zeb: leading agile transformation in the financial services industry
In the unpredictable world of finance, customers are uncompromising when it comes to having their needs met. Consulting firm zeb understands that an agile approach helps firms stay ahead of the game and retain their edge in a fiercely competitive market. Established in 1992, zeb is now Europe’s leading strategy and management consultancy for financial service providers, helping banks, insurance companies, specialists and tech companies take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital transformation.
As experts in their field, zeb knows that adopting new technologies is essential for adequately addressing user needs and market changes. They recognized early on that a secure, flexible project management tool would be key to achieving their ambitious goals. This is why MeisterTask is now a key part of zeb’s tech stack, as well as the go-to tool for many of their clients.
The challenge: securing remote work in fast-paced financial services markets
zeb’s core services encompass everything from strategy development to full implementation. This broad range of expertise enables the company to offer solutions across agility, digitalization, data and organizational change.
zeb recognized that an internal agile philosophy would improve their consulting services, enabling them to more readily respond to consumer needs. Therefore, it commissioned its own Agile Readiness Study to facilitate this transition.
Among the key conclusions of the study was an acknowledgement that remote work cultures are imperative to future success. However, transitioning to remote work posed challenges. Given their client base in the financial services sector, data security was paramount. They needed a solution that could protect client data while supporting seamless service delivery.
We needed a tool that met the strictest guidelines for storing and protecting customer data. This quickly narrowed the selection down to six. MeisterTask stood out thanks to its range of features, its GDPR compliance and its servers being located in Germany.
Marco Rubert
Head of ORG/IT bei zeb
The solution: secure remote work with fewer vulnerabilities, greater trust, and agile collaboration
After a detailed analysis of available tools, zeb was impressed with MeisterTask’s security measures, particularly its servers being housed in an ISO 27001-certified data center in Germany. Two-factor authentication provided an extra layer of protection, allowing zeb to confidently transition to remote work without compromising client data security.
Beyond the security benefits, MeisterTask’s user-friendly design makes onboarding new users quick and easy. Both zeb and its clients were able to get to grips with the tool from the get-go, meaning high user acceptance.
Users have no problem getting to grips with the tool. It’s so intuitive, easy to use and centralizes communication on the task. Teams love the trial and error aspect, which makes getting to know your way around the software much more fun. There’s little to no user onboarding with MeisterTask. You can get productive straight away without any tutorials.
Herfurth Justus
Manager Digital Financial Services, “Tabularaza by zeb”
The outcome: sustainable change, fast results
Since introducing MeisterTask in 2015, Senior Manager Thorsten Ströhl has found the tool invaluable for managing complex tasks and projects. The Kanban-style project boards have simplified workflows, minimized the need for meetings and emails and improved task management.
MeisterTask’s Kanban-style project boards are a godsend when it comes to managing backlogs and structuring sprints. My team uses it day-to-day to manage all our projects.
Thorsten Ströhl
Senior Manager, zeb
Automated workflows within MeisterTask have reduced repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on what matters: serving clients. This efficiency, paired with secure data management and clear communication, has increased transparency and collaboration across projects.
MeisterTask's Roles and Permissions allow zeb to restrict access to sensitive information, while ensuring communication remains transparent. This helps both zeb and its clients keep track of project progress and maintain smooth workflows.
“MeisterTask’s features for assigning roles and permissions and streamlining communication just make life so much easier.”
The centralized communication and collaboration that MeisterTask offers makes it easy for stakeholders to keep track of project status and stay on top of their workflows. Changes within the platform are instantly visible, ensuring all parties are kept in the loop.
Many clients are new to virtual projects and Agile methodologies, but once they see how transparent and clear communication can be, there’s always an Aha! moment.
Pascal Uhl
Senior Manager, zeb
In a world where uncertainty is the only constant, MeisterTask enables zeb and its clients to proactively respond to change. MeisterTask has become an integral part of zeb’s digital transformation strategy, offering both security and efficiency in an increasingly agile world.
