The challenge
Complex system transformations required a faster flow of business requirements into implementation.
A need for structured visualisation and conceptualisation to document complex processes clearly for development teams.
Features and deliverables required cross-domain coordination, while expertise had previously been organised by domain.
The result
Harmony brought in conceptual frameworks and visualisation expertise, so requirements could be framed better for development teams
The collaboration led to capability building within the organisation and better alignment between teams
The strategic tandem approach sped up delivery without any loss of quality, resulting in a successful first go-live
Business analysis for a strategic project
Acerta faced a complex digital transformation that brought together multiple teams, technologies and regulations. Significant progress had already been made with internal resources, but at some point that internal pool ran dry. "Ideally, you find someone who knows both our business and the methodology, but that kind of profile is rare," says Jurgen Claes, Manager Process Management at Acerta.
They were looking for:
- Acceleration of the transformation within clear timeframes
- Expertise for complex subject matter
- Efficient use of internal resources
- Alignment between business and technical insights
Key success factors were:
- A professional translation of business requirements into technical implementation
- Clear documentation and structure for development teams
- Visualisation and conceptualisation of abstract logic
- A balanced combination of subject-matter knowledge and methodological approach
A strategic tandem approach for optimal results
Building on an earlier successful collaboration, the partnership grew into a broader team. Jurgen explains: "Harmony offered a good alternative: people who get up to speed quickly, are strong on process and make the difference in visualisation, coaching and structure."
The collaboration was soon extended:
- Harmony quickly supplied consultants who were methodologically strong and process-oriented.
- The team worked in tandems: business analysts paired with domain experts.
- A delivery lead from Harmony structured the collaboration with ICT and introduced the feature owner role.
- Harmony’s internal expert network provided ongoing coaching and methodological support.
“The Harmony consultants didn’t work alongside us, but with us. They were quickly taken into the team, both professionally and personally,” says Jurgen.
Structural steps forward
The collaboration between Acerta and Harmony delivered lasting improvements in several areas:
- Better flow of business requirements
Thanks to the tandem approach, requirements reached ICT more consistently and more clearly. This helped keep up the pace of work and reduced the risk of ad-hoc interpretation by technical teams.
- Structure in roles and meetings
The introduction of the feature owner role, initiated by Harmony’s delivery lead, brought more clarity about ownership across domains. It also made the collaboration with ICT more transparent and efficient.
- Visualisation as a lever for decision-making
Harmony consultants helped structure complex topics visually and conceptually. That made bottlenecks, such as those in the configuration process, easier to discuss and resolve. “We were really stuck there, and the fresh perspective and approach helped us move forward,” says Jurgen.
- Stronger internal profiles
By working in pairs, internal business analysts learned new methods. These included process visualisation, structuring documentation and preparing alignment meetings with a clear rationale.
- Smooth team integration
Harmony’s consultants didn’t just contribute to the work, they were part of the team. “They were simply invited to our team events too. That might sound trivial, but it really made a difference in how smoothly everything ran,” says Jurgen.
Although the project is not yet fully completed, the collaboration with Harmony helped take important steps and lay a solid foundation for what comes next.
Harmony not only helped us accelerate, but also brought lasting improvements to the way we work.
A leading HR service provider in Belgium
Acerta is a key player in the Belgian HR services market, with a focus on:
- Payroll and HR policy
- Advice on social legislation
- Support for entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals
- Around 40 years of experience in the sector
- An extensive client base of tens of thousands of companies
