Bryan Bates

The customer needed a replacement for obsolete manual and paper-based processes for tracking work and paying staff. Off-the-shelf solutions did not meet enough needs for the business, so we investigated a custom solution.

We commenced with an exploration of the current process and identification of specific improvements with a new process. Recommended a Microsoft 365-based solution due to straightforward technical requirements, good integration, and delivery speed.

Delivered an MVP at the end of two weeks, adjusted slightly, and was ready to release the solution widely at the end of the third sprint. The solution took a timekeeping and payroll process measured in days. It was reduced to a matter of minutes, saving the company significant time while reducing data entry errors. Front-line staff commented on how the mobile app made it easy and intuitive to submit their data.

The customer needed an automated and painless way to gather production data for a project located far from the home office. The solution needed to work on mobile devices and feed internal billing and operational processes. Bryan delivered a simple and speedy solution by integrating PowerApps, PowerBI, and Microsoft Teams to provide near real-time production data with less operator effort than previous solutions. The solution enabled the customer to track discrepancies with their customer and have visibility on production data they did not previously enjoy.

I assessed a small law firm’s needs to connect diverse applications, reduce data double-entry, and organize their workloads and document management. I also implemented several Microsoft Azure/Power Platform-based integrations to share key data between applications and eliminate repetitive steps in their process. In addition, I envisioned and constructed a custom application for their internal use that gives them instant visibility on the status of their projects, what needs to happen next, and thoughtful reminders to keep jobs on track. Their team is now ready to tackle increased workload without increased headcount.

A small, informal contractor landed a significant project that put them in the position of prime contractor for the first time. Bryan was brought in to manage the project, manage the contract with the project owner, and ensure the financial performance of the project. The project was complex in that the owner was a large, formal, risk-averse company, and the contractor operated with flexibility and informality as key strengths. Bryan frequently bridged communications and practices to give the contractor team as much flexibility as possible while ensuring the owner’s needs for risk reduction and information were met. The project was delivered within contracted milestones and was financially successful for the contractor. Many of the process assets and practices continue to be used by the contractor to this day.

The founder of a boutique regulatory law firm had a compelling vision of the future state of her firm but was unclear about how to implement the changes and where to start. After a short discovery process, I recommended an adaptation of Scrum principles to collaboratively engage the whole team on solving the set of unclear problems related to the transformation. After a short introduction to agile practices, I coached the internal team for several months to decompose and focus on key deliverables, which immediately provided value to the organization. The team accelerated their progress on transformative activities and enjoyed greater transparency and task accountability using lightweight tools.

After acquiring an existing geomatics business in a new region, I managed the transition and integration of this new branch into the rest of the company. This included a complete changeover of all back-office systems, a substantial technology upgrade, and devolution of unnecessary legacy systems. This was accomplished without disruption to customer work. The acquired branch grew to successive record levels of revenue in the following years, to become the largest branch within the company.