What the work produces
The artefacts. Not the theory.
An engagement is judged by what it actually produces inside the business. This page shows the kind of operational artefacts a Fractional COO engagement typically creates, anonymised and redacted where commercially sensitive.
Contribution margin dashboard
True margin per channel, per region, per SKU class. Built in the existing BI tool (Looker, Metabase or Google Sheets where appropriate). Replaces the gross-margin-only view that most founders are operating from.
Typical build time: 3 to 4 weeks. Updated weekly thereafter.
Weekly operations scorecard
One-page weekly report covering 12 to 15 KPIs across fulfilment, supply chain, customer service and marketplace performance. The single document the leadership team reviews every Monday.
Typical build time: 2 weeks. Automated update thereafter.
Replenishment model
SKU-level forecast incorporating historical demand, seasonality, lead time and safety stock. Replaces the spreadsheet most £1m to £5m brands rely on. Reduces both stock-outs and working capital simultaneously.
Typical build time: 4 to 6 weeks. Owned by Demand Planner from month 4.
3PL benchmark and selection
Structured RFP across 4 to 6 candidate 3PLs. Comparison matrix covering rate card, SLA, integrations, geographic fit, references. Typical engagement outcome: 8 to 15% reduction in per-order cost.
Typical timeline: 6 to 10 weeks from RFP to go-live.
Operational risk register
Documented register of supplier concentration risk, freight cost exposure, channel concentration risk, key-person risk, compliance gaps. Reviewed quarterly. Most £5m+ businesses don't have one.
Typical build time: 2 weeks. Reviewed quarterly.
Pan-EU FBA launch plan
32-step operational plan from UK-only Amazon to Pan-EU live across five marketplaces. Covers VAT registration, IOSS setup, freight forwarder selection, brand registry expansion, listing translation, inventory placement.
Typical timeline: 4 to 6 months from decision to first orders.
Senior hire briefs
Role specifications and interview structures for the senior operational hires the engagement designs out to: Head of Operations, Supply Chain Lead, Head of Customer Experience, Demand Planner. Interview involvement included.
Typical timeline: 6 to 14 weeks per senior hire.
S&OP framework
Monthly Sales & Operations Planning rhythm: forecast review, supply review, financial reconciliation, executive review. Standard at £10m+. The forum that prevents the commercial team and the operations team running different plans.
Typical implementation: 6 to 8 weeks to first formal cycle.
How the artefacts get built
Three principles run through every artefact:
- Built inside the business, not handed over from outside. The team that will operate the artefact is involved in building it. Knowledge transfer is the work, not an afterthought.
- Reusable, not bespoke. The reporting structures, frameworks and process flows are designed to be maintained by an internal team once the engagement ends.
- Owned by a named person. Every artefact has an owner inside the business by the end of the engagement. If no-one owns it, it dies the day the engagement ends.