Millennium Dome (Photo by JR Harris on Unsplash)
"Automation is key," says Jaime Everard, Business Systems Manager at engineering consultancy Buro Happold. With 1,900 employees and 26 global locations, the 40-year-old company has delivered prestige projects such as the iconic Millenium Dome in London, the Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium with its distinctive retractable roof, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and many others. Continued evolution of its IT systems is a key part of its ongoing growth. Everard says:
We don't want our engineers spending loads of time filling in data into the system. We'd like the system to be able to automate that as much as possible. Because ultimately, we prefer our people to be out there working with our customers.
I spoke to Everard in the run-up to this week's Experience4U virtual event, organized by Unit4, where he'll chat to Constellation Research analyst Holger Mueller about automation in professional services. Buro Happold has been a Unit4 customer since 2004 and our conversation touched on the various ways in which its use of the platform has expanded in recent years to streamline processes and reporting. One notable aspect of this is that the London-based firm has been able to pursue these innovations while still keeping its ERP instance on-prem, rather than having to upgrade to a version that runs in the cloud. Everard doesn't rule out going to the cloud in the future, but it's not a priority right now. He explains:
It's not that we're not going to adopt a Unit4 cloud solution going forwards. It's just getting the timing right for that. At the moment, we do have rack space in a data center, so we are able to sufficiently service all of our global people, in terms of getting access to the system. We've got a great internal infrastructure team that enables that. We use tools such as Citrix, etc, but obviously moving towards a more web-based architecture, which Unit4 provides.
We're almost providing our own cloud, because we just access our services through the data center, and we operate a global WAN to make sure that all of our offices are connected [to each other], and connected to our data center.
Instead of upgrading the back-end, the focus has been on adding new ways to access it. A big part of the automation story has been a move towards 'headless' ERP. This means accessing the back-end system via a conversational layer in Buro Happold's case, the Microsoft Teams messaging app rather than going directly to the ERP application (the 'head') to see data or use functions. This was made possible with Unit4's Wanda chatbot technology, which the firm became the first on-prem customer to start using. It allows users to get information or complete actions directly from the Teams message stream, while the AI technology behind Wanda takes care of communicating with the back-end system. Everard elaborates:
People engaging with the systems having to go around different systems to do different tasks is quite time-consuming, especially when you're an engineer out there on the customer side. The great thing that Teams gives us, and being able to use Wanda through Teams, is a commonality of interface. They didn't even know necessarily what ERP system they're connected to. All they know is, it's doing what they need it to do on a daily basis, whether that's entering your absence, whether it's approving a task, approving an invoice. It can all be done through a common interface, and we do so much now within Teams.
The team has automated a range of different tasks using Wanda across HR and finance tasks, even including setting up and filling in timesheets. Teams is also useful for tracking collaboration around documents in SharePoint. Actions are much less likely to get missed when Wanda sends an alert than when a user receives an email reminder. Everard explains:
If Wanda is prompting you and saying, you've got an invoice to approve, it comes up as what they call a card. You can see the information in Teams, and you just simply click approve, reject, or update later. [Unit4 has] also built in quite a clever web app, which takes you to a very simplified version of the Unit4 tool, so that you can see the invoice, the receipt, all of those things, within there. Again, that's all linked up through Wanda and Teams.
All of these workflows have been built by Everard's team using Unit4's visual workflow builder, making sure that each workflow conforms to the company's internal authorization matrix. The visualization means that users can also track the status of outstanding actions in the workflow at any given time. He explains:
You build it as a diagram, and then you apply the rules into the steps in the diagram. So you can see, as you're building it, where it's going to go, who it's going to go to, how it's going to work. That also benefits the user, because it translates into a nice diagram or map, so they can see who it's with at any point in time.
Workflow flexibility was also useful when implementing Unit4's mobile-first travel and expense app. This had to accommodate very strict regional exchange rate rules in countries such as Poland, where the team implemented a connector to import the correct rates. Automating expense claims has made a big impact, especially with the advent of COVID and the switch to remote working. He explains:
Previously, it was just a matter of taking pictures [of receipts], and then when you got back in the office, you had to complete it within the system. But now you can do everything through the app, including taking pictures of receipts. We even have receipt recognition switched on, so in many cases, it will detect on receipt, what type of expense it is ...
We get the information in terms of approvals to the right people, they can see the receipt, they can say yes, I approve it's within policy, etc. So that's definitely been a big plus for us, adopting expenses. Good job we did do it before COVID. We finished it about three or four months before COVID. We've adopted that globally.
