Consulting services

OVERVIEW

We provide workplace intelligence that supports the business objectives by aligning the operations, talent, technology, logistics and real estate.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

Workplace Intelligence adds value by increasing space efficiency, enabling productivity, and reinforcing culture.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

As labor and space continue to be among the largest costs for most corporate space users, it’s important to implement a workplace environment that encourages productivity and supports your business’s goals. We provide workplace intelligence that improves business outcomes, drives results and support your overall objectives.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

Our integrated and comprehensive approach aligns the workforce, workplace and the work itself to the organization’s strategic objectives. Our focus is on gathering, analyzing and understanding the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the development of a workplace strategy. Within this knowledge, our clients can create the right environment for their personnel to enable their success.

Advances in technology, changing office trends and a multi-generational workforce are constantly shifting workplace values. Our advisors help you understand the opportunities and challenges created by these variables. We employ surveys, space utilization studies, focus groups, pricing models and business process mapping to ensure that the data we gather will be used to create the right work environment for your company. Our flexible approach and use of industry-leading technology will enable smarter decision-making around your improved space.

We also create augmented and virtual reality models for you to walk through so you can experience your new space before moving in. Finally, we’ll help drive the organizational changes needed to ensure a smooth transition to the new workplace for you and your employees.

OVERVIEW

Location decisions are complex. Identifying the optimal geographic market for an operation should be analytically-driven, utilizing the latest databases, most sophisticated analytics, and on-the-ground research.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

Our Location Strategy engagements identify geographic markets that improve access to talent, reduce turnover, and, in most cases, reduce operating costs.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

Many Location Strategy service providers focus on a single location driver such as real estate, labor, or supply chain. Our Location Strategy capabilities include all components of an organization’s location decisions:

• Financial - Our analyses assess the varying operating costs.
• Logistics - We evaluate the supply chain and transportation options and costs.
• Labor - We evaluate the suitability of geographic markets with a focus on labor availability and cost, contrasting labor market dynamics to identify clear distinction in terms of the support for clients’ labor requirements.
• Community and Site - We examine whether your company will be compatible long-term with a prospective community.
• Trade Zones - The United States has about 170 free-trade zones with reduced restrictions on customs requirements.
• Governmental and Environmental Regulation - To mitigate the risk of regulation-related restrictions, we help our clients understand them before the location decisions.
• Incentives - As incentives play a significant role during location choice, we critically assess and negotiate each statutory and discretionary opportunity.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

Through an analytically-driven process, our Location Strategy engagements help clients build consensus about the location criteria most important to their businesses and apply those criteria to choose the location that best supports the operations. This allows us to compare hundreds of potential geographic markets. To ensure no information is overlooked, our “ground truth” research provides up-to-date, localized information to enable a location decision that ensures our clients’ success.

In our Location Strategy service line, we help clients plan for securing optimal locations for a company in identifying their needs and objectives. We assist their search for locations based on their requirements.

OVERVIEW

We evaluate the labor market dynamics to empower our clients.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

We have analyzed the labor markets of all 900+ MSAs in the United States and hundreds of cities across 5 continents for our clients, resulting in projects that have saved up to 50+% in direct and indirect labor costs associated with their operations.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

We believe a great Labor Analytics study isn’t complete unless an understanding of the client’s talent requirements and data-driven market analysis (i.e. occupations, industries, unemployment, pay rates, etc.) is combined with comprehensive “ground truth.” The combination of data and “real world” information is the process that separates us from the competition, who too often rely on theoretical analyses to create solutions.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

Our Labor Analytics team studies global, national, regional, and local trends that are incorporated into every study. Given that empirical labor data is inherently lagging to what is happening on the ground in localized labor markets, we’ve established relationships with 3rd party staffing and recruiting firms globally. This process involves leveraging relationships via interviews and on-the-ground data from sources that are embedded in local labor markets. The result of gathering “ground truth” is the ability to provide our clients with clear expectations of the talent acquisition strategy to succeed in a location. In the end, our approach provides clients with a real-world comparison from which to make an optimal labor decision.

