UBDS IT Consulting Ltd

User Experience Design and Innovation

UBDS provides specialised User Experience Design and Innovation services aimed at helping organisations to design and implement cloud solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply rooted in solving real user problems whilst exceeding users’ expectations. In return, this unlocks great user adoption and increases user satisfaction.

Features

• Design Thinking, empathetic approach, user-centric solutions, ideation, strategic problem-solving
• User research/ engagement, user personas, user journey mapping, user behaviour
• User requirements, user stories, user adoption, user pain points
• Interactive workshops, brainstorming, tailored interviews, surveys, observations
• User-focussed innovation, idea validation, structured creativity, user satisfaction
• Wireframing, functional design, functionality refinement, prototyping
• User feedback, user testing, design validation, feedback loop
• Iterative process, solution refinement, tailored guidance
• Double diamond: Discovery, Define, Develop, Deliver
• Accelerated innovation, innovation funnel, sustainable innovation

Benefits

• Makes cloud services user-friendly and intuitive
• Improves user engagement, user adoption and user satisfaction
• Enhances efficiency, streamlines workflows, reduces time and effort
• Improves teamwork, boosts collaboration and lowers resistance to change
• Accelerates innovation, encourages creative thinking in cloud service design
• Reduces cycle time, rework leading to quicker adoption rates
• Earlier detection of non-viable ideas and better plans for implementation
• Faster introduction of new products, higher launch success rates

£595 to £1,350 a unit a day

• Education pricing available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at frameworks@ubds.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

818927201648197

Contact

UBDS Frameworks
03301110066
frameworks@ubds.com

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: UBDS focusses on user centric design and innovation, to helps clients plan and execute cloud migration programmes and successfully adopt cloud services. We gain understanding of users’ needs and behaviours; making sure technology serves the people using it, leading to enhanced performance, user satisfaction and business outcomes. ; ; The foundation is an in-depth analysis of user needs, behaviour and expectations. We employ user research methods such as workshops, interviews, surveys and observations to gather insights on users’ wants and needs. By understanding the end-user landscape, we ensure the proposed cloud solutions are tailored to meet user requirements building a solid foundation for the cloud transformation.; ; We adopt design thinking to ensure the solutions are innovative and deeply rooted in solving real user problems whilst exceeding users’ expectations. Design thinking sessions enable our clients to collaboratively explore innovative solutions that align to both user needs and business goals. Crafting user personas, mapping and comparing the As-Is versus To-Be user journeys is critical to measure the impact of the change, clarify the vision for the cloud transformation programme, set clear objectives, visualise the benefits and ultimately prioritise initiatives, ensuring that the planning phase is grounded in real user needs and business objectives.
• Planning service works with specific services: No

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: UBDS Digital provides tailored training programmes and coaching along the way to help organisations swiftly transition to cloud software and/or hosting services. We can advise on the various training paths available and the relevant skills required by existing staff and recruitment candidates such as:; - User Experience (UX) Design fundamentals; - User research techniques; - Prototyping and wireframing; - Usability testing methods ; - Design thinking; - Accessibility standards and compliance ; ; We will help you to gain the skills, experience and credentials you need. Our team will work with your resources and users to assess training needs. UBDS provides training, coaching and mentoring in many cloud technologies, associated skills, methodologies and delivery techniques. We include knowledge transfer throughout our service, include shadowing and mentoring to ensure future self-sufficiency. We will also leave you with a knowledge bank including user / technical guides, training documents, specifications, designs etc.
• Training is tied to specific services: No

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: Yes
• How the setup or migration service works: The ‘User Experience Design and Innovation’ service facilitates seamless cloud migration and transitions between cloud services by helping organisations with:; - User research and insights gathering as through targeted user research we gather insights into user behaviours, preferences, pain points, wants and needs. This data during our design thinking process, ensuring that cloud solutions are grounded in real user needs.; - ‘As-Is’ versus ‘To-Be’ user journey mapping that enable the identification of gaps and opportunities for improvements, forming the basis of a user-centric cloud transformation plan.; - Ideation of innovative solution by leveraging the design thinking methodology and the facilitation of interactive workshops to drive brainstorming; - Wirefraing, prototyping and testing solutions, gathering users feedback and iteratively refine the approach to ensure the final product is intuitive and meets user expectations.
• Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services: No

Quality assurance and performance testing

• Quality assurance and performance testing service: Yes
• How the quality assurance and performance testing works: Our service includes full quality assurance and performance testing throughout the engagement to ensure organisations achieve maximum benefit from cloud transformation and the cloud solutions are reliable, user friendly and high-performing:; - Establishing a user-centric testing framework that emphasise the importance of integrating user feedback throughout the testing phase to ensure that the final solutions is not only technically sound but it is also aligned with user expectations and preferences. This framework includes a broad variety of testing scenarios for each of the user personas identified during the research phase; - Undertaking usability testing to evaluate how user-friendly the cloud solutions are. This includes accessibility testing (e.g. WCAG) to ensure the final solutions are accessible to all users and inclusive; - Leveraging feedback for continuous improvement, ensuring that the testing process is iterative and adjustments can be made based on real user feedback and testing outcomes, actively engaging with user groups and key stakeholders through the process to drive transparency and collaboration; - Offering wireframing and prototyping in true agile style throughout the development process allowing for early user feedback and more detailed testing of functionalities so that any potential quality and performance issues are identified and addressed early on.

