In current times, organisations need to act quickly to address the challenge of rapid change in markets and supply chains. But any action they take must also be well-considered, with an eye on future opportunities as well as the pressing needs of today.

Many organisations find that they need practical support from a trusted adviser who will also assist the implementation of business change, so that the intended benefits are realised.

We provide here summary information on OCP capabilities relevant to current times, with links to other material on this website which describes our experience and how we work with our clients.

Getting better results from what you've got

Operational performance improvement
We help organisations apply a structured approach to improving the cost effectiveness, quality and timeliness of their back office operations. This approach has delivered up to 30% improvement in productivity for many financial institutions including mortgage processors.
Review the case study describing our work for EDS Credit Services.

Process improvement
The recent "discovery" of lean has been in our view over-egged. The principles of the Toyota Production System have been developed and proven over the last fifty years: do it once, do it at the right time.
Read the case study explaining how we helped Laing O'Rourke to redesign professional support processes in the construction industry.

Product rationalisation
Unnecessary product variety drives equally unnecessary cost and also confuses the customer. In stresssed times, organisations need even more to understand their product portfolio and identify the dogs, stars, cash cows and hidden gems. OCP has worked with providers of business services and many financial institutions including AXA and Exeter Friendly to rationalise and improve their product range.

Sales effectiveness improvement
Many organisations have invested heavily in channel diversification, enabling the prospective customer to transact at retail outlets, face-to-face in the home and by telephone and internet. This has driven dramatic increases in the cost of distribution. Most organisations now need to get their multiple channels working in concert and reallocate effort towards those channels which offer the most cost-effective route to the customer.
Read about our role in supporting implementation of Britannia Building Society's distribution strategy.

IT effectiveness improvement
Organisations have spent hugely on investments in IT infrastructure and systems in recent years. Many organisational barriers stand in the way of the release of benefits from these investments, requiring changes in business processes, structures and organisational cultures.
Recent examples of our work include projects for The Bank of England and Polaris UK.

Taking radical action to cut costs

Cost reduction
It may be more or less easy to slash costs, but it's much more important to understand the value created by core activities and processes. Otherwise revenue will be reduced at least as quickly as expenses. OCP has worked with clients in many industries to improve cost-effectiveness and reduce overhead costs through delayering and de-duplication of activities. We supported Liverpool Victoria's Affordability Review which produced £23m pa cost savings from restructuring of business support services and helped Zurich Financial Services release £10m in savings from motor repair costs in 12 months

Organisation restructuring
BUPA needed to transform its hospitals business to respond to change in the private medical insurance market and new opportunities in public sector healthcare. We advised the Managing Director of BUPA Hospitals on the design and implementation of a major programme of organisational change. In 2007 BUPA divested its hospitals business to Cinven for £1.4bn.
Read the case study describing our work for BUPA.

Outsourcing
Many organisations see outsourcing as an opportunity to make fixed costs more flexible, enabling them to focus better on the core, value-adding activities. OCP has worked to assist corporates to decide whether to outsource or not, and also for providers of outsourced business services including EDS and Siemens.
Read more about OCP's credentials in advising on outsourcing

Business closure and insolvency

OCP partners have direct, personal experience of the tough times of the 1990s, including the establishment of KWELM and Equitas as run-off entities in the Lloyds insurance market and the rescuing of elements of Hill Samuel from disastrous property lending, including the setting-up of a bad bank.

Closed books
Many life and pensions insurers are now confronting the cost and organisational challenges associated with their back catalogue of legacy financial products. OCP has supported L&P insurers including Britannia Life (now part of Pearl Group plc) and Sun Life of Canada UK in making and implementing decisions about legacy assets.
Find out more about our track record in advising life insurers on closed books.

Acquiring at the bottom

An ill wind does no-one any good. Cheap assets are now available to the shrewd acquirer. OCP has worked with many organisations including DuPont, John Deere and Deans Foods to help identify strategic strengths and guide future investments in market presence and operational capacity.