We help our clients pinpoint areas of improvement in through our Labor Analytics service line. Here we can give guidance in how to best bring outliers under control.

OVERVIEW

Our consultants are experts in economic development incentives, location strategy and much more. We know the differences and intricacies between the diverse geographic markets and have a firm understanding of how to negotiate discretionary incentives.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

We help assess the opportunity for incentives by considering the programs that are available to our clients, the value of those incentives and the upkeep involved with administration. We create various business models that establish operational upgrades to the client’s present location.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

We approach the economic development of an organization in each of their locations with a negotiation strategy that best garners the most benefits four our clients. We compare current programs and trends and take that into consideration when developing our strategy forward.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

We work in conjunction with accomplished professionals and local attorneys, creating a specialized team of experts that will create an agreement between the economic development organization and our clients.

OVERVIEW

We evaluate opportunities for our clients to achieve supply chain & distribution improvements in cost, efficiency, service, flexibility and growth.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

We have identified cost savings for our clients ranging from several hundred thousand dollars to several million dollars and service improvements of >50%.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

As consumer and customer expectations continue to drive demand for lower cost with quicker delivery times, many clients are looking for ways to gain efficiency, cost savings and service improvements in order to either remain competitive or to gain a competitive advantage. Failure to do so could have far-reaching and damaging consequences. We evaluate key components of our clients existing supply chain network structure such as facility locations, inbound and outbound transportation modes and costs, inventory levels and service-level expectations for comparison with optimized to-be models. Our deep supply chain expertise enables us to provide real-world insight and perspective to accompany data analysis and modeling in order to identify the best possible solutions for our clients. When coupled with our Location Strategy and Economic Incentives capabilities, we provide our clients with a holistic, “art and science” based solution to their supply chain needs.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

First, in order to maximize our value to our client, our team will gather data and information to gain a clear understanding of our client’s current state, their objectives, existing constraints and what they are trying to accomplish. Second, we utilize the data and information gathered to create an “as-is” baseline model to replicate the behavior and costs of the existing network. Third, we work with the client to select and investigate several specific scenarios representing alternate supply chain strategies, varying assumptions, and/or the exploration of model sensitivity to key variables. Fourth, we work with the client to select a small number of scenarios for additional analysis and formal comparison on both quantitative and qualitative factors. Finally, we will develop a comprehensive scenario comparison of transportation costs and service-level metrics for each scenario compared against the as-is baseline in order to provide the client with a clear and concise evaluation of future-state network configurations for optimizing costs and service.

Alternatively, if the client wants to give consideration to outsourcing operations in whole or in part in order to execute their network strategy, our team can help the client to evaluate what their Insource/Outsource strategy should be. If outsourcing operations is indicated by the agreed upon strategy, we can help the client develop a Third-Party Logistics provider (3PL) Request for Proposal, distribute, evaluate and score the RFP responses in order to facilitate a provider selection.

Our analysis of our clients’ network will greatly help in managing their supply chain and distribution. We help our clients oversee the movement of their goods from supplier/manufacturer to point of sale.

OVERVIEW

We evaluate our clients’ inventory levels, strategy and sourcing/procurement processes to identify opportunities to carry less inventory and manage the flow of inventory more effectively.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

We have worked with our clients to achieve tens of millions of dollars of on-hand inventory reductions and carrying costs as well as significant space savings by developing a more effective inventory management strategy and associated processes and capabilities.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

Pipeline and on-hand inventory are often one of the greatest costs that our clients are facing. Improper management, systems, processes and lifecycle strategies can tie up functional capital that can be far more productive. Our clients are often facing capacity constraints, off-site storage costs and logistics coordination, excessive inventory transfers between facilities and reduced efficiency due to the overpopulation of inventory and inability to effectively manage the inventory pipeline and lifecycle. Our team has deep expertise in supply chain operations management and consulting and we put our expertise to work to assist our clients in better managing their inventory assets, flow, processes, lifecycle, sku rationalization processes and disposition strategies. 

