Frequently asked questions
Straight answers before you start.
You do not need to have the problem diagnosed or the solution worked out.
Is Simple Ops right for us?
Fit and experience
Do we need to be in trouble?
No. A good business can still be harder to run than it should be. You may be growing, preparing for change or simply ready to improve everyday work.
I doubt you will understand our industry.
You know your industry; we are not trying to replace that knowledge. Our job is to understand how work, decisions and information move through your business. If specialist industry expertise is required, we say so.
Will this work with the kinds of people we employ?
The improvement has to fit the people doing the work. We do not assume everyone wants or is comfortable with complicated technology. We favour changes people can realistically understand and use.
What happens during a Review?
What do we actually get for our money?
You receive findings showing where time, money, effort or information is being lost. Each is ranked by importance and likely effort to resolve, with clear recommendations on what to address first, what can wait and what may not be worth changing.
How much access do you need?
We typically need a minimum of 10 hours inside your business over one working week. This lets us speak with the people doing the work and observe how everyday tasks actually happen. We agree access and boundaries before starting.
Do we need to prepare anything?
Quite the opposite. We do not want the red carpet, a presentation or a staged day. We need to see an ordinary week, including the workarounds, interruptions and questions. We may request existing documents or examples, but will not ask you to create material purely for the Review.
Do you need access to our customers?
Not always. Where relevant, we may review the business from a customer’s perspective, undertake an agreed mystery shop or ask permission to speak with selected customers. We never contact customers, represent your business or mystery shop you without prior agreement.
How can you understand the business in such a short time?
We are not claiming to learn everything. We follow real work, identify repeated patterns and test what we hear against what we observe. If evidence is insufficient, we say so.
Trust and independence
Are our discussions and findings private?
Yes. Information and findings are treated as confidential. We do not publish your business name, results or examples without permission.
Are you coming in to find fault with employees?
No. Workarounds usually exist because employees have found practical ways to keep the business moving. We examine how work and handovers operate—not who to blame.
Will you recommend cutting jobs?
The purpose is to remove unnecessary effort and create capacity, not begin with a headcount target. Workforce decisions remain yours.
What if we disagree with the findings?
That is allowed. Findings should be discussed, tested and supported by what was observed. You remain responsible for deciding what happens next.
Recommendations and value
Are you going to tell me I need an expensive new system?
No. New software is often the most expensive place to start. We first look for ways to simplify the work and get more from what you already own.
Are you just going to produce a report that sits in a drawer?
No. Findings are ranked and tied to practical next steps. The aim is to help you make decisions, not produce an impressive document that changes nothing.
How do we know the savings will outweigh the cost?
We distinguish likely quick wins, opportunities requiring investment and changes that are not justified. We show likely value, effort and trade-offs where evidence supports it.
What if you find nothing significant?
That is still useful. You receive an independent view of what works, smaller refinements worth considering and issues that do not justify further investment.
Will you try to sell us more work afterwards?
No. Every offer should provide a useful result on its own. You can implement findings yourself, with Simple Ops or with someone you trust.
Still unsure?