After 30 years of transforming businesses in Israel, one might think I had enough.
But, deep inside me, there is that burning fire telling me that there is more I can do, that there is more I can transform.
Helping people and companies is an endless mission, and I have plenty to give.
Israel is considered a start-up nation, so many start-ups and so many VC funds.
That is right. However, those start-ups have an idea and some people working on developing it.
The only business transformation that they are busy with is “from idea to a product”. The big dream is merely an exit. “May an international company buy us” – that is their morning prayer.
It is noteworthy that unlike start-ups, R&D departments – although basically trying to realize an idea and transform it into a product, are working in a different environment, and they are part of a big company who invest the money into the R&D.
Thus, those R&D departments have their own business processes and need to scrutinize and evaluate them. There is an R&D management and there is a need for transforming businesses.
Israel is a small country, a small economy, biggest companies are relatively considered small to medium companies in the global market. A mobile telecom company of 1.2 million subscribers is not such a big one, and there are just 4 of them.
This has 2 meanings. The first is that big Israeli companies do not have all the complexities of big global companies. The second is that after so many years I’ve kind of exhausted the Israeli market. I had many business transformation projects with almost every relevant company there is.
How have I found more complexities?
In order to add more complexities to my professional experience, I started working with Israeli ministries.
One might say that the drawback is that they are governmental organizations. Still, that is what makes the business processes more complex, especially in the boiling pot named the Middle East.
One of the most refreshing experiences I had was with the Israeli Airports Authority, which supervises and manages Israeli airports both internationally and nationally.
Generally speaking, the business transformation is considered as a project, so once it is accomplished we move on to the next project, even at the same department.
That authority understands that transformation is something that should be iterated. In other words, that transformation in business is something to be maintained.
Nowadays, when the markets and environments are rapidly changing, not to say hectic or frantic, organizations are in a situation of intermittent crisis. That is the main reason why business transformation should be continuous.
This idea of continuous business transformation was well implemented in the Airport Authority.
And yet, there is only one authority like that in Israel. I have to find more companies.
Working with global teams
During all these years I had been transforming businesses in Israel that are part or subsidiaries of international companies, like Orange, STANLEY® Brite Food and more.
Those projects were done in cooperation with people from all over the world.
I really enjoyed working with different people from different corners of the world. The clashing of different cultures and perspectives was phenomenal. I then realised that is nothing more rewarding than working with people who see things differently. This experience enriched and broadened my view.
Explore some of my recent case-studies
Where to move?
I realised that If I want to have more projects involving more complex business processes and if I want to work in a global environment, the clear conclusion is that I have to move to another city where there are plenty of companies who have complex business processes and systems in need of transformation.
I worked with many industries: financial institutions, banking, insurance, manufacturing, commerce, agriculture, academic institutions, municipalities and governments. I would like to work with more companies within each industry, I love the diversity and that is the reason why business transformation doesn’t really need specialisation.
London is an obvious destination not because of the proximity but because of the vivid and vibrant business arena, it became. Because it is the beating heart of the business world. Also because it is facing major changes like BREXIT and GDPR (new European privacy regulation) not to mention 5G and IOT (internet of things).
Why are London based businesses in need of business transformation?
Brexit
Obviously, the major change is BREXIT. It seems that companies might have some issues with crossing the canal into or from Europe. Crossing the border might mean adapting contracts, different taxes and tariffs, adapting the costing data, more procedure and forms.
These will definitely will affect the business processes.
GDPR
Another change is the new European regulation GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) that came into force lately.
This regulation is about protecting the privacy of any individual (EU resident), whether clients or employees. The GDPR regulation is not merely about protecting the personal data, encrypting it or using methods of data anonymization or pseudonymisation (identifying data fields are filled with artificial identifier or pseudonyms).
The GDPR regulation is also about business processes from getting an explicit consent of the individual to collect the data and process it up to data erasure and data portability (transferring data from one system to another).
5G, IOT, cloud and blockchain
The 5th generation of mobile infrastructure is more than a sheer broadband, high speed, stable and consistent communication. 5G enables an enormous amount of devices to be connected. This means machines, robots and autonomous cars can be connected, controlled and monitored.
IoT – Internet of Things.
This technology is not only about having a smart house or autonomous cars. IoT is about changing business processes. Having sensors everywhere and communicating with them, monitoring processes remotely and changing them when needed. Every container or parcel sent can be equipped with a sensor. Sensors can be installed along production lines so every phase can be monitored and can be controlled.
This means tightened interfaces between operation/production systems and ERP and CRM. This is a great revolution in business processes.
Cloud is more than a sheer server located somewhere, and more than virtualisation, including network virtualisation aka SDN (Software Defined Networking). Cloud is about a concept that enables businesses developing and delivering new services rapidly and cheaply.
The blockchain is not only about cryptocurrencies, which are one implementation of the blockchain. The blockchain is about making any transaction, it is a smart ledger or smart contract. It enables a real-time sourcing and facilitates connecting ERP systems between businesses.
I can mention more changes but it will do for now.
All these enforce businesses to invest more and more in Security or as it is called – Cybersecurity.
What can I deliver in London?
Businesses must adapt to the changes in the world – new markets, new competitors, new regulations and new technologies.
It’s not enough just to improve business processes. It’s not enough to build more automated interfaces between business systems or to improve the user interface.
The whole chain of processes should be changed and be adapted. In other words, it is about transforming businesses.
Many strategic decisions should be made. Decisions that will affect the whole business.
To some extent, businesses should reinvent themselves and that is the core of what businesses should do.
That is the point where I can help by transforming businesses.
A full-scale transformation with a strategic point of view; neither a technical improvement of a process nor a local change.
I design a multi-aspect process changes that encompass: strategic, legal, financial and operational aspects.
From the new regulation, I can point to what should be included in contracts and forms.
I design the new processes derived from the newer regulation, including how should the manual part be executed, and how should the existing systems be adapted (no, it doesn’t mean you have to implement a new ERP system).
Furthermore, I will design the controls needed to ensure the completeness and validity of the data along the flow of the process. And of course, where when and how should the outcomes of the processes be reported in operational reports and financial ones.
The broad point of view and synchronized actions is what businesses need, and that what I deliver.
Why am I thrilled to move to London?
The great opportunity to be a part of a great city, working with great companies during a turbulent period of vast commercial, legal, procedural and technological transformations, is more than gripping and compelling.
I’m enthusiastic about helping troubled businesses transform into consistently profitable organizations amid the hectic period of vast changes.