It is now over six months since Implied Logic acquired the STEM visual software for the reliable modelling of business from its original owner, Analysys Mason (AM). Client reaction to
the transaction itself has been very positive, with all parties warmly embracing
the concept of a stronger software product proposition no longer tied to a single
consulting house.
However, as time passes and what was news quickly becomes the norm, greater clarity
now emerges about the activities, stability and future strategy of the new company.
Focus on platform and expertise to enable results for clients
The STEM product never fails to attract rave reviews from the limited audience it
has been exposed to in the past, so the simple strategy is to grow the company by
widening that audience.
The first aim of that planned growth is to establish partnerships with an increasing
number of external consultant-partners who can promote STEM-based solutions in business
planning, budgeting and profitability analysis to existing clients in their own
markets.
The company aims to seek partners with a wide range of disciplines with the secondary
intention that such consultants may also introduce STEM to potential clients working
in other industries such as information technology, cloud computing, serviced properties,
transport logistics, and energy supply, where we have already demonstrated a strong
potential fit.
Implied Logic now operates a successful programme of follow-up training and expert
model advisory services, both for partners and end-users, which accelerates their
learning and initial productivity with the STEM software. Not only does this on-site
‘hand-holding’ approach offer the best opportunity to lead a client forward and
to ‘see problems coming’, it also increases the pace at which concrete deliverables
can be achieved. The motivation of each client group can be thus enhanced, leading
to a virtuous circle of satisfaction and results.
So as not to compete directly with the external partners which it regards as central
to the sustainable business model of more widespread use of the software, Implied
Logic ‘does not do consulting’ as such (typically leaving end-to-end model development
projects for external partners). However these facilitating activities provide vital
insights into client priorities and frustrations and add a useful, complementary
revenue stream to the more unpredictable pattern of licence sales. The immediate
development priorities for STEM are now firmly focused around removing observed
roadblocks so as to ease initial adoption by the coming generations of clients.
Initial development activities
In its first year of trading, Implied Logic has been:
- establishing its business identity, processes and core server infrastructure, while
- developing and sustaining client relationships through the transition from AM,
- building a new support team and network of expert practitioners, and
- effecting a totally revamped build process for the STEM software platform.
The current team is based in Cambridge, UK, and comprises four direct employees,
five regular sub-contractors, and three out-sourced functions (server infrastructure,
serviced office, and payroll/accounts). An additional engineer is retained in Wellington,
New Zealand, thus significantly increasing the geographical and temporal availability of our
support. One of our network of external expert practitioners
is in negotiation to become a full-time employee in the first half of 2011, and
it is planned to recruit a second software developer in the second half of the year.
The change of company name and ownership has not stopped Implied Logic attracting
new clients, nor satisfying the sometimes complex requirements of international
procurement. In spite of the recent upheaval, high levels of customer satisfaction
and confidence are maintained due to its continuing first-class support services.
The company expects to grow the support function in proportion to this expanding
client base.
Implied Logic has already established a small network of expert practitioners, scattered
around the world, in addition to several former colleagues at Analysys Mason. These
skilled individuals all complement Implied Logic’s facility with the recognised
STEM modelling process by their own, special topic expertise. Increasing numbers of
clients are discovering just how effective it can be to have
everyone in a team trained to think in terms of the same fundamental building blocks.
Is that ‘device’ making sense yet?