Seamless integration and real-time data: How CaFE helped an Innovation Consultancy achieve peace of mind

Helping organisations kickstart innovation

With over twenty years’ experience delivering innovation training to start-ups and corporations, including a successful design thinking programme for Google in 2016, Grant focused on growing his business, working with all types of organisations on their journey to innovation and change.

Having implemented programmes with companies all over the world, Grant and his highly experienced team launched Innovation Network in the UK in 2020, with the aim of helping businesses embed a culture of innovation within their organisations.

The training provided by Innovation Network allows teams to develop confidence in their ability to design and deliver innovation. The on-demand nature of the training allows teams to learn at scale, aligning entire organisations in the language of innovation, and arming them with the tools they need to drive successful change within their businesses.

Until the pandemic hit in early 2020, Grant and his expert team were regularly travelling all over the world to deliver training across all sectors, from Telecomms, insurance and banking, to retail, food and cosmetics. Commenting on the impact of the pandemic, Grant says, “One thing we did as a result of the pandemic was to pivot to completely online, which has actually enabled us to grow the business; we’re able to work in Pakistan in the morning and Washington in the afternoon, without the travel.”

The search for an automated, accurate cashflow tool

As Innovation Network grew, Grant recognised there was a need to move away from the excel spreadsheets the company had been updating to monitor cashflow, which produced unreliable figures.

“I’d been looking for a way to track cashflow that would update automatically and provide accurate results,“ Grant explains,”We were already using Xero, so when I discovered that CaFE would connect permanently with our accounting software, as well as notify us of any upcoming cashflow problems, I realised it was exactly what we needed.”

Combining CaFE with advice from a trusted advisor

Having registered with CaFE, Grant was introduced to Mark Howard from Skymark Financial, an experienced accountant and one of CaFE’s ambassadors, and they began working together during the set-up process. Grant comments, “Having Mark there to help us and act as an advisor is awesome, we really hit it off and working with an advisor suits us perfectly.

“We both have access to the data, which means Mark can see at a glance how we’re doing and make recommendations. It’s been really valuable, like having a CFO on the team.”

Commenting on why he recommends CaFE to his clients, Mark explains,”It’s so easy to use. You really don’t need to do anything, and if there’s a problem, CaFE will tell you.  Having the ability to instantly see three months ahead gives confidence and control back to business owners.”

Making a difference

Grant is clear about the benefits using CaFE has brought to his business, commenting,”CaFE really has given me peace of mind. When you’re using a spreadsheet, the figures are never what you think they are, you can never rely on them.

“With CaFE, because it’s integrated with Xero, I can log in at any time for a live update on how the business is performing and a forecast, which enables me to make more informed decisions.

“I love the facility CaFE has that notifies you when it looks as though you’re going to run out of money. I can go in and see at a glance that it’s handled, and if it’s not, I can chase up an invoice, or make plans to resolve the problem.

“Using CaFE has given me confidence in the numbers. I hardly have to think about the financial side of the business at all now, which for an entrepreneur is a huge weight lifted. Implementing CaFE, alongside working with Mark, has tackled all the pain points that I had in the last. It really has been transformational for Innovation Network.”