IT Systems Integration and Reporting

Ambitious businesses need efficient, scalable systems and processes. This allows a business to grow and flourish whilst providing good service, maintaining high margins, and generating cash.

Systems that don’t talk to each other make a simple business complicated. Poor integration leads to manual work, errors, and issues. Getting reports and up-to-date information can be difficult, so decisions are based on gut feelings and expert judgement rather than hard facts.

It can be hard to understand the real problem and its real solution. And how do you get from where you are to where you want to be?

The impact of poor systems integration can be widespread

The impact of poor integration is often felt throughout the business. You may see it in complex management reports that require lots of tinkering. Or in the wasted effort when teams each maintain their own, separate (and maybe contradictory!) views of the world. Or in the digital initiatives that cannot progress because back-end systems are a barrier.

Either way, people are frustrated. Different people blame different things, but there is no clear solution.

We’ll honestly reassess your vendors and suppliers

Many of our clients don’t have a healthy relationship with their systems vendors, so it’s not easy to get changes made simply, quickly and at a reasonable cost.

Our people (we call them ‘Principals’) have been managing companies like this for many years and understand how they work and how they think. But, uniquely, our Principals also have the maturity and breadth of experience to get to the heart of these problems. Our Principal will ask the most basic questions: do vendors have your best interest at heart? Are your systems really driven by the needs of customers, or just by historic ways of doing things?

We find the root causes and opportunities

Our Principals bring years of experience to these problems and can look dispassionately at what’s really going on. Perhaps there are opportunities to use new technologies like AI and machine learning.

Whether the root causes are technical, process, or people (or a combination of all three!) our Principal will put in place a plan of action and deliver the necessary changes.

Below are some relevant briefings, posts, videos and stories from our clients.

All written in plain-English and suitable for CEOs and Board members.

Client Stories

We are trusted technology strategy providers for CEOs of mid-market businesses. Read our client case studies to find out more...

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Business insights

We have a wide range of experience in delivering business-focus and mid-market IT strategies that will help your business grow...

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Do you actually need an ERP project?

Do you actually need an ERP project?

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project is when you integrate all your company’s core processes into a single system—finance, HR,...

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Business Insight

JJS Manufacturing

'A Freeman Clarke CIO has not only helped us with creating a strategic roadmap. He also became a key member of our senior leadership team' Read more

Client story

ERP and Integration Issues

For companies facing integration issues, the solution may be the introduction of ERP.

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Knowledge Centre
How to Get Started with an ERP Project – Part 1

How to Get Started with an ERP Project – Part 1

This is the first in a two-part series on how to launch a successful Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project. For...

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Business Insight
5 Key IT points for CEOs in AEC

5 Key IT points for CEOs in AEC

At Freeman Clarke, we work extensively in AEC (architecture, engineering and construction). We’ve noted very clearly that when AEC companies...

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Business Insight
How does a Freeman Clarke IT leader add value every day?

How does a Freeman Clarke IT leader add value every day?

At our recent conference we asked a few of our Principals how they see themselves adding value to their clients....

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Business Insight
Bitcoin – What is it and what does it mean to businesses?

Bitcoin – What is it and what does it mean to businesses?

What is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is a “crypto currency” that was created in 2009. It has many (or perhaps all) of...

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Business Insight
How systems and digital drive business value for private equity (PE)

How systems and digital drive business value for private equity (PE)

Private Equity (PE) ownership of mid-market companies is increasing. Of course, PE houses are driven by valuations and these days...

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Business Insight
How to make home working work

How to make home working work

Many of our clients want to explore opportunities for home working. They have two main drivers: 1. reduce office costs...

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Business Insight
How to stop worrying about cyber security and compliance: Part II

How to stop worrying about cyber security and compliance: Part II

This article is the second in our two-part report designed to provide busy CEOs with a template for mitigating the...

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Business Insight
How to stop worrying about cyber security and compliance: Part I

How to stop worrying about cyber security and compliance: Part I

This article is the first in our two-part report designed to provide busy CEOs with a template for mitigating the...

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Business Insight
Technology strategy and vision

Technology strategy and vision

Companies that have a clear business strategy need a system and digital strategy to match. Each function of an ambitious...

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Business Insight
How to Get Started with an ERP Project – Part 2

How to Get Started with an ERP Project – Part 2

This is the second in a two-part series on how to launch a successful Enterprise Planning Resource (ERP) project. For...

