IOP Publishing

Context

The Institute of Physics Publishing (IoPP) engaged 9FT to manage the RFP process for a new Customer Data Platform (CDP) and Martech system implementation, following a previous successful collaboration on a lessons learned review. IoPP faced significant challenges, including limited project management and change management capability, inconsistent governance, and difficulties aligning objectives and processes across publishing and marketing teams. With no standardised frameworks in place and a reliance on manual processes, IoPP needed external expertise to ensure a structured, sustainable approach from the outset. 9FT was brought in at the requirements gathering stage to support project mobilisation, RFP development, and governance setup.

Delivery

9FT partnered with IoPP to gather comprehensive solution requirements and design a robust, transparent RFP and scoring process. They managed the tender process, facilitated decision-making, and supported the development of board papers and business cases to secure project approval. In addition, 9FT established project governance, managed risks and dependencies, and developed a detailed project plan. Additional targeted training and crafted change management and communication plans were developed to upskill IoPP’s teams, ensuring effective adoption and long-term project sustainability.

Outcomes

Through this engagement, IoPP successfully gathered detailed requirements and completed a rigorous vendor selection process, with four vendors submitting RFPs and a structured, anonymised scoring approach used to select a solution for trial. The board approved funding for the trial, and the project was launched with enhanced governance and a clear change management strategy. IoPP’s teams were upskilled in both project and change management, nearly 200 user stories were documented and prioritised, and the organisation is now better positioned to deliver efficient, integrated, and scalable marketing and publishing processes.