The Tech Dept

Faber Publishing:
Evolving digital platforms

Microservices, Cloud infrastructure, API development, Ecommerce

Legacy systems needed upgrading and integrating with modern cloud platforms
Underpins entire business operations, so we couldn’t ‘stop’ and replace (not least due to cost implications)
We iteratively developed microservices, updating one function at a time, moving them one by one to the cloud
Small steps reduced risk, alleviated pain points one by one, and showed compound improvements over time
High risk data security & GDPR issues were successfully addressed and resolved
We worked with their internal IT team, and measurable results mean the board are fully committed

Digital transformation, continuous improvement, user research, strategy to action

Legacy systems were hindering customer understanding and the efficient, measurable delivery of services
We undertook a discovery process to identify their needs and score a set of potential technology solutions
We identified that only a custom-built CRM and business application would meet their unique requirements
We improved the clarity of and access to their customer data, providing a foundation for future improvement
The CEO of Business Growth Hub commented that the project was ‘genuinely transformational’
We have been appointed to continue the digital transformation process for at least the next two years
We are currently rolling out enhancements including paperless working and a process change programme.

API integration, data visualisation, custom alerts, user customisation

Working to create a global service that can be used by regional product teams to inform DVD product pricing
We developed a portal using the Amazon merchant API, allowing product managers to build their own catalogue
The system built up custom dashboards with data visualisations showing price fluctuations over time
Alerts can be configured to notify Product managers to changes in price
For the first time Product Managers could see visually the changes in price for their key titles
This allowed them to make far better decisions around the pricing of the NBCU DVD catalogue
It was rolled out to multiple territories utilising the regional Amazon API, pricing in local currencies.

Cloud infrastructure, offline working, data synchronisation

Completely rewrite and modernise a business-critical legacy system
Cloud infrastructure allows the system to process tens of thousands of records in the UK’s largest feed mills
The system immediately informs operators of the quality of feed before it goes into production mills
Delivered as installed software, ensuring mills can work offline if required
Our cloud system pooled all global data and offers advanced analysis, reporting and prediction
All built with an API allowing third-party services to push data into the system
Ingot Stat is now the central software hub for all mass spectrometry across Associated British Foods
It now consumes data from three services to monitor, review and report on global feed quality

Digitising paper processes, data and reporting, legacy systems

The Children’s University inspires children to learn beyond the classroom
An existing 'activity passport' process was paper-based so everything needed digitising
Creating an integrated activity search allowed parents and children to easily find suitable courses
We developed a single application with three different user experiences
Service One allows the public to list activities
Service Two allows children as young as four to find and log activities
Service Three allows administrators to approve activities, managing users and schools
Launching in July 2019

Security, performance, resilience, government

The BBFC is responsible for enforcing age-verification legislation being brought into force in the UK
We worked with BBFC to scope, define, design and build a communication hub
We designed a simple, effective and secure content hub for the BBFC, also acting as an education resource for this age-verification legislation
The site is highly optimised to allow for quick delivery of content, including interactive elements and a complex search
The site scored extremely highly for security and load testing without requiring an expensive hosting infrastructure

System architecture, complex workflows, security

The GP Service’s mission is to revolutionise the way we access prescriptions and GP appointments in the UK
Our task was to create launch platform and services under extreme time constraints
We developed the architecture, workflows and front-end site to take this proposition to market
This included secure peer-to-peer video, questionnaires, and GP authorisation of prescriptions
The system connected to a network of real-world pharmacies where users could collect prescriptions
Rigorous standards of the Care Quality Commission, and Medicines & Healthcare Regulatory Authority applied
The system passed all regulatory assessments and was able to handle over 1500 patients in the first month
Code was handed over to their internal team, who we trained to expand the platform for the long term

Charity, fundraising, workflow systems, data

Working with the team at BBC we created a strategy called “how to run your charity like a Silicon Valley start-up”
This approach meant embedding actionable metrics and using this data strategically
Following this we created the Children in Need fundraising hub, which has been integral to record breaking fundraising
The hub has been optimised over the past several years using data & analytics to inform any changes
The system has integrated with BBC IT team’s methods & systems to ensure it complies with rigorous data and security standards
Sample client feedback: “I hope you know we wouldn’t have had another record breaking year without you. Fact.”

Digital Asset Management, cloud distribution, custom admin

As the world’s biggest games publisher, Activision Blizzard needs tight control over its asset distribution
Having worked together since 2004, they trusted The Tech Dept to provide the right solution
Our digital asset management platform allows them to manage embargoes, access rights & user groups
A mail centre distributes download links when high profile assets become available
Trade partners and internal stakeholders can now access artwork, videos and imagery promptly
A large administrative overhead at Activision has reduced greatly since the site was launched
Functionality updates and system optimisations are routinely carried out