A
BEACON OF INSIGHT FOR
D I G I TA L B U S I N E S S E S
HELPING BUSINESSES N AV I G AT E
A D I G I TA L F U T U R E Whilst undertaking an exceptional digital transformation of its own, KPMG New Zealand is giving businesses the helping hand they need to reinvent their digital strategies
WRIT TEN BY
L AUR A MULL AN PRODUCED BY
ANDY TURNER
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D
igital transforma-
ers,” reflects Chief Information Officer Cowan
tion is not a new
Pettigrew.
concept: since the advent of
“It’s important to understand that isolated
the internet, companies have
digital tools don’t lead to the transformational
diligently adopted new digital
results that business owners seek,” he continues.
tools – from blockchain to
“Businesses need to identify what problem
edge computing — to
they’re trying to solve before they search for
transform the way they
technologies. Digital tools are only a plank or
collaborate and do business.
toolset that supports the wider goals of an
What has changed is the sheer volume of technology
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organisation.” A digitally-driven firm, KPMG NZ has em-
options that are now flooding
barked on its own root-and-branch transforma-
the market. The proliferation
tion, which is helping to bring its strategic vision to
of technology choices can be
life. Yet, before any company, including KPMG
daunting for business
NZ, can embark on such a mammoth change,
owners and this is where
Pettigrew believes IT leaders need to look
KPMG New Zealand (NZ)
inwardly first.
intends to offer a helping
“I feel the realisation that Chief Information
hand. Renowned for its
Officers (CIOs) need to transform themselves
auditing, tax and advisory
has been the biggest strength I have brought to
services, the firm is now
KPMG NZ,” comments Pettigrew. “Being a CIO is
helping companies navigate
no longer a position for purely technical people
the swathes of digital tools in
who drive value through infrastructure alone.
the market so they can
Whilst a technical understanding is important, the
achieve their strategic goals.
new multi-hat CIOs are those who have evolved
“Digital transformation isn’t
beyond the technical and provide passionate
a static point in time, it’s a
leadership with business-led, customer-facing
repeating life cycle of
strategies that enable the business to realise its
continuous improvement and
vision and goals.”
service delivery to custom-
BIO
THE ‘FANG’ EFFECT
The role of the CIO now is one of transfor-
Coming into the firm in December
mation. It’s aligned with business
2016, Pettigrew notes that one of his
objectives that Cowan assists in defining,
biggest challenges as CIO was to
implementing and continually transform-
transform the company’s discon-
ing so the business stays dynamic and
nected systems. In doing so, KPMG
relevant to its customers.
NZ is evolving to fulfil its growing
Transformation isn’t a point in time, it’s not
need for mobility, collaboration,
a moment - it’s a continuous evolving pro-
integration and, perhaps most
cess that breaks from the old ways, with
importantly, to meet its growing and
constant learnings and pivots in direction
ever-evolving user experience (UX)
along the way.
expectations. Indeed, Pettigrew
What Cowan’s role in this? With over 25
underlines how the so-called
years in the I.T. industry, he says he pro-
‘FANG effect’ is elevating consum-
vides practical strategic leadership with
ers’ expectations. This has
business led, customer facing strategies
encouraged KPMG NZ to raise the
that enables the business to realise its
bar to meet their demands.
vision and goals.
“ON-GOING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ISN’T ALWAYS EASY. IT REQUIRES A CLEAR VISION AND COMMITMENT”
As a multi hat wearing CIO, Cowan lives and breathes these values, seeking to create customers for life by building supported, sustainable platforms that deliver forward facing customer solutions.
— Cowan Pettigrew, Chief information Officer
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“The FANG effect has lifted the UX expectation across the board,” he observes. “If the applications don’t collaborate like Facebook, enable procurement like Amazon, look as cool as Apple, allow users to consume media like Netflix and search like Google, you’re missing an engagement opportunity with your clients and staff alike. These giants have set the bar for user experience and it’s driving customer expectations. Smart businesses who respond to this will be a step ahead of the competition.”
SUPPORTING FOCUSED STRATEGIES Pettigrew is keen to deliver technologies that add value. Yet before he talks about digital tools he believes it’s imperative that companies truly grasp their business strategy, 06
otherwise they may get side-tracked or
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distracted by new digital trends.
vision and commitment. In my opinion, I think the
“’Digital’ by itself is not a strategy,
ultimate outcome of any digital strategy is that it
it’s a tool,” he asserts. “It’s critical to
delivers back time; time that can be delivered to
understand that isolated digital
the end user and which can add value elsewhere.
strategies generally don’t lead to
At KPMG NZ, our strategy started with strength-
the transformational result that
ening and stabilising our foundations before mov-
business owners are after. You’ve
ing to unlock and transform based on people,
got to reverse the equation and ask
process and technology. This has helped to
‘what are the business goals? what
deliver a platform based on data-centricity, that is
is the problem you’re trying to solve?
relevant to our people and business needs, and
and what’s the role of digital in that?’
which is setting us up for a tech-savvy future.
