Global transformation as the foundation for strategic advisory

In an interview with Bartek Wieczorek, Senior Director of Elanco Solution Center Warsaw, we analyze the results of a global transformation, where the Warsaw-based Elanco Solution Center played a key role in the areas of standardization and optimization.

FOCUS ON Business: Nearly a year ago (in the Spring of 2023), Elanco Animal Health completed the second stage of the global transformation. What are its effects, and what was the role of the Elanco Solution Center (ESC) in this process?

Bartek Wieczorek, Elanco Solution Center: For a year now, Elanco has been conducting global operations using a consolidated system, greatly streamlining business administration and decision-making through the utilization of data sourced from a singular platform. This has accelerated operational processes within the company.

During the transformation itself, the effects were sinusoidal, with performance fluctuating. However, as we aimed for stabilization, performance consistently increased. The transformation project placed significant emphasis on centralization and standardization. We realized that standardization is crucial to achieving greater control over processes and data in Elanco in the future. Our goal was and is to extend this standardization to all countries in all regions. If certain actions prove effective in one or two countries, the logical question arises: Why not apply these effective practices universally? This is the essence of centralization – a collective effort to improve and standardize our activities globally.

Centralization and standardization pave the way for optimization. Our transformation plans involved improving every process within our competencies, eliminating inefficiencies, and minimizing time wastage. Some tasks are already behind us, but our ongoing goal is the systematic optimization of every aspect of our operations, ensuring that we operate with the highest efficiency. We nurture a culture of continuous improvement.

A crucial aspect of this optimization is the strategic implementation of automation. Since we are already working on one system, it's time for the next step. Automation not only speeds up routine tasks but also positions us as a forward-thinking partner, engaged in delivering innovative solutions and insights that drive company development. By automating repetitive tasks, we free up valuable time and resources, allowing our team to redirect efforts to more advanced value-added tasks.

What factors had the greatest impact on the success achieved by the Elanco Solution Center? Which strategies worked best?

A key element was intensive integration. The Warsaw office became a kind of communication center where tests were conducted, and our team’s gathered knowledge. Teams actively participated in testing over 15,000 scenarios even before the system was launched, involving approximately 150 people.

Inadequate involvement from business, service center, and infrastructure support teams is a common cause of failures in transformations and system implementations. Transformations led solely by IT teams or transformation teams often do not yield the expected results. Project weaknesses usually become apparent during error reporting.

In Elanco transformation case, 15,000 scenarios were tested by operational employees and ESC teams and were reported. Each error was described and categorized in detail, considering its criticality, and solutions or workarounds were sought. This allowed the system to be corrected even before launch. Commitment, control, process verification, and data verification seemed endless, but despite this, we did not lose enthusiasm.

On the way to achieving stability, our newly developed strategy was also a significant factor and contributed to achieving stability in a clear and concise manner. All this happened during the transition. Each pillar was important, but Partnership was particularly crucial. The Elanco Solution Center became a business partner, ready not only to assist the business but also to influence how processes are conducted.

How have processes at ESC changed in connection with the conducted transition?

The integration with Bayer Animal Health, known as the Mustang project, introduced a unified system, a unified chart of accounts, and a unified scope of services. The process transfer period also proved to be an excellent time for their revision and standardization, creating process maps and developing instructions for internal stakeholders using ESC services.

Organizing and expanding the service catalog is a key element in eliminating time wastage and lays the foundations for process automation. During the transition we established a unified global service catalog, defining financial processes, subject to verification for each country. Each exceptional event is thoroughly analyzed, and the next step is to transfer it to the service catalog. This step is the ground for process automation, allowing for increased efficiency.

We observe an increased interest in using modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotic process automation (RPA), or data analysis to increase efficiency and service quality. Is ESC taking steps to implement these technologies?

We recognize the global benefits of improving efficiency and service quality. Within ESC, we are preparing to implement the first robots for a selected group of processes, starting with priority areas. At the same time, we are working on Elanco Chat GPT, which is already available to employees, and soon we will strive to make it available to Elanco's partners as well.

All these actions fit into the framework of the Partnership strategy. We analyze processes and eliminate efficiency losses where possible. How do we achieve this? We communicate the need for changes on the business side and act as a partner in the optimization process, implementing integration with external portals, introducing EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), and eliminating manual payments.

How do process automation and modern technologies affect the scope of tasks carried out by ESC? How does this affect relationships with customers?

The integration of process automation and modern technologies in the Elanco Solution Center (ESC) signifies a transformative change in our approach.

Traditionally focused on operational tasks, we are now moving in a more strategic direction. The implementation of automation technology will allow us to streamline routine processes, freeing up valuable time and resources. As a result, ESC will be able to focus on initiatives that provide significant added value to the company.

One of the key areas where this change may be visible is data analysis. With advanced analytical tools and automation, ESC will be able to delve into data. This will not only improve our understanding of various operational aspects but also allow us to extract valuable strategic insights. ESC can transform into a business reporting center, providing comprehensive real-time data that can have a significant impact on decision-making processes at all levels of the organization.

We aim to go beyond the traditional scope of tasks in our role and provide strategic advice. The use of modern technologies will allow us to offer proactive, strategic guidelines for stakeholders at Elanco. We can contribute to the development and implementation of business strategies, aligning our efforts with broader organizational goals.

Thank you for the interview.

This article comes from magazine:
FOCUS ON Business #14 January-February (1/2024)