Read more
Business Insight
Get Real: How Does Tech Fuel Business Growth?

Get Real: How Does Tech Fuel Business Growth?

We recently launched Freeman Clarke in the US and hosted an event where three panelists discussed how technology fuels business...

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Business Insight
3 Focus Points for Successful Systems Integration

3 Focus Points for Successful Systems Integration

Freeman Clarke co-founder Graeme Freeman explains the three areas you’ll need to focus on for a successful systems integration project...

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Business Insight
ERP pearls of wisdom from our experts

ERP pearls of wisdom from our experts

This audio focuses on ERP pearls of wisdom from our experts. You can listen to the other audios in this...

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Business Insight
How to avoid a CRM car crash

How to avoid a CRM car crash

Any CEO knows that customer information is a very valuable asset. And how you manage customer relationships is vital. So...

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Business Insight
3 common problems with systems integration

3 common problems with systems integration

Integration challenges can be difficult to identify. In this video, Freeman Clarke Co-founder Graeme Freeman explains three of most common...

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Business Insight
A concise introduction to integration problems – Part II: How to solve them

A concise introduction to integration problems – Part II: How to solve them

This is the second of our two-part series on integration problems. Click here to read Part I: How to Spot...

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Business Insight
ERP Explained: The Basics

ERP Explained: The Basics

At Freeman Clarke, clients frequently ask for our help with their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects. We’re not surprised, because...

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Business Insight
Board action plan: IT roadmap for growth

Board action plan: IT roadmap for growth

To download, save or print this CEO's Action Plan, click here Companies planning growth need to have a plan for...

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Business Insight
What Does a Fractional CTO Really Do for a Mid-Market Business? Plus 5 Tips to Make It Work

What Does a Fractional CTO Really Do for a Mid-Market Business? Plus 5 Tips to Make It Work

The use of fractional Board-execs in mid-market businesses is growing. More companies see and hear stories of successful engagements, more...

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Business Insight
Who are Freeman Clarke?

Who are Freeman Clarke?

We are the UK's largest and most experienced team of CIOs, CTOs and IT Directors and work exclusively in the...

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Business Insight
Why CTOs are on the rise in mid-market businesses

Why CTOs are on the rise in mid-market businesses

Many of our clients are using custom software and digital initiatives to drive sales, increase efficiency or improve service. Sometimes...

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Business Insight
A concise introduction to integration problems – Part I: How to spot them

A concise introduction to integration problems – Part I: How to spot them

A Concise Introduction to Integration Problems Part I: How to Spot Them Integration problems can cause your business quite a...

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Business Insight
CEO’s 15 step guide to bespoke software development

CEO’s 15 step guide to bespoke software development

Click on the download button for our full CEO's briefing on overcoming bespoke software problems or read our short 15...

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Business Insight
Digital transformations – Wow your customers!

Digital transformations – Wow your customers!

All too often, IT is seen as an inward-looking function. The Board are exhausted and tired by issues and problems...

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Business Insight
What does it take to stay at the top of our game?

What does it take to stay at the top of our game?

People are the most important part of any business. We run conferences where we hear from expert speakers and run...

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Business Insight

J Tomlinson

'Our IT leader's knowledge and experience of business change with IT as a key enabler has added value to our project' Read more

Client story

Turnaround Publisher Services

'Freeman Clarke have overhauled our purchase order system, is driving down costs wherever possible, and is raising efficiency through process improvements, dragging us into the 21st century' Read more

Client story

Sterling

'Freeman Clarke have been instrumental in implementing industry best practices around the management, support and financial management of the IT function' Read more

Client story

Palletline

'The Freeman Clarke fractional model has served us very well’ Read more

Client story

Queen Alexandra College

'We have a roadmap for the next few years that is cost effective, structured, and deliverable thanks to our Fractional IT Director' Read more

Client story

Bonhill Group plc

'We needed best-in-class technology leadership in the US and the UK, and so we contacted Freeman Clarke' Read more

Client story

Future Biogas

'Engaging a Freeman Clarke Principal as our part-time IT Director, at Board-level, has proved extremely worthwhile' Read more

Client story

Sleaford Quality Foods

'The Freeman Clarke model works well for our business, providing us with access to a senior IT Leader who helps us achieve our ambitious goals' Read more

Client story

Rendall and Rittner

'Our Freeman Clarke IT Director made what felt like full-time impact even though he was in fact dedicated to us two days per week' Read more

Client story

Oxitec

'Our involvement with Freeman Clarke came at a crucial phase. We needed a serious IT director to review our IT and our IT suppliers, and to help us grow our production and distribution capabilities' Read more

Client story

DEKRA

'As our bespoke software became more complex, we needed an IT Director to oversee suppliers and software development roadmaps' Read more

Client story

BRC

'Freeman Clarke provided a first-class, committed IT leader on a long-term but flexible basis' Read more

Client story
Why does blockchain matter to my business?

