KPMG brochure – 2018

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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

challenges. w w w. c o m p a n y w e b s i t e . c o m

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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.

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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