Bhuvan Sarupuri Ph.D.

TOPdesk

Make Service Happen
📊 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
🎓 WHARTON BUSINESS SCHOOL
📅 JULY 2024

Connected Strategy for ITSM Transformation

Leveraging AI-driven automation to revolutionize IT Service Management for mid-market enterprises

50%
Resolution Time Reduction
30%
Operator Time Savings
20%
IT Cost Reduction
45%
Customer Satisfaction Increase

Executive Summary

About TOPdesk

TOPdesk is a leading IT Service Management (ITSM) software provider focused on empowering mid-sized enterprises (250-500 employees) to streamline service delivery and enhance customer support operations. The company offers modular, scalable solutions designed for organizations seeking professional-grade ITSM capabilities without enterprise complexity and cost.

Our Promise: "Make Service Happen" — helping organizations tame chaos, become better together, and discover new value continuously.

This strategic initiative addresses the competitive gaps faced by TOPdesk and similar mid-market ITSM providers through a comprehensive Connected Strategy framework. By implementing AI-driven automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent workflows, the project delivers measurable improvements in operational efficiency, customer experience, and market positioning against enterprise leaders like ServiceNow and Zendesk.

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Strategic Objective

Transform reactive ITSM operations into proactive, AI-powered service delivery that anticipates and prevents issues before they impact customers.

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Market Position

Establish TOPdesk's competitive differentiation in the mid-market segment (250-500 employee companies) against enterprise leaders like ServiceNow and Zendesk through cost-effective AI adoption that delivers enterprise-grade capabilities without enterprise complexity.

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Innovation Focus

Deploy AI-powered chatbots, predictive issue detection, and automated ticket routing to reduce manual workload and accelerate resolution times.

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Growth Strategy

Leverage AI capabilities to scale operations, expand market reach, and capture the projected 25% growth in AI-enabled ITSM by 2026.

Connected Strategy Framework Applied

01 • RESPOND TO DESIRE

Instant Resolution

AI-powered chatbots and virtual agents provide immediate responses to customer requests, eliminating wait times and manual ticket creation.

02 • CURATED OFFERING

Personalized Solutions

AI analyzes customer history and patterns to recommend tailored troubleshooting steps and preventive measures specific to each organization.

03 • COACH BEHAVIOR

Guided Self-Service

Interactive AI workflows guide users through complex troubleshooting processes, increasing first-contact resolution and user autonomy.

04 • AUTOMATIC EXECUTION

Seamless Automation

AI-driven systems automatically classify, prioritize, and route tickets while executing routine tasks without human intervention.

Success Metrics & KPIs

Quantifiable outcomes demonstrating the strategic impact of AI integration on operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

50%
Faster Resolution
Average incident resolution time reduced through predictive analytics and automated workflows
30%
Time Saved
Operator workload reduction through intelligent ticket categorization and routing automation
20%
Cost Reduction
Overall IT operational costs decreased through efficiency gains and resource optimization
45%
CSAT Improvement
Customer satisfaction increase from proactive service delivery and faster issue resolution
62%
First Contact Resolution
Issues resolved on first interaction through AI-guided self-service capabilities
25%
Market Growth
Projected ITSM market expansion through AI adoption by 2026

Strategic Recommendations

Four-phased implementation approach to transform ITSM operations through AI integration while managing risk and maximizing ROI.

1

AI Readiness & Pilot Programs

Conduct comprehensive AI readiness assessments across existing workflows. Launch low-risk pilot programs focusing on ticket categorization and automated routing. Establish baseline metrics for resolution times, operator workload, and customer satisfaction to measure improvement.

FOUNDATION • Q1-Q2 IMPLEMENTATION
2

AI-Powered Chatbots & Virtual Agents

Deploy intelligent chatbots with natural language processing capabilities for instant customer response. Implement predictive analytics for proactive issue detection. Train AI models on historical ticket data to improve accuracy and relevance of automated responses.

ACCELERATION • Q2-Q3 DEPLOYMENT
3

Workforce Transformation & Training

Execute comprehensive AI training programs for operators and IT staff. Develop AI ethics guidelines and governance frameworks to ensure responsible deployment. Partner with AI vendors for accelerated implementation and ongoing support.

ENABLEMENT • CONTINUOUS PROGRAM
4

Full-Scale AI Integration & Optimization

Expand AI adoption across all ITSM modules including change management, problem management, and operations management. Implement continuous learning systems to refine AI models based on user feedback and performance data. Establish competitive differentiation through AI-enhanced value propositions.

TRANSFORMATION • Q4+ SCALE-UP

Strategic Methodology & Analytical Framework

This strategy is built on rigorous Connected Strategy framework analysis, comprehensive customer journey mapping, and systematic evaluation of pain points across the entire ITSM lifecycle. Our approach combines proven strategic frameworks with data-driven insights.

Customer Journey Mapping

💡
Latent Need
🔍
Awareness of Need
🔎
Search Options
Decide
💳
Order & Pay
📦
Receive
Experience Service
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Post-Purchase

1 Pain Point Analysis

Identified critical friction points at each journey stage through customer interviews, support ticket analysis, and operator feedback sessions.

Key Findings:
  • High manual workload in ticket categorization
  • Reactive problem-solving causes delays
  • Lack of predictive capabilities
  • Inefficient information flow between systems

2 Information Flow Mapping

Documented data triggers, frequency, richness, and inference capabilities across customer touchpoints to identify automation opportunities.

