Background
PressWatch is a media monitoring and evaluation agency. They monitor press media and provide clients with detailed information and reports based on specified keywords or criteria. Comprehensive evaluation/analysis reports and performance indices are also created.
There is a significant change taking place in the media industry with the imminent introduction of electronic press media feeds to be supplied by the Newspaper Licensing Association (NLA). News content will be supplied as an electronic XML based feed significantly changing the press cuttings and monitoring processes. PressWatch Media wanted to understand the technology considerations and take advantage of the changes.
The Challenge / Opportunity
To define a future vision and transformation strategy based on significant market changes and technology opportunities.
Our Thinking and Approach
Cohezia’s consultants used a structured process to define the future vision for the PressWatch business taking into account the likely changes in the marketplace as a result of the digital news feeds from the NLA. We worked with the Managing Director to identify opportunities to transform the business and gain significant competitive advantage. Strategic planning workshops were held to identify the new processes that would need to be supported and systems that would need to be in place to achieve the company’s growth targets. The key barriers and issues were also identified. The business priorities combined with the system interdependencies were used to plan the implementation phases.
Technology Utilised
A review of the existing IT systems was carried out to ascertain the stability, upgradeability and technical integration of the systems. The systems are based on Open Source platforms (Linux, Firebird database, MySQL) together with some commercial packages for specific requirements (Quickbooks, ACT!).
Creative and Usability Design
The existing systems, website and client extranets were assessed for usability and consistency
Results
The creation of a comprehensive IT Strategy and implementation road map for Presswatch. The document defined the future vision for the business and transformation strategy to reach it. The first phase of the work has now been implemented already.