The team is now rolling out Unit4 Procure-to-Pay (P2P), which has just gone live in India and will roll out elsewhere over the coming months. This too will bring much-needed automation, as he explains:
That will bring a great deal of automation, and also will mean a lot of manual process will hopefully go the way of the dinosaur ... At the moment we have an invoice comes in the door, and our AP team have to code that in. With P2P, they won't have to do that anymore. The invoice will come in the door, and we'll be able to match it and then pay our suppliers off the back of that.
There's plenty else going on across the firm's business systems. It recently implemented a new image library, and has just adopted the Cornerstone learning management system. Meanwhile, there's a big project in hand to transition the Deltek project management platform to a new version.
Data analytics is another area where Buro Happold has made big strides in recent years. A dedicated internal team of three PowerBI experts have developed the internal data warehouse to provide curated data models to various parts of the organization, which allows people to generate their own reports. Doing this internally rather than relying on outside consultants "means we're delivering, first time, what the stakeholder wants," says Everard. It's proven its worth, particularly when navigating the uncertainties of the pandemic, as he explains:
That has given our leadership real visibility into what's happening. During the pandemic, frankly, if we didn't have those tools, our decision making would have been impacted.
It's really helped our decision making, so we're continually growing our offering. It's probably our most in-demand area.
To read diginomica stories from Unit4's X4U digital experience visit our Experience4U 2021 event hub. The virtual event runs from November 16-17th and sessions will be available afterwards to view on-demand. Click here to see the agenda and register now.
Read this article:
- Tasker updated with powerful new Android 15 automation features - Android Police - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Exploring Stereo Imaging and Automation at the Machine Vision Summit - Novus Light Technologies Today - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Yellow.ai unveils Email Automation feature for streamlined support - IT Brief New Zealand - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Automation in Biopharma Industry Propels Market Growth with Emerging Trends - Global Forecast to 2028 - Yahoo Finance - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Ginkgo Bioworks: Pioneering Healthcare's Future with Drug Development Automation - BNN Breaking - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Inspiring cloud automation - The Register - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Clinical Lab Automation Market to Reach $3.72 Billion by 2030 Amid Technological Advancements - PR Newswire - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- #ETFutureForwardME: Hiring and onboarding right with AI and automation, ETHRWorldME - ETHRWorld Middle East - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- How Document Digitization, Process Automation Can Help Rebuild Trust - GovCIO Media & Research - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Iraq's Customs starts using ASYCUDA automation system in Umm Qasr - Iraqi News - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Robot Software Market: Powering the Future of Automation ,Analysis and Forecast 2023-2029 - WhaTech - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- ImageSource Unveils ILINX AI for Intelligent Process Automation - PR Newswire - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- The Evolving Landscape of APIs: Integration, Automation, and AI - EnterpriseTalk - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Gen AI isn't the only tech driving automation in banking - Finextra - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Navigating the Future: The Shift Towards Level 3 Automation in the Automotive Industry - Medriva - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Automation and Controls Market is Rapidly Growing with Huge Application Scope and Opportunities by 2030 - EIN News - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Winning the Game: Essentials skills to survive AI, LLMs and Automation - DataDrivenInvestor - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Industrial Metrology Market Set to Hit $17.96 Billion by 2030, Driven by Automation and Quality Demand - BNN Breaking - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Automation tools Archives - Milwaukee Community Journal - The Milwaukee Community Journal - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Industrial Automation Market to Receive Overwhelming Hike In Revenue That Will Boost Overall Industry Growth - EIN News - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Lutra AI launches to make building automated AI workflows easy - SiliconANGLE News - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- AI meets materials science: the promise and pitfalls of automated discovery - VentureBeat - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- SPS Fair 2023 - The Latest Industrial Automation Trends - IoT Analytics - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- Top WorkTech News From the Week of December 8th: Updates from Infor, Automation Anywhere, IFS, and More - Solutions Review - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- Nividous and RCG Global Services Focus on Empowering Healthcare and Life Sciences Organizations with Intelligent ... - PR Newswire - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- Automation and Communication to Streamline Deliveries - Supply and Demand Chain Executive - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Future of Employment in an Era of Automation - Drishti IAS - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- From legacy to automation: Spirent's impact on network validation - ETCIO - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Genghis Grill Partners with Flybuy on Off-Premises Automation - FSR magazine - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Q&A: Workday exec talks hospitality and automated, scalable finance - Smartbrief - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Home Automation Market Size to Worth Around USD 788.33 BN by ... - InvestorsObserver - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Network automation market set to surge over the next decade - ChannelLife Australia - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Mitsubishi Electric agrees strategic investment in Otto Motors to ... - Robotics and Automation News - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Roots Automation Introduces InsurGPT - the World's Most Advanced ... - PR Newswire - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Research Shows Ways Digital Print and Automation Power Profitability - Printing Impressions - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Rockwell Automation Inc. stock outperforms market on strong trading day - MarketWatch - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Is It Too Late To Consider Buying Presto Automation Inc. (NASDAQ:PRST)? - Yahoo Finance - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- U.S. Companies Embrace Automation and Digitization - CPAPracticeAdvisor.com - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Byron Centers SpartanNash Ups Customer Service with Robotic ... - DBusiness - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Why KYC automation is key to business growth strategies - FinTech Magazine - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Leading Ireland & UK Industrial Automation company NeoDyne ... - Process & Control Today - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Automation Testing Market: Industry Overview, Size, Share and ... - Digital Journal - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Accelerate your speed of business with IBM Event Automation - IBM Newsroom - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- 3M Brings Innovation to the Manufacturing Supply Chain Environment - MarketScale - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Jitterbit Survey Reveals Low-Code Application Platforms Play an ... - GlobeNewswire - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Turning value into actions: How leaders can use automation and AI ... - Elite Business Magazine - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Automation will combat stagnation | theHRD - The HR Director Magazine - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- MG Tech Unveils New Palletizer with Yaskawa Cobot and Rockwell ... - Packaging Strategies - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- How automation technology helped Cainiao deliver more than 200 ... - Parcel and Postal Technology International - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- IT Priorities 2023: Business automation intensifies as data ... - ComputerWeekly.com - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Milking Automation Market Size, Share And Growth Analysis For 2023-2032 - EIN News - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Digitise your SMEs for Success: How can HR Automation empower you to Stay Ahead of the Game? - People Matters - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Verified acquires Pliance to compliment digital signatures with AML ... - Biometric Update - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- HireVue acquires Modern Hire to bolster hiring automation capabilities - HR Dive - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Advanced thermal imager for industrial automation, inspection ... - AZoM - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Warehouse Automation Survey 2023: More robots are coming to a ... - Modern Materials Handling - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Agriculture Automation and Control Systems Market Untapped ... - Digital Journal - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Himachal Pradesh Government Prioritizes Digitization and ... - TheNewsHimachal - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- An IT Executive's Guide to Automation - free eGuide - Neowin - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Are You Looking for a Top Momentum Pick? Why Rockwell Automation (ROK) is a Great Choice - Zacks Investment Research - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- Industrial Automation Sensors Market is Predicted to Hit a Revenue of USD 37.76 Billion by Growing with a CAGR of 9.12% During 2022-2028; Growing... - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- Declining Stock and Decent Financials: Is The Market Wrong About Honeywell Automation India Limited (NSE:HONAUT)? - Simply Wall St - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- What is Automation? - ISA - International Society of Automation - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Free Online PLC Training from AutomationDirect - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Investing in Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) five years ago would have delivered you a 65% gain - Simply Wall St - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- The Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Market size was valued at USD 2.27 billion in 2021 and is predicted to reach USD 18.69 billion by 2030, with a... - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Bill would give North Dakota manufacturers a tax break on automation - The Center Square - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- I just watched McDonald's next step into automation and why are you so mad about it? - ZDNet - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- What if your colleague is a bot? Harnessing the benefits of workplace automation without alienating staff - The Conversation - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Will Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd (HOLI) Stay at the Top of the Industrials Sector? - InvestorsObserver - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Valmet Oyj : to supply automation to three waste-to-energy plants in Sungnam City, Korea - Marketscreener.com - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- How Automation Can Bridge The Gap Between Internal Operations And Customer Service Excellence - Forbes - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- The Global Industrial Automation And Control Systems Market size is expected to reach $301.8 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 10.0% CAGR... - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Introducing the Automation Kit for Power Platform - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Salesforce com : Launches Automation Everywhere Bundle to Help Companies Lower Costs, Boost Productivity, and Deliver Success Now - Marketscreener.com - December 2nd, 2022 [December 2nd, 2022]
- ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp. and Tempo Automation, Inc. Announce Closing of Business Combination; Tempo Automation Holdings, Inc. to Trade on... - November 27th, 2022 [November 27th, 2022]
- Global automation major Diebold Nixdorf expands presence in India with Bengaluru facility - The Economic Times - November 27th, 2022 [November 27th, 2022]
- Structural Health Monitoring Market Report 2022: Increasing Requirement for Standardization and Automation for the Repair and Maintenance of Civil and... - November 19th, 2022 [November 19th, 2022]
- The mining automation market size is expected to grow from USD 3.1 billion in 2022 to USD 4.2 billion by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of... - November 19th, 2022 [November 19th, 2022]
- Cisco study: Network teams look to SDN, automation to manage multicloud operations - Network World - November 16th, 2022 [November 16th, 2022]