Key Findings:
  • Massive unintegrated data volumes
  • Poor data utilization for predictions
  • High customer effort for basic requests
  • Opportunity for real-time inference

3 Why-How Ladder

Explored deeper customer motivations and fundamental needs to identify opportunities for value creation beyond basic service delivery.

Key Findings:
  • Customers seek peace of mind, not just tickets
  • Desire for proactive vs reactive support
  • Need for organizational productivity
  • Value continuous improvement partnerships

4 Connected Strategy Responses

Mapped each pain point to specific Connected Strategy archetypes: Respond-to-Desire, Curated Offering, Coach Behavior, and Automatic Execution.

Key Findings:
  • AI chatbots for instant response
  • Personalized recommendations from data
  • Interactive self-service workflows
  • Automated ticket routing and resolution

5 Learning Loop Design

Architected systems to capture insights from repeated customer experiences for continuous optimization and product evolution.

Key Findings:
  • AI models improve with every interaction
  • Pattern recognition reveals new services
  • Efficiency compounds over time
  • Fulfills progressively deeper needs

6 Market Positioning Analysis

Evaluated competitive landscape, customer segments, and go-to-market strategy to ensure differentiation and sustainable advantage.

Key Findings:
  • Cost-effective AI for mid-market gap
  • Differentiation from enterprise players
  • Focus on 250-500 employee companies
  • Direct & partner channel opportunities

Supporting Analysis & Deliverables

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Customer Journey Worksheets

Complete 6-worksheet analysis: journey mapping, pain points, information flow, why-how ladder, responses, and learning loops

VIEW WORKSHEETS
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Framework Analysis

Visual breakdown of the strategic thinking process and analytical methodology behind recommendations

VIEW ANALYSIS
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Strategy Presentation

23-slide executive presentation detailing AI vision, implementation roadmap, and ROI projections

EXECUTIVE DELIVERABLE
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Market Analysis

Competitive positioning assessment, market sizing, and growth opportunity evaluation

MARKET RESEARCH

Why We Think This Way STRATEGIC RATIONALE

1

Customer-Centric Foundation

We started with the customer journey, not technology. By mapping every touchpoint and interaction, we identified where customers actually experience pain—not where we assume they do. This grounds our strategy in real needs, not hypothetical features.

2

Data-Driven Opportunity Identification

We analyzed the information already flowing through the system—triggers, frequency, richness. This revealed massive untapped potential: data exists but isn't being leveraged for predictions, personalization, or automation. AI isn't adding something new; it's unlocking what's already there.

3

Strategic Framework Application

Rather than random AI implementations, we applied the Connected Strategy framework systematically. Each pain point maps to a specific archetype (Respond, Curate, Coach, Automate), ensuring our solutions are strategic, not tactical. This creates a cohesive system, not disconnected point solutions.

4

Competitive Context & Differentiation

We analyzed market leaders (ServiceNow, Zendesk) to understand what's driving their 22% revenue growth from AI. Then we identified the mid-market gap: companies need these capabilities but can't afford enterprise solutions. Our strategy positions the company exactly in that white space.

5

Risk-Balanced Implementation

We acknowledge real barriers: legacy workflows, skill gaps, integration complexity. Our phased approach starts with low-risk pilots, builds internal capability, and scales systematically. This balances ambition with pragmatism—acknowledging that 62% of organizations struggle with AI integration.

6

Measurable Outcomes Focus

Every recommendation ties to specific KPIs: 50% faster resolution, 30% time savings, 20% cost reduction, 45% CSAT improvement. These aren't aspirational—they're benchmarked against industry data from companies that have successfully implemented similar strategies. Success is quantifiable, not subjective.

7

Learning System Architecture

We designed for continuous improvement, not one-time implementation. Each customer interaction feeds the AI, making predictions better, automation smarter, and personalization deeper. The system gets more valuable over time—creating compounding returns and a sustainable competitive moat.

What Success Looks Like

Operational Excellence

Incident resolution times cut in half with 70% of routine tickets handled automatically. Zero-touch workflows processing standard requests without human intervention.

Customer Experience

24/7 intelligent support with instant responses. Proactive notifications preventing 60% of potential incidents before customer impact. NPS scores increasing by 15+ points.

Competitive Position

Market differentiation through cost-effective AI capabilities comparable to enterprise solutions. New customer acquisition in mid-market segment increasing by 35% year-over-year.

Team Empowerment

Operators focusing on high-value problem-solving rather than routine tasks. Job satisfaction and retention improving as manual workload decreases by 30%.

Financial Performance

20% reduction in operational costs through efficiency gains. Revenue growth from premium AI features and expanded market reach. Positive ROI within 18 months of full deployment.

Continuous Improvement

AI systems learning and adapting from every interaction. Predictive capabilities improving monthly. New use cases and automation opportunities identified quarterly.

Strategic Impact

Market Leadership

Position as the premier AI-enabled ITSM provider for mid-market enterprises, capturing 25% growth opportunity projected through 2026 while competing effectively against enterprise solutions.

Operational Transformation

Fundamental shift from reactive firefighting to proactive service delivery, with 50% faster resolution times and 30% reduction in operator workload through intelligent automation.

Customer Excellence

45% improvement in customer satisfaction through instant responses, predictive issue prevention, and personalized support experiences that exceed expectations consistently.

Financial Performance

20% cost reduction in IT operations combined with new revenue streams from AI-enhanced premium features and expanded addressable market reach.

📋 See the Complete Analytical Framework

This strategy is built on rigorous Connected Strategy analysis using 6 comprehensive worksheets that map the customer journey, identify pain points, analyze information flows, and design learning systems.

View Detailed Worksheets →