Security testing

• Security services: Yes
• Security services type:
  • Security strategy
  • Security risk management
  • Security design
  • Cyber security consultancy
  • Security testing
  • Security incident management
  • Security audit services
  • Other
• Other security services:
  • Cloud Security Assessment
  • GovAssure Support
  • Cloud Security Operations Design and Implementation
  • NIST Cyber Security Framework assessment, implementation and training
  • Data Encryption at Rest / Data Encryption in Transit
  • Cyber Threat and Risk Protection
  • Intrusion Protection
  • Identity and Access Management
  • Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
  • Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
• Certified security testers: Yes
• Security testing certifications:
  • CHECK
  • CREST
  • Tigerscheme
  • Cyber Scheme

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: Yes
• Types of service supported:
  • Buyer hosting or software
  • Hosting or software provided by your organisation
  • Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
• How the support service works: UBDS operates a 24x7x365 Infrastructure Operations Centre (IOC) in our Manchester office. We offer full Service Management and a range of support options to clients from ticket / feature request, through incident management / backlog and work tracking to deployment. We have expertise in reducing resolution times from weeks and months to minutes. We cover the full technology stack including infrastructure, networking, compute, storage, applications and tooling and will design the perfect support package for you.

Service scope

• Service constraints: No constraints

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Within 2 hours between the hours of 07:00 - 00:00, 7 days a week. ; ; 24/7/365 service available at additional cost.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Web chat accessibility testing: Assistive user testing completed by web chat SAAS service provider.
• Support levels: At no extra cost; Hours of operation: 07:00 - 00:00 - two hour response; ; 24/7/365 support at an extra cost (on request); ; Technical Account Manager provided at no extra cost

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Up to Developed Vetting (DV)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Citation ISO Certification
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 20/06/2023
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: No exceptions
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications:
  • ISO22301
  • ISO20000
  • ISO9001
  • FIPS 140-2 Level 1

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Covid-19 recovery
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  UBDS is ISO14001 accredited, has published a Carbon Reduction Plan on our website and commits to reducing emissions in all of our contracts. We will integrate sustainability principles into our GCloud 14 contracts to educate all parties on the importance of positive environmental action and encourage collaboration on joint initiatives. We will use our Earth51 Driving Sustainability Leadership certified sustainability leaders to spearhead these activities in each contract, alongside driving knowledge sharing across the teams. Initiatives will include:; -Virtual meetings. UBDS is happy to attend in-person meetings however, where this is not essential then we propose virtual meetings, keeping transport emissions to a minimum. ; -Our green transport policy. We encourage use of human-powered and public transport at all times. We do not provide company cars, with the exception of electric pool vehicles, and deploy resources who are based close to customer sites. Should travel be necessary for a contract then we will use trains to minimise emissions. ; -The use of renewables. UBDS’ offices are environmentally sustainable, use renewable energy, all lights are LED and we have movement-detection light sensors throughout the building to ensure against unnecessary use. ; -Our sustainable supply chain to maximise effective use of resources. We use local suppliers wherever possible and require our supply chain to demonstrate their commitment to becoming carbon neutral, including annual updates. This data is important in our own carbon reduction analysis. ; -We are committed to the circular economy and operate waste management principles based upon the UK Government’s waste hierarchy: Prevention; Reuse; Recycle ; Recover; Dispose . Our offices have reusable cutlery and crockery, with in-house baristas encouraging avoidance of disposable cups, and recycling bins for all materials and food waste. ; -Advising Buyers on sustainability, including gaining organisational certifications (eg ISO14001) or accreditations for employees (eg Earth51 sustainability training.)

  Covid-19 recovery

  UBDS recognises the impact of Covid-19 on communities UK-wide and that we have opportunities to help manage the impact and recover from it. Practically we take several key actions designed to support affected communities: ; -Where practical and commercially viable, UBDS will recruit and deploy locally sourced skills and services. This supports local economies affected by Covid-19, as well as the environmental benefits of minimising peoples’ daily commute. ; -We support local businesses, including SMEs and VCSEs by encouraging and implementing local sourcing. We understand and appreciate the importance of this alignment with local organisations: it drives investment; stimulates the local economy; creates employment and increases job security; and contributes to living standards and wellbeing. Our approach boosts innovation, brings new perspectives and unlocks potential savings through the agility and value for money SMEs offer, as well as helping local economies to rebuild post-Covid-19.; -We have a Digital Academy in London and Manchester, through which we offer apprenticeships to enable young people from communities affected by Covid-19 to gain practical experience, training and career prospects. Our apprentices are paid the Real Living Wage and 100% have been offered full-time roles.; -We encourage our staff to participate in, and contribute to, charity events and community schemes in their local area, including projects to support those affected by Covid-19, e.g. charities addressing the digital divide or foodbanks. We have invested in the OnHand app, to enable staff to easily discover and support local projects.; -We support foodbanks as an organisation (in London, Manchester and Glasgow), helping communities to recover.; -We support digital enablement programmes and make donations of equipment to groups/charities (such as wiped equipment that we are replacing).; -We work with schools and colleges near our contracts to provide careers advice, curriculum and literacy support and to develop mentoring and work placement programmes.

