"Nothing is less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all."
- Peter Drucker
"In business, words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises, but only performance is reality."
- Harold Geneen
“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.”
– W. Edwards Deming
"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat."
- Sun Tzu
"It doesn’t matter how many resources you have. If you don’t know how to use them, it will never be enough."
SPARK Research Labs is a regional research and consulting firm that develops solutions for clients from private, public and non-for-profit sectors. We are applying in-depth knowledge, looking for a deep understanding of the root causes and deliver inclusive solutions for each client.
OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE
INDUSTRIES OF EXPERTISE
ENERGY & UTILITIES
The fundamental supplier for an economy is the Energy and utilities industry. The ability to be efficient and innovative determines the success in this sector. Energy and utility companies must have a clear research and development strategy as well as well-balanced budgeting to assure a durable growth. The operational efficiency and capacity management can define the overall performance of the companies from the industry.
HEALTHCARE & PHARMA
Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies are facing a fast-changing environment. The dynamics of state regulations and market constraints are forcing the industry to adjust rapidly, redefining the business model and sales and distribution strategies. The competition makes providers act more and more patient-centered as well as increases the value of data collection and analysis. Cost efficiency and value chain management became fundamental for the state and private players.
PUBLIC SECTOR & NGOs
Public sector and NGOs will always work on meeting the ever-changing needs of the public. Governmental and non-governmental institutions must have a profound understanding of the current situation as well as be able to determine the vision for the future. A thorough quantitative and qualitative analysis of available data, building partnerships among stakeholders and determining clear policies and strategies are the main areas of concern.
ENGINEERING & PRODUCTION
Engineering and Production companies struggle to recognize promising technologies and invest while redefining the operational practices. Automation and autonomation of processes determine some of the main challenges while data driven production planning and continuous improvement are a common practice for companies that want to assure their durable growth. Lean principles and knowledge sharing practices applied through the entire supply chain demonstrate to be the right model of doing business in this industry.
INDUSTRIAL & CIVIL CONSTRUCTION
Industrial and Civil construction companies combine the project environment with technology-intensive processes and operations. Preeminent competition and relatively low market growth highlight the necessity of differentiation on overall operational performance as well as quality assurance and post-project services such as maintenance and repairs. Being able to proceed with business opportunities by balancing the work capacities in low season as well as high season is one of the main concerns especially in financial management, resource planning and efficiency of project management standards.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Professional services companies face a period in which more and more clients challenge traditional views on their products. Changing realities of the clients oblige the sector to adapt and rethink the business models. The internet of things makes it harder to remain exclusive and only the companies that will constantly collect, analyze and adapt to customers’ needs will have a chance to success. Capacity management and workflow flexibility could be the differentiators while the reaction time, customer relation management and quality of the product represent the main concerns for the companies from the sector.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) companies are creating the digital environment for other industries. Being visionary and agile in projecting and developing new products as well as the ability to put in place efficient processes to provide those products on the market, are some of the core tasks. One of the differentiators in this market would be the capacity to extract knowledge out of data and ability to foster the customer loyalty. The leadership role in the development of the ecosystem of hardware providers, end device suppliers and content creators will ensure a long-lasting benefit for TMT companies in any emerging market.
RETAIL & WHOLESALE
Retail & Wholesale businesses are constantly challenging the traditional ways of building durable relations with their clients. It is the time when the voice of the customer needs to be collected, analyzed and acted upon through the most efficient and intuitive processes. The price wars, unbalanced inventories, harsh conditions from suppliers and high exposure to exchange rates and import-export regulations, oblige R&W companies to get more efficient. Redefining the business models and setting up systems of business performance measurement as well as relying on scientifically based solutions to manage portfolios help ensure better financial results and brand attractiveness.
FOOD PROCESSING & WINE INDUSTRY
Food processing and Wine industry companies are under the scrutiny of regulatory bodies as well as more and more educated consumer. High expectations on quality standards on one hand and growing competition, on another hand, incline companies to restructure their value chains incorporating cutting edge technologies and management methodologies into their processes. New products have shorter life cycles while products with tradition, face a reaffirmation challenge in the minds of the customers. All these makes portfolio management, strategic planning and operational efficiency to be main points in the agenda of the top managers of the industry.
