The Challenge
William Hill set an ambitious goal to become the first UK betting company to offer its customers access to the prestigious Hong Kong Jockey Club, a leading horse racing institution that hosts around 700 events annually. This initiative represented a groundbreaking achievement in the betting industry.
Simultaneously, we played a crucial role in guiding William Hill through its agile transformation. Specifically, we oversaw the agile transformation of their gaming channel, one of the company’s most significant and profitable verticals. Comprising of 11 engineering teams across three locations, encompassing roles in leadership, product, design, project management, and other critical support roles this was a crucial initiative to ensuring the organisation could respond effectively to market changes and stay competitive.
Solution
To achieve this unprecedented ambition, our approach centered on a comprehensive strategy that focused on the key aspects of the delivery. We began by introducing and establishing modern engineering practices and a robust end-to-end testing strategy. Equally critical was the meticulous and transparent management of stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the broader company policies and compliance obligations.
One of the tertiary objectives of this workstream was to establish agile ways of working and pollinate these practices across the Gaming channel. We worked directly and collaboratively with leadership and teams alike at the Gemba, introducing new concepts, frameworks, and methodologies to both existing and new colleagues. This hands-on approach was essential for establishing a sustainable agile culture within the organisation.
Results
William Hill successfully achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first UK betting agency to establish a partnership with the prestigious Hong Kong Jockey Club. This groundbreaking accomplishment set a new standard in the betting industry - and we were thrilled to play our role.
The introduction and continuous improvement of agile practices played a pivotal role in this success.