Improve mission monitoring as a freelancer

Before AirSaaS, every independent CIO used one tool to monitor his or her freelance mission monitoring, and to switch from account to account: PowerPoint. The updates and follow-ups of the transformation plans were consolidated on one slide. Fortunately, collecting, processing, and tracking is now much easier thanks to AirSaaS.

The challenge: Simplifying mission monitoring as a freelancer

“Before AirSaaS I used PowerPoint files. They were the same for all my customers, and it was hard to maintain.”

Until now, our AirSaaS user (an interim CIO) supervised a dozen customers in parallel with a single file. Even though he says he likes highly complex contexts, that process had become more and more difficult to maintain over time...

It was difficult to report unstructured projects to the client, in order to show how many projects lacked leadership.

In fact, David needed to be able to zoom in on the volume of projects, as well as on the company's capacity to manage them (in connection with project leadership).

“Putting all of this info into one single slide is complicated... going back and forth means that we often forget critical points.

When I had to get back on track every time I returned to a particular mission, I could encounter some difficulties...”

David was looking for a canvas for carrying out the governance of his client's' digital transformation.

It was a real challenge to have a good initial picture of the project portfolio that clarified the global understanding for all people involved.

David then turns his attention to the potential transformation and realignment of the project portfolio, with his governance master plan.  For him, the main challenge will be to break down silos

Another challenge he mentioned was that, at the end of a mission, when he returned into the company, he could sometimes be uncomfortable... because he hadn't seen the project for two or three months. He found it hard to add value, busy with a tedious reworking of the project sheets in Power Point.

The solution: A “multi-workspace” that facilitates the monitoring of customer transformation

The platform meets David's need in terms of zooming easily on each of his missions.

“I enter everything into AirSaas, so when I start a project I don't have to pick and choose. As soon as I hear about a project, I write it down and start documenting it. That's the first step in the selection process that follows”.

Among the tips used on the initial filling of project sheets, David mentions creating a “ghost” user, a certain “Mr A. Yet-to-Define”, for those who do not have a staff/role assigned to them.

The idea is to empower the organization in project management and foster leadership.

David's use of the platform is decisive in facilitating the management of cross-functional projects in coordination with internal allies.

Very quickly, customers ask to access the tool. At the same time, it enables him to look for allies, as he points out.

“AirSaas has an horizontal approach, which responds well to the underlying issue of silos.”

Indeed, for this CIO, project management is not the primary focus.

‍“Operational excellence on project management is not my first concern. I prefer to align business departments towards a common target before tackling that”.

He continues: “I talk about governance, strategy and, with the help of AirSaas, look for allies who want to ‘un-silo’ the projects. I introduce them to the tool, and we agree that we need to build routines around it.”

Peacefully returning to a pending mission

David points out a second Airsaas benefit:

His reading of the trajectory is also different:

“I now open the platform, take a close look at the various issues. Thanks to my perspective as an experienced CIO, I'll be able to quickly determine whether the situation has deviated from its axis, or whether everything is still in line."

“I love the global project Kanban view. I think it's great. I often spend a lot of time on it because it's very clear, it shows you project progress, the big picture, there's almost everything on this view!”

Bonus section

What's AirSaas' strength?

"I really see AirSaas as a catalyst for digital transformation on the governance part. I start with a 360-degree diagnosis, putting in place the elements needed to pave the way, and doing so in a non-intrusive way.

It's not like implementing a complex six-month V-cycle process, or setting up JIRA, which is far less restrictive.”

"I'd say Airsaas is the logical follow-up to a 360 diagnostic, to pave the way for digital transformation. Firstly, in terms of project governance, and then, from a more global perspective, as all projects linked to the master diagnostic plan can be included in the tool..."

What's your favorite feature?

"For my purposes, being able to switch easily from one customer to another is ideal!"

David talks about how he sometimes finds himself switching to another customer workspace while working on a customer project "because the project I'm working on allows me to enrich another customer's project at the same time".

“Before, I had to add it to my to-do list so I wouldn't forget, and come back to it several days later... In short, now that it's so quick and easy, I can do it right away, it's instantaneous and I don't forget."

In conclusion David confides: “I love this tool, why didn't I think of it sooner!”

Context

After 15 years in IT and supply chain management with major European groups, for the past three years, David Langlade has been working as an independent CIO, mainly with small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the retail sector. This CIO particularly likes to tackle the “silos” inside organizations.

To meet David is to discover both an inquisitive CIO and an expert in the piloting of technological projects (ERP, CRM, e-commerce, WMS) as well as in management. If you ask him about his career, you'll discover that he was fortunate enough to be involved in the creation of the first Decathlon.fr e-commerce site.

In addition to these employee experiences, he also initiated a start-up project, Probikeshop, which he supported through its hyper-growth (from 7 to 150 million euros in sales) in the IT and Supply Chain areas. An experience he was able to capitalize on.

Today, as a freelancer, he is unique because he has set up a company with other people working with him - in particular, a more technical CTO, who enables him to effectively manage his customers' specific developments.