We transformed the way investments were managed by a major UK charity, using a workflow based on SharePoint and PowerApps.
The new system automates project approval across the charity’s programme, tailored to fit their system of competitive internal bidding for funding. At each stage of the process, the workflow collects essential information. As each project moves forwards, the business case is built up in a consistent manner.
The result is an automated proposal submission, supporting each investment decision. It guarantees that each submission is complete, with all essential information gathered in a way which aids comparison.
Visibility and decision-making are both vastly improved. The long-term goal is to help manage and maintain their estates, which include large parts of Britain’s historical semi-natural environment.
Different stakeholders in the process are kept informed of the progress of their projects. The Programme Office is regularly notified of which projects are awaiting approval, and can produce reports in various formats to take to their investment committee. At any time, it is easy to drill down into individual projects to inspect full detail and the project’s history to date.
The data collected also supports analysis across the whole programme over time, enabling further improvements in the process. The suite of reporting tools which helps to analyse single or multiple projects can be developed on the sound basis of good data.
Crucially, the programme data will help to improve capital investment forecasting for many years into the future. Visibility of future spending commitments, and deferred investments will help the organisation to learn and make better decisions. Together with auditability of decision-making, the new systems helps to demonstrate control of spending, efficiency and the application of good governance.