Establishing a new hub, under a BOT model

In 2016, the Financial Times (FT) explored the idea of creating a product development hub outside of London in order to further invest in core FT platforms. FT Chief Product and Technology Officer, John Kundert explains, “We wanted to retain a presence in the UK for our Product and Technology team while also creating a new hub to own product development and infrastructure support.”

The FT decided to establish the new hub under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, in which a local partner sets up, optimises and runs the centre with the intent to transfer the operation back to the FT. This model provides the benefit of incorporating an experienced partner with deep knowledge of the local market, whilst bringing the entity back within the FT at the appropriate time. In all, over 400 critical services would need to be transferred.

The FT reviewed a number of potential locations and selected Sofia, Bulgaria. The FT awarded the contract to Xoomworks in 2018, noting Xoomworks’ track record in completing similar projects, its OneTeam ethos and values, technical capability and alignment, and ability to source local talent.

Xoomworks immediately began sourcing talent and reviewing office locations in Sofia for the proposed FT Core team. Initial recruitment challenges were shared openly between the FT and Xoomworks under the OneTeam Approach. By the end of 2018, two teams (Membership and Data, and Content) had taken on full responsibility for the FT Core roles. Initially, the purpose of the BOT model was to support only FT Core, but in September 2019, the agreement was expanded to include FT Group Products titles. On July 1 2020, the FT took full responsibility for operation of the Sofia location and team, including the building, salaries, incentive schemes, and regulatory compliance. 19 staff from Xoomworks will continue to support the business through the Professional Service Agreement between the Financial Times and Xoomworks.

We are more than a team, driving product development and creating business value

The FT now has fully empowered teams in Sofia supporting a wide range of products and services, including the digital subscriptions business, newspaper distribution and many FT specialist titles. Additionally, the data warehouse platform, which provides customer data intelligence, plays a crucial role in shaping the culture of analytical thinking across the business. The team has already had a major impact on the business, both in terms of financial savings and raising the bar for other FT sites. “Savings of over £4m per annum are expected from the project and we plan to invest these savings into further growth and expansion of the Sofia teams,” said Kundert. The intelligent strategy decisions, for instance moving data centres to the cloud, have also significantly reduced infrastructure costs.

Through better reporting and analysis, the FT is getting real insights into product usage, which is driving product development and enhancements. The team is rolling out intelligent recommendation engines, leading to more personalised user experiences for customers. Another team is supporting the acquisition and retention for subscriptions, chasing enrolment failures due to credit card payment failures and providing single sign-on via Google.

Kundert said: “Transitioning to Sofia hasn’t been about saving money. It’s about the creation of value with new opportunities to re-evaluate almost everything, from the ways our teams work together, to the vision and mission of the group and the technical stacks we work with.” “The personnel in Sofia are completely aligned with the FT’s culture and values of inclusion and diversity,” added Kundert. Staff regularly participate in team-building activities and are involved in the community, including giving support to the SOS Children’s Villages Bulgaria Charity by the FT Women Sofia group. A key member of the team in Sofia (Nikola, FT Core Principle Engineer) described the FT culture in three words: “People, excitement and professionalism.”

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