“It’s not the strongest that survive, but the most adaptable.”
When we first opened our doors on April 1st two years ago, some thought the date was ironic. Launching a shared services company on April Fool’s Day? Brave—or foolish. But we weren’t here to follow convention. We were here to build something that worked. And now, two years later, we’re still here—stronger, sharper, and more strategic than ever.
Surviving the First Two Years: Lessons in Grit and Growth
The shared services landscape is not for the faint-hearted. It demands operational excellence, relentless cost scrutiny, and the constant balancing act between standardisation and personalisation.
In our first year, we focused on building the bones—process mapping, technology investments, talent alignment, and service level commitments. It was foundational work. Quiet. Unsexy. Crucial.
Year two demanded resilience and responsiveness. As clients evolved, so did we. We said no to scope creep and yes to smarter automation. We handled setbacks—the ones no one posts about—and still showed up every Monday morning, determined to serve better, leaner, faster.
But surviving isn’t enough. And surviving alone was never the plan.
Mid-Year Check-In: Where Are We Now?
Now, as we mark mid-2025, we’re asking bigger questions:
- Are we still creating value, or just pushing processes?
- Are our people burning out, or burning bright?
- Are we optimizing, or just operating?
It’s easy to get lulled into routine. But shared services should never be static. Efficiency isn’t a destination—it’s a discipline.
So this mid-year, we’re getting intentional.
Here’s our internal focus for July–December 2025:
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Recalibrate Efficiency Metrics
Not all metrics matter. We’re auditing what we track—and why. Effort spent measuring what doesn’t move the needle is effort wasted. -
Revive Cross-Functional Collaboration
Silos are the enemies of efficiency. We’re reigniting inter-departmental alignment sessions to prevent duplication and rediscover synergy. -
Refocus on Employee Experience
Yes, shared services is about processes, but people run the processes. We’re piloting “silent feedback” weeks to capture anonymous pain points and energy leaks. -
Reassess Automation ROI
Automation for automation’s sake is a trap. We’re reviewing tools and bots—if it isn’t driving measurable savings or better service, it goes. -
Reconnect with Purpose
We didn’t start this company to tick boxes. We began to make things simpler, clearer, better. Mid-year is a good time to remember why we started.
Roadmap to Thrive: The Next Six Months and Beyond
Survival is reactive. Thriving is proactive. Here’s what we’re doing next:
- Sharpening Specialisation
We’re carving out niche centres of excellence—deep skill clusters within HR, finance, and procurement. Generalists can manage. Specialists can transform. - Investing in “Skill Stacking”
Upskilling isn’t optional anymore. We’re offering employees layered development—analytics + communication + tech literacy. That’s the new currency of value. - Launching a Predictive Insights Layer
We’re moving from hindsight reports to foresight recommendations. It’s not enough to report what happened. We want to help partners predict what’s next. - Enhancing Change Agility
Our world isn’t slowing down. So, our playbooks shouldn’t be static. We’re developing a rapid-response framework for change—be it regulatory shifts, tech rollouts, or client pivots. - Building a Culture of Quiet Confidence
Shared services is often invisible. That’s its beauty—and its danger. We’re rebranding internal communication to showcase wins, celebrate teams, and remind ourselves that what we do matters.
Final Thoughts from the Corner Office (which is just a good Wi-Fi zone these days)
Two years in, I can say this with conviction: shared services is not about perfection. It’s about progression.
It’s about making things better, then better again. It’s about seeing problems before they explode. It’s about serving quietly, but with impact.
We’ve survived two years. That’s no small feat. But we didn’t come this far just to come this far.
We’re here to lead. To optimize. To humanize.
And most importantly, to keep showing up for the work that matters.
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here’s to the rest of 2025—and the future we’re building, one process at a time.
