Celebrating 5 years
As we celebrate five years since being bought by new management, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the journey, the challenges overcome, and the exciting future ahead.
We sat down with Managing Director, Sharon Stanley, who shared insights into what inspired the move, the rollercoaster journey since, and what the future holds for gpm and its clients.
The Beginning: A Leap of Faith
When asked what inspired the decision to take over gpm five years ago, Sharon’s answer was simple: a belief in the power of great software. “I was convinced that we could create software that not only improves our customers’ lives but is also fun to build,” she said.
gpm needed a way forward and the opportunity for Sharon, Sarah and Sam came at the right place and the right time!
The journey, however, has been a bit of a rollercoaster. “There have been excitement and highs, challenging lows, and plenty of loop-the-loops!” Sharon recalled.
Yet, through it all, gpm has remained on a path of continuous growth, achieving year-on-year increases in revenue and profit and reinvestment into the company.
Triumphs and Challenges
One of the proudest achievements in these five years has been the successful development of software that truly adds value for our customers.
gpm has built strong relationships with clients, establishing a strong feedback loop that has been integral to the development and delivery process. Helping to ensure that the software evolves in a way that meets the real needs of users.
However, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges!
Sharon openly shared that they haven’t got as far as they were hoping to get. “We hoped that the new software we initially built would be the start of our inFOCUS CONTRACT and it wasn’t. It was too bespoke and lacked the flexibility needed. So although we don’t have to start from scratch, we made the tough decision not to release it until it was right, and met our high quality standards,” she explained.
This has resulted in a more dispersed company and split team, with some working on existing software and some on the new software. Bringing the two teams together can be tough in a small company, magnified by physical separation too.
Navigating Through COVID-19
Taking over just before the COVID-19 pandemic presented its own set of challenges.
“Signing a five-year office lease in December 2019 was one of the first major decisions we took!”, said Sharon.
In terms of productivity and workload, the gpm team transitioned pretty smoothly to working from home, ensuring uninterrupted development and customer support.
“The pandemic emphasised the importance of digital transformation,” Sharon noted. “It reinforced our belief that everything should be online, supporting our mission to help our customers become paperless and fully digitised.”
One thing that Sharon and the team do miss is having fewer customers physically present in the city. Pre-pandemic there used to be lots more socialising and popping over to meet people face to face. “Being present in the city is something we love to do, but for a lot of people their screens and teams are now the go-to, we miss some of the in-person relationships and vibe there used to be,” said Sharon.
Evolving the gpm Brand
In the last few years gpm has invested more in their marketing and customer engagement, becoming more vocal and active in the market.
Whilst at the same time, focusing on the ongoing development of both existing and new software.
Culture-wise, gpm encourages a collaborative environment. Daily stand-ups with both in-house and outsourced teams ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.
The team also enjoys bi-annual get-togethers, with recent highlights including the Crystal Maze and War of the Worlds events.
“We’re proud of how our team adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sharon said, reflecting on how everyone pulled together despite personal difficulties and the challenges of remote work. The existing software continues to run smoothly with regular improvements, while the team looks forward to the new and exciting challenges on the horizon.
Looking Ahead: A Future of Innovation
As gpm looks to the future, there’s a lot to be excited about.
The full release of the inFOCUS software, “It’s been a slow build, but we’re looking forward to delivering the first iteration and then accelerate its development,” Sharon shared. The plan is to maintain a strong feedback loop with clients, just as they have done with their current software, ensuring that the inFOCUS modules evolve to meet users’ needs.
gpm also plans to enhance its reporting capabilities through the inFOCUS INSIGHT module, which will grow and improve over time. And with the constant advancements in technology, gpm is keen to explore new opportunities, including AI and other emerging partnerships.
In these five years, the team have experienced a massive learning curve. From people and processes to development and technology, the journey has been one of constant growth and adaptation.
As they celebrate this milestone, gpm is more committed than ever to delivering innovative software solutions that keep their customers ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving London insurance market.
Here’s to the next chapter!
If you’d like to be part of the gpm journey or would like to find out more about inFOCUS modular solutions, contact us today.