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

Our services to assist our clients in better managing their inventory and controlling the related costs include:

• Inventory Optimization – By leveraging our industry leading network modeling approach and software, our team can work with the client to optimize their inventory levels and placement in current and future facilities in order to maximize inventory productivity, improve service levels and reduce unproductive facility-to-facility transfers.
• Lifecycle Management and Cost-to-Serve – we work with our clients to evaluate their existing inventory lifecycle management systems and capabilities and their Cost-to-Serve at the product family or SKU level. We then develop a strategy and process for better managing the product lifecycle through data analytics and process & system enhancements and improved technologies where applicable.
• Sourcing and Procurement – evaluate existing sourcing and procurement strategies in order to identify opportunities for strategy enhancements, process improvements, systems and technology recommendations and benchmarking against peers and competitors.
• Data visualization and Inventory Management Dashboards – in order to visualize inventory management performance and inventory efficiency, we can develop, and maintain if needed, dashboards and data visualization/analytics tools. Reports and dashboards are developed based on the client’s needs and range from basic to complex, custom dashboards which meet the client’s specific needs. These tools, through their “drill down” capabilities, enable precise analysis of the reasons and rationale for inventory issues and variability.

With our Inventory Rationalization program, we help our clients in the supervision of their assets and stock goods. We help the with the flow of goods from the manufacture to our client’s warehouse.

With our Inventory Rationalization program, we help our clients in the supervision of their assets and stock goods. We help the with the flow of goods from the manufacture to our client’s warehouse.

OVERVIEW

We evaluate “inside the box” opportunities for our clients to achieve improvements in cost, labor and process efficiency, service, space utilization and capability maturity.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

We have identified cost savings for our clients ranging from several hundred thousand dollars to tens of millions of dollars, productivity improvements of >40% and space utilization/densification improvements of >40%.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

Our clients are often facing issues with their ability to meet or exceed their customers expectations for lower costs and improved service and flexibility. Because of immature capabilities, sub-optimized space utilization, inefficient flow of goods within their facilities, inability to measure and drive performance and insufficient, underutilized or outdated technology and equipment, they are often over capacity, underperforming and throwing labor at their problems. They are fighting an uphill battle to keep up with the ever-increasing demands of their customers. We can help. Our team possesses decades of experience in not only supply chain operations consulting but also real-world supply chain operations management and leadership. We know they challenges that our clients are facing and have walked many miles in their shoes. Our deep expertise across numerous industries and with broad ranges of capabilities and technologies provide us with a unique perspective on what can and should be done to help our clients cost-effectively achieve their goals and improve their ability to meet the future demands of their customers. Our services include:

• Capabilities Assessment – Evaluation of as-is capabilities related to people, processes, technology, systems, space utilization and performance management against more advanced and leading capabilities. Identify gaps and develop cost-effective recommendations for capability maturity advancement and a roadmap for implementation.
• Design, Flow and Layout – Develop conceptual designs by assessing opportunities for space densification, racking layout and process flow, potential incorporation of material handling systems and labor-reducing technologies.
• Process Flow – Evaluate existing process flows and to-be process design and mapping.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

First, in order to maximize our value to our client, our team will gather data and information to gain a clear understanding of our client’s challenges, capabilities, constraints, capacities, financial considerations and customer expectations and commitments. We interview our client stakeholders, evaluate reports, data and designs/layouts, and conduct detailed facility tours in order to fully understand the current state. Second, we evaluate the information gathered in the first step to hypotheses for improvement. These hypotheses are evaluated for value and effectiveness in solving existing issues and/or meeting future needs. Third, we will perform gap analyses against advanced and leading capabilities, technologies, storage mechanisms, processes and/or design concepts. This is done to identify the most impactful hypotheses for further examination. Fourth, our team will leverage the recommendations or design concepts which will most effectively address the client’s needs and develop recommendations for improvement and/or conceptual designs. Finally, we will develop a comprehensive readout of all findings, recommendations, priorities and designs in order to provide the client with a clear and concise plan for addressing their needs such as: reducing costs, improving space utilization and density, maximizing efficiency, reducing labor content, mitigating operational risks, enhancing service, improving capacity and maximizing flexibility.

