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Operations and new technology implementation

Hi,

How would you approach the following case please:

Our client is a large grocery distribution company. The CEO is thinking about automating parts of his company processes. What are the implications of this ?

I was thinking about exploring: the company in terms of costs and revenues change, customer, competition and products. How would you approach the case differently in a MECE way please?  

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Top answer
Ian
Coach
edited on Feb 15, 2021
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Is this "To Automate of Not" from the Darden casebook? :)

It's a great entry-level case!

FYI, they have a framework in the casebook itself.

Ultimately, it comes down to:

  1.  Benefits of tech - $ amount (NPV)
    1. ​Cost savings (labor, space, etc)
    2. Revenue gains (premium product from faster deliveries (price), more throughput (quantity))
  2. Cost of tech - $ amount
    1. ​Upfront cost (implementation, installation, contract signing, purchase, etc)
    2. Recurring cost (maintenance, training, subscription fees, etc) - $ amount NPV
  3. Logistics/Implementation
    1. Benefits must be greater than costs
    2. They must be greater than the costs, moreso than other investments would make (i.e. best ROI our capital can get)
    3. We must have confidence in 1) True cost and 2) True benefits
    4. We must have confidence in timelines...i.e. will it take longer to install, get operational, etc. than we're being told?

Here's the case solution (but, of course, casebook solutions are rarely as thorough as a coach's explanation)

Clara
Coach
on Feb 16, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Agree with Ian!

Furthermore, on top of the business case (is it worth it or not to make the change, etc.), I would include risks consideration, for post-changes integration. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

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