Merging two businesses and IT platforms to create people impact for Mapien's national workforce

In 2018, Livingstones and SHR merged to form Mapien, a leading Australian consultancy specialising in workplace solutions such as industrial relations, organisational psychology, and immigration strategy. With a workforce of over 80 employees spread across four major cities, integrating the legacy ICT systems from both organisations posed significant challenges. Veracity was engaged to help simplify and consolidate Mapien’s technology platforms to support a more unified and efficient operation.

The merger of Livingstones and SHR to create Mapien presented a significant opportunity to bring together the strengths of two mature businesses. However, one of the primary challenges was integrating their respective ICT infrastructures and aligning their technology operations across multiple locations.

Key challenges included:

• The two businesses had different ICT platforms, processes, and capabilities resulting in inefficiencies and duplication of effort. Employees were working with a variety of systems, which created confusion and slowed down productivity.
• Mapien’s offices, located in four capital cities, were experiencing inconsistent internet connectivity, varying levels of infrastructure reliability, and inefficient data management, which impacted employee collaboration and customer service.
• Beyond the technical integration, the merger required a shift in organisational mindset. Employees had to adapt to new platforms, processes, and ways of working—many of which were more streamlined and modern. Supporting change management and ensuring smooth adoption of new systems was just as important as the technical implementation.

Mapien turned to Veracity to simplify, consolidate, and modernise its ICT platform to create a cohesive, reliable, and secure technology environment. Veracity conducted a thorough ICT Health Check to assess Mapien’s existing infrastructure and identify areas for improvement. Through this process, we pinpointed several opportunities to streamline the ICT platform, including:

• We identified redundant systems and applications, and developed recommendations to consolidate tools and platforms to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver a unified, standardised technology environment across all offices.
• We recommended simplifying the underlying infrastructure to enhance security, reduce complexity, and improve reliability. This included implementing cloud solutions to centralise data storage and improve access to information.
• Mapien’s internet connectivity across its multiple offices was inconsistent, which affected employee productivity and client service. We proposed upgrades to ensure all offices had reliable, business-grade connectivity with the capacity for future growth.
• To ensure long-term sustainability, we addressed data governance, recommending the implementation of robust policies and frameworks to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry standards.

With the insights from our ICT Health Check, we developed a comprehensive Three Year ICT Roadmap to transform Mapien’s ICT environment.

The result? Veracity successfully implemented a range of ICT solutions that transformed Mapien’s technology landscape.

• Mapien now operates on a single, streamlined ICT platform, with integrated applications that reduce downtime and simplify workflows across all offices. Employees now benefit from consistent access to the same tools and systems, regardless of location.
• All Mapien offices now enjoy consistent, high-performance internet connectivity, ensuring reliable access to cloud applications and seamless collaboration between teams across Australia.
• We implemented secure data storage solutions and simplified infrastructure, ensuring that Mapien’s data is well-protected and easily accessible.
• We established a highly responsive IT Service Desk to support employees across the organisation, ensuring quick resolution of any issues and minimising downtime.
• In collaboration with Mapien, we supported effective change management and training which led to employees embracing the new technology, more efficient ways of working and improved collaboration.
• A Data Governance Framework was put in place, ensuring that Mapien’s data is handled with the highest levels of security, compliance, and accountability.

By consolidating and simplifying their ICT systems, and by driving cultural change in how employees work, Mapien is now better equipped to scale its operations and continue delivering high-quality services to its clients.