Why does blockchain matter to my business?

When the last page is written on the bizarre Bitcoin story, many people believe the conclusion will be that the...

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Business Insight

Crown Golf

'I now have someone within the senior team who can explain the complexities of IT in business terms and has provided clarity and direction to my technology team' Read more

Client story

Simplify Digital

'Freeman Clarke were crucial to the successful transformation of our IT' Read more

Client story
How AEC can succeed with digital

How AEC can succeed with digital

How AEC can succeed with digital Introduction Our priorities, of course, should be to stay healthy and do everything we...

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Business Insight
Demystifying AI: a guide for mid-market CEOs

Demystifying AI: a guide for mid-market CEOs

There is suddenly a lot of urgency around artificial intelligence and what it will mean for the future of business....

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Business Insight
Using systems & digital to grow your business

Using systems & digital to grow your business

Companies planning growth need to have a plan for how their technology can support and drive this growth allowing them...

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Business Insight
CEO’s briefing: Technology roadmap for growth

CEO’s briefing: Technology roadmap for growth

As companies grow, their IT inevitably needs to change and develop. In reality, few companies follow a well planned path,...

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Business Insight
The Future of Digital Transformation

The Future of Digital Transformation

Let’s start with a definition. For us, digital transformation means using IT and technology to dramatically change your business for...

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Business Insight
Don’t get left behind. Start your Digital Transformation journey.

Don’t get left behind. Start your Digital Transformation journey.

Ambitious business owners will always look to improve how their organisation functions. Digital transformation is one great way. It enables...

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Business Insight
How AEC can succeed with digital: Infographic

How AEC can succeed with digital: Infographic

To download, save or print this Infographic, click here Freeman Clarke is the largest and most experienced team of part-time,...

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Business Insight
Part IV: Next-gen technology

Part IV: Next-gen technology

Part IV: Next-gen technology Here’s the next instalment in our series on how midmarket AEC firms can succeed with a...

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Business Insight
COVID 19: Urgent operational challenges from some of our clients

COVID 19: Urgent operational challenges from some of our clients

For every business, the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge to the wellbeing and safety of their people. For some businesses...

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Business Insight
Minimising the phishing threat: A CEO’s checklist

Minimising the phishing threat: A CEO’s checklist

To download, save or print this Infographic, click here Freeman Clarke is the largest and most experienced team of part-time,...

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Business Insight
CEO’s briefing on IT risks, compliance and security

CEO’s briefing on IT risks, compliance and security

No doubt you worry about growing your business and being successful, but as the business grows and becomes successful, protecting...

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Business Insight
A strategy for solving systems integration problems

A strategy for solving systems integration problems

For many businesses, systems that don’t work together are the source of major headaches. Systems that don’t talk to each...

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Business Insight
A CEO’s briefing: Solving systems integration problems

A CEO’s briefing: Solving systems integration problems

IT and Systems Integration problems can make a simple business feel complicated. Whether its the CRM system, Finance System, a...

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Business Insight
Successful IT in Digital & Creative Agencies

Successful IT in Digital & Creative Agencies

We have a large number of Digital and Creative Agency clients and they have specific IT challenges. For these clients,...

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Business Insight
GDPR Mindset and Culture: A Short Note for the Board

GDPR Mindset and Culture: A Short Note for the Board

Original article written by Trupti Harding-Shah of My Inhouse Lawyer, www.myinhouselawyer.uk In her video address yesterday, marking the one-year countdown...

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Business Insight
GDPR Essentials: The Impact on IT, Legal and Marketing for Your Business

GDPR Essentials: The Impact on IT, Legal and Marketing for Your Business

GDPR – the EU General Data Protection Regulation – is among the biggest legislative changes to hit UK businesses in...

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Business Insight
Four key steps to successfully managing IT suppliers

Four key steps to successfully managing IT suppliers

The IT Suppliers you use in your business are a critical component to your success. Like any other team though,...

