Sainsbury’s Property Division Saves Costs and Increases Agility with Digital Estate Management

The Challenge

Sainsbury’s Property Division has the complex task of managing over 3,000 assets, including supermarkets, convenience stores, Argos, Habitat, petrol stations, offices, depots, and residential units. This diverse portfolio demanded efficient information management for daily operations, maintenance, and development projects.

The company was moving from large-scale new builds to smaller, more frequent store interventions, which strained existing systems and processes, making it difficult to keep information up-to-date and readily accessible. Information was scattered across multiple platforms and third parties, creating silos and hindering effective decision-making.

Further complicating matters was the acquisition of Argos and Habitat in 2016. The existing systems were not equipped to handle the increased volume and diversity of data, nor were they aligned with the company’s evolving business needs.

Sainsbury’s needed a solution that would streamline information management, improve data accuracy, and provide the agility to respond to changing business requirements. This solution would also need to integrate with existing systems, accommodate future growth, and be user-friendly for a wide range of stakeholders.

Our Solution

Cohesive Group began by conducting a comprehensive review of Sainsbury’s existing information systems and aspirations for Building Information Modelling (BIM). Then, we defined and delivered a wide-ranging Digital Estate programme designed to establish fit-for-purpose asset information management. Our team of specialists brought extensive experience in business systems, data structures, best practices, project management, and communications. We utilized a flexible approach, leveraging the right expertise at each stage to ensure a successful implementation.

Key components of our solution included:

• Programme strategy & implementation: We developed a comprehensive roadmap for the Digital Estate programme, outlining key milestones, deliverables, and success metrics.
• Standards, processes and governance: We established clear data standards, processes, and governance frameworks to ensure data quality, consistency, and security.
• Implementation cultural change: We supported Sainsbury’s in adopting a data-driven culture, providing training and support to help employees embrace new ways of working.
• Systems integration, streamlining and improvement: We integrated the new digital estate management system with existing systems, streamlining workflows and improving data accessibility.
• Business change: We helped Sainsbury’s manage the organizational changes associated with the new system, ensuring a smooth transition and minimal disruption to operations.

To ensure a seamless transition, we created comprehensive documentation, including resource plans, role descriptions, briefing packs, supplier information day materials, and induction packs. Our induction program, attended by 800 individuals, was successfully executed by over 100 team members across five locations.

The Client Benefits 

By implementing the Cohesive-designed Digital Estate programme, Sainsbury’s achieved significant operational savings through more efficient information management. The new system provided accurate, complete, and easily accessible information, which reduced risks and increased organizational agility.

With improved data management, Sainsbury’s gained the ability to:

• Make better-informed business decisions: Access to reliable, up-to-date information enabled more strategic decision-making related to property investments, maintenance, and development.
• Identity opportunities for improvement: Data analysis revealed areas for operational efficiency, cost savings, and improved asset utilization.
• Streamline workflows: Centralized information management eliminated data silos and manual processes, freeing up time for more strategic activities.
• Enhance collaboration: The new system facilitated better communication and collaboration among stakeholders.
• Increase agility: Improved data management enabled Sainsbury’s to respond more quickly to changing business needs and market conditions.