  Tackling economic inequality

  We operate a multi-faceted approach to address inequality, across practices, policies and benefits, with a focus improving growth and prospects within our communities. We are acutely aware of socioeconomic inequalities, specifically within technology, and UBDS makes a conscious effort to address these. We do this through activities that drive investment, stimulate the local economy, create employment, and increase job security:; - We develop skills that will provide long-lasting prospects and can kickstart careers. For each contract, where practical and commercially viable, UBDS commits to recruiting and deploying staff from areas close to Buyer sites, alongside locally sourced skills and services to support local economies. We will actively seek to recruit staff from areas of socioeconomic deprivation and from under-represented groups within the industry. all staff recruited will be offered ongoing training and certifications, for example in Cloud technologies, enhancing their future opportunities. ; - We will advertise and promote our apprenticeship scheme, which offers opportunities to young people and/or those facing barriers to employment. We have an Academy based in Manchester and London, hiring local apprentices and graduates, including from deprived areas; we would seek to promote our scheme through the work we do with DWP. The Academy incorporates skills development and learning, with a wide range of certifications and qualifications available and we will recruit apprentices specifically to support GCloud contracts as part of our growth plans. ; - We will identify events within areas with lower socioeconomic demographics, supporting those wanting to move into roles in the Cloud Technology sector by providing advice and practical support, such as mentoring, careers advice and work experience.; - We are a Disability Confident employer, Certified Living Wage employer, and operate a range of family-friendly, flexible working policies that are designed to encourage and retain candidates from all backgrounds, alongside generous pay and benefits.

  Equal opportunity

  We are a BAME-owned business and committed to ensuring equality and accessibility, giving opportunities spanning society. Our values are built around delivering value and excellence to our customers, but critically also making an impact within our community and investing in our diverse workforce. This commitment is demonstrated through our ways of working and policies, including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, in which all staff receive mandatory training annually. ; We recognise that the technology sector has specific gender and ethnic minority imbalances, as well as the underrepresentation of those with disabilities. To address this, we have designed and invested in a multi-faceted approach across recruitment, practices and policies that supports equality and inclusion. We spend time understanding areas of inequality and providing opportunities to address specific issues, for example through targeted recruitment campaigns., as well as creating an environment that supports inclusion. ; UBDS’ recruitment processes embrace diversity. Our interviews cover technical and cultural aspects, with Test Gorilla used to ensure against unconscious bias. We are committed to all aspects of the Good Work Plan, do not operate zero hours contracts and a certified Real Living Wage employer, with the majority of staff paid well in excess. ; We are a Disability Confident employer and operate family-friendly, flexible working policies that are designed to encourage and retain candidates from all backgrounds. We regularly review our recruitment practices, including with candidates and staff, to ensure equality and fairness.; We offer all staff continuous learning, including unlimited technical training and recognised qualifications and certifications, for example in Cloud technologies, supported by our performance framework, bi-annual reviews and clear pathways for development and promotion. ; We undertake ongoing anonymous monitoring of candidates and staff, analysing statistics to ensure we meet diversity targets, inform our recruitment and retention strategy and demonstrate that our activities to address imbalances are working.

  Wellbeing

  UBDS puts our people at the centre of everything. It is important to set our people up to succeed and provide a safe, nurturing, and professional work environment that is informed by our values. We recognise that there is a fine balance between driving fast-paced, complex projects and staff health and wellbeing. ; We spend time understanding mental and physical health and wellbeing within the workplace, through our People Team’s research. We have signed up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment and its six standards have informed our multi-faceted programme of training, policies and practices designed to support employees, including: ; Commitment to all aspects of the Good Work Plan, never operating zero-hours contracts and being a certified Real Living Wage employer, with most staff paid well in excess. ; Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, through our modern employee value proposition, including generous pay and benefits packages, and specific initiatives such as cost of living bonuses. ; Our high-trust working environment focuses on quality outcomes rather than timekeeping and supports hybrid and flexible working that talks to staff needs. ; Recognising the importance of destressing with colleagues. We provide social events to connect outside of work and encourage cross-UBDS charity events (eg the Three Peaks Challenge.); Ongoing learning and development opportunities, with unlimited training and certifications available for all staff. ; Our comprehensive well-being offering to staff. We offer private medical cover for all staff, free counselling through Help@Hand and access to certified Mental Health First Aiders in each office. ; Listening to our people and taking ideas on board through eNPS surveys, Pulse Surveys, 360 feedback, including via psychological safe spaces where issues/concerns can be freely discussed, and our Shadow Board. Initiatives implemented as a direct result of employee engagement include notification-free “quiet time”, Cycle to Work Scheme and sporting activities.

Pricing

• Price: £595 to £1,350 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at frameworks@ubds.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.