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Business Insight
Fintech Chief Technology Officers (CTOs)

Fintech Chief Technology Officers (CTOs)

In any Fintech company the CTO (Chief Technology Office) has a crucial role and finding the right person is a...

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Business Insight
How to get Your Business Past Email

How to get Your Business Past Email

We’re all overwhelmed by email and looking for alternatives - many businesses are interested in collaboration and social tools to...

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Hiring an Interim IT Director, Interim CIO or Interim CTO

Hiring an Interim IT Director, Interim CIO or Interim CTO

Hiring an interim IT Director, Interim CIO or Interim CTO is made more difficult when IT is not an area of...

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Business Insight
Scale-up an e-commerce business: strategic model.

Scale-up an e-commerce business: strategic model.

Many successful e-commerce businesses have been launched by entrepreneurs passionate about a product or market place, or who have spotted...

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The Hazards of Scaling Up Your Business (and How to Avoid Them)

The Hazards of Scaling Up Your Business (and How to Avoid Them)

Imagine this: the co-founder of a multi-million-dollar HR management software company with almost 500 employees likes to micromanage to the...

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Business Insight
5 steps to getting your IT budget under control

5 steps to getting your IT budget under control

We meet some companies who are constantly banging their heads against a brick wall when it comes to their IT...

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Business Insight
5 Ways to create competitive advantage with IT

5 Ways to create competitive advantage with IT

1. Optimise your mobile teams Properly equipped and trained mobile workforces can be fully integrated with business processes, utilised effectively...

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Business Insight
7 Key Points When Hiring a CIO, CTO or IT Director

7 Key Points When Hiring a CIO, CTO or IT Director

The IT leader is a critical role. But what is this role and how do you hire the best at...

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Business Insight
Ransomware: 5 Practical Steps for CEOs

Ransomware: 5 Practical Steps for CEOs

We’ve all seen the stats… ransomware is growing at an alarming rate. Our experience suggests that it’s even more common...

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Business Insight
When IT ‘Just Works’ incredible things happen!

When IT ‘Just Works’ incredible things happen!

When IT runs smoothly conversations become about things that matter — things that make a real difference to your business....

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Business Insight
Too late to get on the cloud?

Too late to get on the cloud?

Staff, suppliers and even your customers are asking ‘Why aren’t you using the Cloud?’ But if you’re a sceptic, concerned...

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Business Insight
When Nature gets angry, are you ready?

When Nature gets angry, are you ready?

This is what Datchet looks like at the moment. One of our clients, comxo, has an office in Datchet, fortunately...

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Don’t Let a Disaster Ruin Your Day

Don’t Let a Disaster Ruin Your Day

The phrase 'disaster recovery' conjures up earthquakes, fires and collapsing buildings. But a disaster can be as simple as a...

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Business Insight
How Can ERP Deliver Transformation

How Can ERP Deliver Transformation

This audio focuses on How can ERP deliver transformation. You can listen to the other audios in this series here....

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Business Insight

Hybrid Working & Post-Pandemic

Businesses will be facing tough challenges over the months. Here is our best advice on mixing remote with office work...

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Knowledge Centre

Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC)

Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) But new collaboration systems and devices are making it much easier to overcome these problems...

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Knowledge Centre
Digital Transformations – Real World Examples of Market Breakthrough!

Digital Transformations – Real World Examples of Market Breakthrough!

Many mid-sized businesses simply see IT as a problem to be overcome or a beast that has to be fed....

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Business Insight
Bitcoin? Blockchain? I’m already lost!

Bitcoin? Blockchain? I’m already lost!

When the last page is written on the bizarre Bitcoin story, many people believe the conclusion will be that the...

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Business Insight
Infographic: The 6 must-haves for hiring ‘simply the best’ CTO!

Infographic: The 6 must-haves for hiring ‘simply the best’ CTO!

Only the sharpest applicants make the Freeman Clarke cut. They posses an enviable range of talents that make them 'simply...

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Business Insight
Transform your business and increase revenue using custom software

Transform your business and increase revenue using custom software

About a quarter of our clients are ambitious mid-market companies who want our help to manage and drive custom software...

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Business Insight
What is digital transformation and where do you start?

What is digital transformation and where do you start?

Everyone is talking about Digital Transformation…what does it actually mean? If you're interested in learning how Digital Transformation can transform...

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Business Insight
Software robots, revolutionary new technology automating admin tasks?

Software robots, revolutionary new technology automating admin tasks?

Look around an office and you will see plenty of people whose main work is dealing with systems and information....

