ACAS
Enabling consistent conciliation processes and automation via Power Apps, with ongoing support.
The Client
Acas—the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service—is a non-departmental public body offering free, impartial advice to employers, employees and their representatives across England, Scotland and Wales.
Their mission is to support fair and effective workplace practices, helping resolve disputes and improve employment relations.
Node4 spent time really getting to know Acas as an organisation and listening to all that we were trying to achieve before proposing the best route forward. The team did an excellent job of keeping our people involved and informed throughout, and this close collaboration with the IDR team proved to be a real success. The project helped us achieve important business goals, having modernised our operations and made it so much easier for us to deliver consistent conciliation processes across all of our offices and various teams.
The Challenge
In 2018, Acas set out to modernise its conciliation case management system for over 400 users. The goal was to streamline operations and ensure consistent processes across all offices and teams. They needed a solution that could evolve with their needs, support their Individual Dispute Resolution (IDR) team, and deliver a better experience for both staff and service users.
The Solution
We first connected with Acas through the UK Government’s G-Cloud portal. From the outset, we worked closely with their IDR team to understand their goals and design a solution that fit. After mapping out key management processes, we created architectural and solution designs to support them.
Using Microsoft Dynamics 365 as the foundation, we delivered the new system incrementally. This gave Acas the flexibility to refine requirements as they gained hands-on experience. Our team collaborated with stakeholders and end users throughout, ensuring the rollout was smooth and responsive to feedback.
We also introduced Power Apps and Power Apps Component Framework (PCF) components to help automate common tasks, making day-to-day operations more efficient.
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The Results
The project helped Acas meet key business goals. Their operations are now modernised, and it’s easier for teams to deliver consistent conciliation services across the organisation. The incremental delivery approach gave Acas room to adapt and improve the system as they went.
Our partnership was extended under a further G-Cloud contract term until October 2022, reflecting the trust and value built during the project.
“Node4 spent time really getting to know Acas as an organisation and listening to all that we were trying to achieve before proposing the best route forward. The team did an excellent job of keeping our people involved and informed throughout, and this close collaboration with the IDR team proved to be a real success. The project helped us achieve important business goals, having modernised our operations and made it so much easier for us to deliver consistent conciliation processes across all of our offices and various teams.”
— Steve Rush, Head of Strategic Supplier Management at Acas
“The level of communication with Node4 is second to none; they’re friendly, professional and nothing is ever too much trouble.”
— Acas Service Desk
We were delighted that Acas wanted to keep us on for a further G-Cloud contract term, securing our partnership. The fact that we remain one of Acas’s Microsoft partners of choice stands as a testament to our focus on customer satisfaction and the hard work we have put into fostering a strong working relationship.
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The Node4 Difference
When it comes to technology, we listen, adapt and support. Our incremental approach gave Acas the space to shape their solution as they used it. Our collaboration with their IDR team ensured the system was built around real needs, not assumptions. And our ongoing support means Acas can continue to rely on us as their needs evolve.