Enabling Next-Gen Engineering & Innovation

Consulting Objectives
A major US Automotive Company requested Consulting Services to orchestrate the development of their enterprise API and microservices strategy and vision. 

• Develop a global enterprise API and microservices strategy and vision

• Create a visual representation utilizing a Bluescape collaboration board allowing IT staff and non-technical executives to understand the API and microservices strategy, vision, and implementation

The enterprise required a successful implementation approach to create an ecosystem that fostered innovation, collaboration, and organizational efficiency. Our approach involved extensive strategic preparation and planning phases to meet stakeholder and business expectations. 

Strategic Phases 

Preparation Phase
While collaborating with leadership and technology SMEs, our Team conducted multiple strategy sessions to articulate their vision and strategy. To ensure productivity and participation, we prepped all respective parties with short briefs detailing the session’s intent and surveys regarding the previous state, the current state, and the future state of their API and microservices approach. 

Planning Phase
During strategy sessions, we reviewed the surveys and conducted collaborative whiteboard exercises and group discussions to capture their tacit knowledge and develop explicit plans. We crafted the vision, strategy, and a roadmap to fulfill the vision.

Execution Phase
To properly align the future vision, our design engineers developed infographics and marketing videos detailing a “now,” “near,” and “far” view. Promoting the vision enabled the audience to understand the traditional organization and the future organization’s movement.

Results
The API and microservices strategy and vision infographics were presented via a virtual platform and received CIO approval at the global headquarters. The marketing videos are hosted on an internal SharePoint, and there has been a 30% increase in their API portal since the initiative began.

Key Takeaways

• It is imperative to prepare the meeting members by providing them with the sessions’ intent and a proper tool(s) to gather their thoughts

• Collaboration is key – consultants must develop thought-provoking questions and exercises to fuel discussion and individual contribution

• APIs and microservices are far more than a technical solution – they solve business problems, reach and connect new devices, partners, and market segments