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Business Insight
Introduction to office automation with software robots

Introduction to office automation with software robots

Look around an office and you will see plenty of people whose main work is dealing with systems and information....

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How Can a Mid-Market Business Recruit a CTO?

How Can a Mid-Market Business Recruit a CTO?

Ambitious mid-market or externally funded start-up businesses are increasingly investing in custom software. Very simply they want to seize new...

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Business Insight
Using software robots to eliminate admin – really?

Using software robots to eliminate admin – really?

The consultancy, McKinsey, claim that 60% of jobs could have 30% or more of their constituent activities automated. Forrester (a...

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Business Insight
Board action plan: 10 ways to begin your digital transformation journey

Board action plan: 10 ways to begin your digital transformation journey

Ambitious business owners will always look to improve how their organisation functions. Digital transformation is one great way. It enables...

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Business Insight
Digital transformations – Efficiency, effectiveness & risk management

Digital transformations – Efficiency, effectiveness & risk management

For many companies, the technology strategy begins and ends with technical details in which the Board have little interest. The...

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Business Insight
Managing partner’s briefing on IT’s role in successful legal services

Managing partner’s briefing on IT’s role in successful legal services

The context for IT in the legal sector is changing but the winners are those with, amongst other essentials, a...

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Business Insight

AI & RPA

Technology companies are promising revolutionary reductions in administration costs using software robots. It’s often called Robotic Process Automation (RPA) or...

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Knowledge Centre
IT’s evolving role in an evolving legal sector

IT’s evolving role in an evolving legal sector

The context for IT in the legal sector is changing. Legal Aid cuts, new flexible legal service providers, referral fee...

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Business Insight
What really is digital transformation?

What really is digital transformation?

Many mid-sized businesses simply see IT as a problem to be overcome or a beast that has to be fed....

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Business Insight
COVID-19: Delivering effective homeworking

COVID-19: Delivering effective homeworking

  Visit our Hybrid Working & Post-Pandemic Knowledge Centre which includes all content related to this topic. Freeman Clarke is the largest and...

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Business Insight
COVID-19: A Message from our Co-founder Graeme Freeman

COVID-19: A Message from our Co-founder Graeme Freeman

  Visit our Hybrid Working & Post-Pandemic Knowledge Centre which includes all content related to this topic. Freeman Clarke is the largest and...

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Business Insight
CEO’s Guide to Strategic IT for M&A or Exit.

CEO’s Guide to Strategic IT for M&A or Exit.

UK M&A activity progressively increased during 2017 and is forecast to grow further during 2018. With growth in most economic...

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Business Insight
Real-World Advice to the Board About Meltdown and Spectre

Real-World Advice to the Board About Meltdown and Spectre

Another week and another story about malware, this time the attacks are called Meltdown and Spectre. These weaknesses are particularly...

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Giving Back

Giving Back

Our Principals consistently tell us when they join that one reason they  got out of a corporate environment and have...

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Business Insight
Interim CIO – What is the best way to hire one?

Interim CIO – What is the best way to hire one?

Companies often contact us because they want to hire an Interim Chief Information Officer (interim CIO) and they are looking...

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Business Insight
Preparing for strategic IT demands from corporate clients

Preparing for strategic IT demands from corporate clients

Providing services or product to corporate clients can be a lucrative opportunity. Large, stable clients can be a good market...

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Business Insight
Technology fire triangle – Part 2: Data

Technology fire triangle – Part 2: Data

This is part 2 of our series of 3 briefings about the Technology Fire Triangle, a term we coined to...

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Technology fire triangle – Part 1: Integration

Technology fire triangle – Part 1: Integration

Our aim is for IT to actively contribute to our clients’ strategic success rather than being a drag and a...

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Companies also approach us about these areas

IT Strategy

Connecting your systems and digital strategy to your business objectives.

Bespoke Software Development

Online and digital are at the heart of most new opportunities, and custom software is often key.

Team Development and Leadership

Enable your IT team and suppliers to help drive efficiency, service, and innovation.

CIOs and CTOs for Private Equity

PE houses are driven by valuations, and IT and technology are now at the heart of business value.

IT Risk Management & Compliance

Get on top of cyberthreats, security risks, regulatory issues, and compliance problems.

Knowledge Centres

 

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Graeme Freeman
Co-Founder and Director

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* Please enter an email address
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Thank you.

You’ll now receive regular expert business insights.

Call us on 0203 020 1864 with any questions.

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