“Ongoing digital transformation isn’t always easy. It requires a clear
“KPMG NZ is on a journey towards becoming a sector-led, client-focused technology and data
KPMG
in New Zealand has over 1,000 professionals across 7 cities
geographic region in which it operates. “At KPMG NZ everything we do ties back to our purpose of fuelling New Zealand’s prosperity,” Pettigrew says. “It’s our benchmark
Parent group KPMG was founded in
1987
501-1,200 Approximate number of employees
for the work we do, the clients we work with and the community projects we get involved in. We also have access to KPMG’s global network, drawing on our member firms in 155 countries worldwide. This gives us the freedom to develop IT services that suit our own environment, as well as working on bigger picture pieces that are for the entire network.” With its feet firmly in both New
insights company for our clients,” he adds.
Zealand and global markets, KPMG
“Information technology systems (ITS) is one
NZ has a wealth of expertise to draw
of the primary drivers of value and efficiencies
upon. The firm provides services to
at the firm.”
a wide range of industry sectors including agribusiness, insurance,
CUSTOMER-CENTRICITY
healthcare and more. In doing so,
Having undertaken its own transformation and
Pettigrew says the firm has become
been in its clients’ shoes, KPMG NZ understands
a ‘beacon of insight’ into the New
first-hand the steps businesses need to take to
Zealand business landscape. On
deliver exceptional change. Additionally, as the
top of this, Pettigrew highlights how
only one of the ‘big four’ auditors that is 100%
the firm keeps an ear to the ground
New-Zealand owned, KPMG NZ has an
to truly understand its clients’
unparalleled understanding of the unique
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“Any transformation we undertake has the
DIGITAL PIONEERS
client at its heart,” says Pettigrew. “We have
KPMG NZ has zeroed in on some of
worked to improve the way we do business so we
the most disruptive technologies in
can provide our clients with sharper, smarter
the sector to achieve this, particu-
services and insights that help them succeed.
larly looking at tools like: artificially
We’re constantly listening to our clients to
intelligent computing and robotic
understand what they need and expect from us,
process automation as a service,
undertaking client surveys and market research
blockchain, intelligent customer
to understand our current position versus where
relationship agents, insight
we want to be. Ultimately, we want to exceed our
platforms, data management
client’s expectations – so it truly is the client that’s
applications, security automation
driving us to ensure we have the best tools, the
and more.
best technology, and the best people to bring these to life.”
Amalgamated with new valuedriven operating models like
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Click to watch: ‘Do you need Corporate Governance? KPMG New Zealand’
“ DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ISN’T A STATIC POINT IN TIME, IT’S A REPEATING LIFE CYCLE THAT IS A KEY ELEMENT OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY TO CUSTOMERS”
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— Cowan Pettigrew, Chief information Officer
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Make Digital Transformation and the Modern Workplace a practical reality. Talk to Lexel’s award winning and innovative team today.
NZ: +64 9 414 1777 AU: +61 2 9435 0384 info@lexelsystems.com
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“At KPMG NZ everything we do ties back to our purpose of fuelling New Zealand’s prosperity” — Cowan Pettigrew, Chief information Officer technology for business management (TBM) to keep pace with disruption, the
Imanage Work 10 with the RAVN AI engine and the Microsoft Office 365 suite, KPMG NZ is well placed in our strategy to stay ahead of the curve. “Meanwhile, Lexel systems provide critical support for our IT operations including our all-important network, unified communications and sysops management. They are deeply embedded within the business providing thought leadership on ways to improve the business in line with our ITS strategies.” Looking forward, Pettigrew is
company has collaborated closely with
optimistic about the future for KPMG.
pioneers in the technology sector.
Driven by technological innovation,
“Having these key partners alongside
Pettigrew believes KPMG NZ has
us and deeply embedded within the
cemented itself as a top choice for any
business provides me with both the
business seeking advisory or sector-
advice, thought leadership and sound
led help. “In the next five to ten years, I
boarding I need on a daily basis,”
see KPMG NZ as a clear choice for
reflects Pettigrew. “Leveraging the best
businesses, establishing itself as a
from Lenovo for mobility, and combined
beacon of information that businesses
with the power of platforms like
can count on.”
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AUCKLAND HEADQUARTERS: 18 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand 1010 T +64 9 367 5800 home.kpmg.com