear, professional, independent advice with no affiliation to any vendors.

Please follow the links below to detailed service descriptions, or book an appointment for a free, introductory consultation.