Case Study: Building a Stronger Digital Foundation for Broken Colour
Client: Broken Colour
Project: Microsoft 365 modernisation and digital workplace transformation
Consultant: Alison Phillips, AP Innovate
Broken Colour, a growing painting and decorating business, needed a clearer, more secure and more efficient way to manage information, collaborate and support future growth. I worked closely with the business to assess its existing technology environment and create a practical, phased roadmap for moving from ageing on-premises infrastructure towards a modern Microsoft 365 digital workplace.
The Challenge
Broken Colour, a growing painting and decorating business, had reached a point where its existing IT setup was no longer supporting its ambitions. Relying on ageing on-premises infrastructure and fragmented digital tools, the company faced significant hurdles in information management and secure internal collaboration.
The core requirement was to establish a stronger digital foundation—one that would provide clearer governance, better data security, and a more efficient way for the team to manage projects and workflows as the business continued to expand its footprint in the industry.
My Approach
I implemented a practical, phased roadmap designed to transition the company towards a modern Microsoft 365 digital workplace through four key modules:
Discovery and Assessment
- Assessed existing technology environment
- Identified digital gaps and security risks
- Built a business case for modernization
Information Architecture and Governance
- Standardized data structure and file management
- Established clear information ownership
- Defined lifecycle policies for digital assets
Microsoft 365 Adoption
- Phased migration to OneDrive and SharePoint
- Teams setup for centralized collaboration
- Staff training on new digital workflows
Security and Copilot Readiness
- Implemented essential M365 security controls
- Ensured data was 'AI-ready' and compliant
- Created a pathway for future Copilot usage
The Outcome
The project successfully established a clear digital foundation, moving Broken Colour away from reactive IT fixes toward a secure, strategic and more collaborative way of working.
- Clear modernisation roadmap
- Better-organised information
- Stronger governance
- Improved staff readiness
- Reduced operational exposure
- Responsible AI pathway
As M365 adoption progresses this foundation is intended to support easier access to trusted information, fewer duplicate files, more consistent collaboration, reduced manual administration and greater business resilience.
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Practical IT transformation strategy for SME leaders looking to build a resilient, efficient, and AI-ready digital workplace.