Deloitte wanted to revise the system that determines how annual bonuses for executives are awarded. The challenge was to get a grip on the complex administrative process and achieve standardization in allocating amounts, with respect for the departments’ individuality and autonomy.
Deloitte executives receive variable pay in the form of an end-of-year bonus. The bonus amount depends on several factors, such as the company’s performance, the department, and the employee. This variability makes budget allocation a complex administrative matter.
Each division manager determines the amount he wants to allocate to the people on his team and adds information about their pay and career path. Due to the autonomy of the departments, this process was not standardized. Each business unit applied its own criteria. Discussing and adjusting the proposals by top management took a lot of time.
Automating the end-of-year bonus award process has saved us time. We now spend that time talking to the people who receive the bonus. Automation thus led to a deepening of human contact, and that is exactly what we were aiming for.
Deloitte sets the bar high. The company is known for its pursuit of excellence and aims for the very best for its customers. The consultants are top in their field. This aim translates into a company with high digital maturity and clear processes for transformation projects.
To ensure that the project was supported internally in the company, Deloitte started a preliminary process. After gathering information from managers about what such a tool would ideally look like and what features they wanted, Teal Partners built an interactive prototype.
While Deloitte collected feedback, Teal Partners translated the wishes and requirements into functionalities. Development went smoothly, with short feedback rounds. From the start, our team paid attention to aspects of the tool that were not purely functional, such as branding, appearance, privacy, and security. There was also permanent consultation on these aspects.
The tool's delivery deadline was well before the planned first use, so there was room for thorough testing. The testing itself went smoothly thanks to the calibrated processes that Deloitte uses. All this effort ensured that there were hardly any issues that needed to be adjusted when the employees started using the tool.
Just like us, Deloitte attaches great importance to quality. The goal was clear, the timing realistic and the requirements crystal clear. From day one, the focus was on change management so that user acceptance was high. The company’s digital maturity ensured that the collaboration ran smoothly.
Efficiency gains
Teal Partners built a tool that simplified the administrative process and introduced a degree of standardization. The managers used to write down the proposals in Excel files, which were then merged at a higher level for approval. Entering the amounts via the tool we build saves them a lot of time and the process is less prone to errors.
Increased transparency and optimized approval process
The tool provides the managers with objective parameters for allocating the amounts. A weighting mechanism allows the manager to make decisions about budgets in a structured, straightforward manner. Thus increasing transparency and shortening the approval process.
Integrated in the existing digital landscape
The software solution seamlessly itegrates with the existing SAP software platform. The automatic data exchange prevents errors and reduces the administrative workload.
Smooth adoption by the end users
Because of the users' high involvement from day one, the tool has been accepted without any problems. The users appreciate the speed, precision and efficiency of the tool to which they have contributed substantively.
Completed on time and within the set budget
Although the project started during the corona pandemic, the collaboration went very smoothly. The tool was up and running in less than nine months. After delivery, hardly anything had to be changed: the list of change requests was limited. This indicates that the tool was well prepared and built.
"User-friendliness was a basic requirement for this tool, which is used by our senior managers", says Inge Diels, Managing Partner Talent at Deloitte. "Another important requirement was for the complex calculations under the hood to be instantly translated into clear visualizations. Teal Partners is familiar with complex payroll environments. They can provide strong references. That is why we teamed up with them."
We were charmed by the team and the focus that characterizes Teal Partners. We sat at the table as true partners. The project was completed on time and within the set budget. Teal Partners has proven to be completely worthy of our trust. The team has built a solid 'trust dividend'.
Deloitte is a leading global audit and assurance provider, consulting financial advice, risk advice, tax, and related services. The company was founded in 1845 and today employs 312,000 people in 150 countries. It belongs to the top of the consultancy companies worldwide.
