About the Client 

Keeping businesses moving is what this agriculture machinery manufacturer is all about. It works hard to understand how it can push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of farming by delivering innovative products to meet the needs of today’s modern farm — making them more productive and profitable. 

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Paving the Way for a Digital Future

With a commitment to innovation, this manufacturer realized it needed to invest in several transformation initiatives to keep up with the pace of change. After conducting a strategic evaluation, the company embarked on an enterprise transformation to improve its distribution network. In the past, its distribution network of parent dealers and locations used multiple systems, making it difficult to view the bigger picture. The transformation initiative aimed to integrate the distribution network into one system, giving the business more insights into optimizing performance, expanding reach, and ensuring efficient delivery of its products.

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Flexibly Addressing Expertise Gaps

Well aware of the pitfalls of undertaking large-scale transformations, the company knew it needed talent with deep expertise in driving transformation projects to ensure this transformation didn’t confirm the statistic that 70% of transformation initiatives fail. The initiative was complex, and the company needed someone with extensive program management experience and well-versed in data analytics to drive results.

Enhancing The Workforce Strategy with Graphite

The Director of the transformation project didn’t need a full-time hire to manage the project. So he researched his options for a more flexible, agile talent solution. Yet one criteria remained in his mind - quality of talent was non-negotiable. The Director turned to Graphite, a proven on-demand talent acquisition platform with a vast network of independent program managers with management consulting expertise.

Personal, Dedicated Assistance

Upon contacting Graphite, the Director was matched with a dedicated account manager. The account manager explained how Graphite’s platform would seamlessly connect the company with a curated shortlist of experienced individuals drawn from its pool of over 10,000 independent experts for the interim senior project manager role. 

Pleased with the level of service and the prospect of finding an expert that fit its criteria within 48 hours, the company set up a second meeting to discuss the project's specifics. Together they collaborated on the scope of work. It was essential for this transformation initiative that the selected expert have heavy project and program management experience in programs with multiple projects and workstreams. Their soft skills would also need to be top-tier as they were expected to lead and execute the projects while in constant communication with stakeholders.

An AI-Powered Talent Acquisition Process

Finding the right expert with the right expertise and background was critical to the transformation initiative. With Graphite’s AI-powered features, the account manager was able to quickly filter through Graphite’s expert network, identify , and personally vet the most appropriate independent consultants. The account manager presented the Director a curated list of 4 independent experts who offered the right expertise, fee, and availability.

Ease of Communication

With Graphite’s in-app messaging and meeting room features, the company was able to conduct live virtual interviews with the candidates and communicate all within Graphite’s platform. Having everything in one place made the talent acquisition process seamless. 

Graphite made the entire process easy and uncomplicated, enabling the company to quickly and efficiently select an independent expert with Lean Six Sigma and Agile Scrum Master certificates and experience leading program management initiatives at Fortune 500 companies like Schneider Electric, Cisco, Estée Lauder, and Harley-Davidson.

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Subject Matter Expertise Contributes to OEM Transformation

The smooth, professional, and cost-effective collaboration with Graphite allowed the company to flexibly hire an independent expert with the extensive program management experience required to drive the OEM transformation. 

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By turning to Graphite’s proven on-demand talent acquisition platform, the company had an external subject matter expert who drove the transformation by: 

• Developing a current state analysis during the discovery phase, identifying roadblocks, and conducting financial and data analyses 
• Creating a strategy, defining success, and outlining metrics to identify how the company could move beyond the roadblocks 
• Developing a roadmap to execution and presenting the findings to stakeholders
• Executing the approved plan, and holding weekly meetings with key team members to provide updates on the project’s progress

Over the course of the project, the company received detailed project tracking on the Graphite platform, including deliverables completed, tasks performed, and work hours submitted. With Graphite’s project check-in tool, the company received an additional layer of support and guidance to ensure the success of the project every step of the way. 

Due to the success of the partnership and effective results, the company has expanded their partnership with Graphite to add 2 additional independent consultants to drive additional transformation projects across the business.