We take existing warehouse designs and help our customers transform them into a well-oiled machine.

OVERVIEW

Our experts create a strategy to optimize your real estate portfolio cost to achieve financial savings and increase performance.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

The benefits of this approach can be realized in a variety of areas:

• Cost reduction
• Cost competitiveness
• Process efficiency
• Effectiveness of internal controls
• Information visibility
• Optimized real estate holdings
• Infrastructure to support reliability and scalability
• Business and cross-organization alignment
• Elimination of unnecessary distractions from core business
• Service level agreements performance
• Customer satisfaction
• Talent recruitment and retention
• Tax benefits

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

At the core of our portfolio optimization capabilities, knowledge and experience is our ability to assist companies locate the business in the “right” market through the assessment and analysis of key criteria while providing a platform for improving performance, increasing customer satisfaction, and driving revenue.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

In order to successfully achieve the strategic benefits of a fully-integrated real estate portfolio optimization and workplace program, a client must employ an integrated approach that includes its business strategy, people, process, supply chain, logistics, technology, and real estate. We recognize our client’s business model is evolving in light of disruptive technologies. This is why our approach is grounded in the leading practice trends focused on innovating and growing the business through the service of its customers.

Our experts begin with a strategic assessment of the vision and values of the company; and align the people, processes, technology and real estate to support the operations. Our co-location, relocation and/or consolidation approach for addressing the multiple locations provides an opportunity to identify the appropriate and efficient physical real estate locations to support the business, employ leading practices, analyze impact to changes in workflow and workplace, and identify cost savings opportunities.

OVERVIEW

We elevate the Industry CRE to a more strategic level through changes in the organizational structure and integration with business units and the strategic planning process.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

Each in-house real estate department is unique, made up of individuals with distinct specialties and processes of varying effectiveness. We take the time to understand your existing operations – and your business – before making any recommendations.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

Each in-house real estate department is unique, made up of individuals with distinct specialties and processes of varying effectiveness. We enhance the capabilities of your in-house real estate team and aligns their efforts with the organization’s strategic objectives.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

Before making any recommendations, we take time to understand your existing operations – and your business. We do this in several ways:

• Examining the organization of your team, recommending restructure as needed
• Recommended restructures often include multiple departments to enhance internal collaboration and integration
• Updating the Roles & Responsibilities of each team member to better align with their strengths
• Redefining your process and revising/distributing updated process manuals as needed
• Assessing the efficiency of your existing technology solutions
• Identifying optimal real estate performance targets
• Determining what services to outsource and which to keep in-house

By playing to your real estate team’s strengths and building flexibility into each of our proposed solutions, we enable your team to evolve with the needs of the business. We leave you confident in your team’s ability to identify opportunities and create value for your organization no matter what the future brings.

OVERVIEW

Success often comes from the ability to adapt to changing environments. We understand that even the best laid plans are often met with resistance.

When an organization’s employees are not prepared to make a transition, be it relocation or a new workplace environment, the effectiveness of your new program is in jeopardy. These changes can leave employees with significant questions and therefore uncertainty, which is the root of change resistance and consequently, business disruption. We believe in the importance of employee engagement and the value it can create for your business. With this in mind, we are committed not only to enhancing your operations, but also to guiding your people through program implementation. We begin by identifying potential points of resistance and exploring important questions such as:

Should change be incremental or all at once?

Will employee reactions vary within the portfolio depending on region or job type?

How can we manage expectations during the transition?

What tools or trainings are necessary to empower employees to make the change?

An organization’s willingness to adapt is the greatest indicator of its ability to succeed. Our team can ensure your transition is carefully planned and thoughtfully executed with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

Gaining the support of your employees requires transparency about what – and why – things are changing. We develop a Communication Plan that conveys the case for change and your vision for the future.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

Sharing the Implementation Plan & Timeline with employees is crucial because it minimizes uncertainty. This allows employees to become active participants in the process, not passive observers. Having been trained on the new processes and tools, employees are empowered to execute the transition.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

Measuring the effectiveness of the program is key. The resulting data serves to highlight improvements and address any challenges. Our services ensure communications and engagements are designed and delivered to provide maximum support for employees.

