New software platform supports organizations in optimizing their Operational Excellence-maturity

by Michel Klompmaker
We recently had an interview in Brussels with Aurélien Slodzian, CEO and Peter Buelens, president of the Board and both co-founders of OPEX Alliance. OPEX Alliance is a Brussels-based start-up that developed a cloud-based software platform through which companies and service-organizations can identify how well – or how badly – they manage the levers to become ‘operational excellent’ (OPEX). In addition, the platform enables users to evaluate in this way, every organizational unit, compare their scores, monitor progress and assign and follow-up initiatives for improvement. The method can be used by every type of organization, regardless of its size.

OPEX Alliance is fully operational since 2017 and recently put the third release of its platform online. In the meantime the first users are operational, between them a large federal ministry, a large international insurance company and a Brussels hospital group. OPEX Alliance also signed a partner-agreement with a big 5 consultant, which is going to apply, in a first phase, the model with its Belgian customers. OPEX Alliance works with a staff of local developers. In a first phase, focus is on the development of extra functionalities that will give the platform the status of a full-fledged strategic tool for service organizations.
Tel us a bit more about OPEX, more specifically about what distinguishes this approach
Aurélien Slodzian: ‘Operational Excellence (OPEX) is in business, but in public sector and non-profit as well, a huge challenge. As a matter of fact, OPEX it is about optimal and integral management of business processes, in relation to the value proposition that was made to customers. Many organizations are struggling with this, especially because they lacked, until yesterday, a reference framework based on which their OPEX-maturity could be measured. But it certainly is the ‘integral’ aspect, together with the several functionalities, that incorporate the uniqueness of this maturity model from OPEX Alliance. We found nowhere a central platform that brings information together about different aspects of an organization, like its structure, processes, products, customers and … how it is performing related to Operational Excellence.’
What can companies and organizations do with your software, what they could not do before?
Aurélien Slodzian: ‘That is the question I was waiting for. Before it was actually not possible to go for an integral approach. Integral means, in the first place, that processes and their functioning have to be managed properly, but also means that some essential elements like resources, digitizing, risks and quality have to be managed. In a production-environment those matters are often much better manageable because processes are much more tangible in these contexts and problems easily identifiable. This is much less the case in a service environment where problems are often hidden and even often anchored in the way of working…  Continuous improvement is thus one of the 6 perspectives in our maturity model.’
What are the first reactions from the market until now?
Aurélien Slodzian: ‘The first reactions are very encouraging. Companies and service-organizations can identify how well – or how badly – they manage the levers to become ‘operational excellent’ (OPEX). In addition, the platform enables users to evaluate in this way, every organizational unit, compare their scores, monitor progress and assign and follow-up initiatives for improvement. The method can be used by every type of organization, regardless its size. Our subscription-based model is flexible and our prices-setting has been positively welcomed. But our maturity model is not only interesting for service organizations, but also offers a lot of opportunities for small and larger consultants working in the domain of operational excellence. Identified weaknesses after all need initiatives, as well as the right experience to implement them. And this exactly is what consultants do and where they can assist their customers.’
Every start-up has a series of specific challenges. What about OPEX Alliance?
Aurélien SLodzian: ‘Our future looks bright. The number of demands for information is growing continuously, which is a good sign. Managing our growth is our biggest challenge. We are talking right now with some institutional parties for the financing of our international growth. Readers interested to know more about us can find extra information on our website www.opexalliance.com.’