OVERVIEW

Whether renovating an existing building or ground-up new construction, we implement our client’s vision for their new workspace with a highly efficient process that coincides within their budget and causes minimal impact to their business.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

Over the past 3 years, we have managed over $100 million of construction work for our clients nationwide. “We would have been lost without this team” is how one of our recent clients describes the process of designing, building, furnishing and relocating to new 37,000 sq ft headquarters facility in Nashville, TN.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

Our Project Managers have years of experience managing complex construction projects and are with our clients every step of the way. From design, budget, schedule, construction execution, technology implementation, and relocation, we are in daily contact with our clients to ensure the project runs smoothly and without surprises. We understand that our clients have a business to run and a major construction project can be a distraction to both them and their customers. We handle every detail of the process to make sure our client’s vision is implemented on-time and on-budget.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

First, our Project Management Team will assist in the overall design of the project working with our designers or theirs. This process starts with a general concept of the new space and progresses through several phases to end up with a detailed set of construction documents. Next, we will develop a detailed budget to outline project costs and ensure that every dollar spent brings value to the client. We will also work to extract potential savings whenever possible throughout the process. Third, we will provide multiple cost estimates and bids from a variety of proven contractors and vendors to ensure our clients receive highly competitive pricing from proven partners. Fourth, we will develop a daily project schedule to establish appropriate communication and coordination with all stakeholders. Next, we will provide continuous management and oversite of the construction process from start to finish to include all technology aspects and furnishings. We conduct weekly progress meetings with all stakeholders to communicate progress and resolve any issues as soon as they arise. Finally, we will plan, coordinate, and manage the relocation to the new space and minimize any disruptions to our client’s day-to-day business.

Our dedicated project management team works to bring our client’s vision to life.

OVERVIEW

We manage clients’ restacks within their current environment and relocations to their new office space.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

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SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

We manage the entire move process from start to finish. From developing phasing plans to completing the to/from matrix to actual overseeing the move, we are hands on throughout the process. Many of our competitors or other vendors simply handle bits and pieces of the move or relocation process. Our hands-on approach begins with running the vendor selection process to final crate pick-up.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

Initial discussions begin around formalizing the scope of work to be completed regarding the relocation management process and timing of relocation. Once confirmed, we will prepare occupancy phasing schedules and step-by-step procedures to implement the relocations. All documentation regarding desk changes, floor changes, or building changes will be published and provided to employees along with the finalized “To/From” matrix.

We handle the bidding and selection process for all related vendors- physical movers, technology teams, etc. Once vendors are selected, we manage the entire process and coordinate with the technology manager, vendors, suppliers, facilities team, landlord, loading dock personnel, elevators, dumpster vendors and cleaning companies. During the physical move, we oversee and supervise the actual relocation. During the move, provide an on-site Project Manager throughout the actual relocation periods to monitor, answer questions, coordinate field changes and be responsible for the orderly transition. After relocations, the Project Manager will manage the post move checklist and complete final walkthroughs with move vendors and the client.

OVERVIEW

Whether conducting an initial needs assessment or assisting with software selection, we’re committed to delivering the latest user-friendly tools that offer valuable analytics.

TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF VALUE

By focusing on integrating multiple data sources, we enable proactive decision making that helps optimize operations and meet key performance targets.

SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

CREATE can track important real estate and occupancy metrics over time, highlight key dates and action items, create a centralized accessible source for ongoing reporting and benchmarking, and much more.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

We strive to be flexible in the way we create informative deliverables for our clients, tailoring technology solutions and visual analytics to your specific needs.

We answer the questions that are important to our clients. We take clients’ data and run it through our analytical process to produce content tailored to their portfolio. We also create custom experiences for clients with specific needs.