In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Vincent Le, Partner at EY–Parthenon, shares his expert insights on operational restructuring and driving scalable growth in today’s fast-changing business landscape. As a leader in the Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) sector, Vincent leverages his extensive experience to guide businesses through complex change and performance improvement.
Interview By SK Uddin
A Partner at EY–Parthenon, Vincent leads our Operational Restructuring capability nationally and is the Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) sector leader for EY-Parthenon Canada.
Vincent and his team support companies through periods of complex change with a specialty in helping underperforming businesses preserve their value and improve top-line performance and profitability.
Having supported over 100 strategic acquisitions/divestitures, turnarounds and organizational realignments during his career, Vincent has a wealth of experience in rapid performance improvement, scalable growth, salesforce effectiveness, business operating model design, and technology-led transformation.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University.
How do you define “Time to Value” in today’s commerce environment, and what practical steps can SMBs take to achieve faster, more sustainable value from new technology investments?
“Time to Value” measures both the duration for brands to realize meaningful value from the platform and the actual value derived. While speed of launch is important, the true objective is to unlock ongoing value that positions a business for future success.
For small and medium-sized businesses, several practical strategies can accelerate this process. Our recent report, The pursuit of Time to Value: unlocking agility and growth in today’s commerce market, highlights that choosing integrated, user-friendly platforms streamlines implementation (often up to 20% faster than alternative options) and reduces reliance on highly specialised technical staff.
This is achieved by:
- Leveraging modular ecosystems, such as robust app stores and partner networks, enables businesses to tailor solutions and scale efficiently
- Establishing unified, high-quality data systems that are critical for real-time insights and better decision-making
- Empowering teams through effective onboarding and continuous training fosters quicker adoption and greater agility
Moving away from traditional hierarchies towards flexible, outcome-driven processes encourages faster, customer-focused execution. By taking these steps, SMBs can achieve quicker returns on their technology investments and build resilience for the future.
With consumer expectations rapidly evolving, what are the most impactful innovations or tech solutions you’ve seen enable brands to stay agile and responsive to market shifts?
In today’s fast-paced commerce landscape, several innovations are making a significant impact on brand agility and responsiveness. First and foremost, AI and automation are transforming how brands operate, with 85% of surveyed respondents for our study indicating they are acting on introducing emerging technologies. This shift enables businesses to better anticipate consumer needs and respond in real time.
Another key development is the rise of composable, API-first platforms. Shopify, for example, offers a modular architecture that integrates with over 10,000 apps, allowing brands to quickly adapt to changing market conditions without heavy technical barriers. Unified commerce solutions also play a crucial role by consolidating sales channels, inventory, and customer information, thereby supporting agile decision-making and enhancing customer engagement.
Emerging technologies such as accelerated checkout tools and AI-powered support systems further boost conversion rates and customer satisfaction. These innovations empower brands to launch new products and services faster, deliver highly personalized experiences, and pivot rapidly in response to evolving consumer expectations.
Ultimately, embracing these solutions positions brands to stay ahead in an environment where agility and customer focus are vital for sustained success.
From your experience leading operational restructuring at EY-Parthenon, what key elements should small businesses consider when rethinking their operating models to accelerate “Time to Value”?
From my experience at EY-Parthenon, small businesses looking to accelerate Time to Value should focus on three essentials:
- Strategic alignment: Ensure your operating model reflects growth priorities. Map core capabilities to objectives, eliminate non-value added processes, and streamline governance for faster decision-making
- Agility and speed: Replace rigid systems with modular, technology-enabled solutions that scale quickly. Build flexibility into processes use rapid diagnostics to identify bottlenecks early
- Process reinvention: When implementing technologies, rethink business processes from the ground up. Question why processes exist, who they serve, and how they can be reinvented. Don’t build around technological or legacy constraints. Instead, design processes to be stakeholder and customer-focused
The goal is a balanced approach: clarity on strategy, operational agility, and a mindset of process reinvention. In other words, a roadmap that minimizes risk while delivering measurable results early and often.
Your recent report discusses unlocking growth by maximizing commerce investments. Can you share actionable insights or examples from your work that demonstrate success in this area?
Our report highlights several strategies that can help brands achieve measurable and sustainable commerce growth. Accelerating time-to-market is crucial and adopting integrated, user-friendly platforms can accelerate implementation and increase the likelihood of on-schedule launches, enabling businesses to seize opportunities ahead of competitors. Cost efficiency is another major advantage, and streamlined solutions with strong support ecosystems can enable companies to stay within budget and redirect resources toward innovation.
Brands leveraging unified commerce solutions also report notable revenue growth driven by enhanced customer experiences and the simplification of operations. Operational simplicity enables teams to focus on strategic growth rather than complex system maintenance, while modern commerce tools make international expansion more accessible, saving costs and enabling rapid market entry. Such examples show how investing in the right technology and strategic partnerships can deliver returns and foster sustainable growth in today’s competitive environment.
As both an industry leader and advisor, what final advice would you offer small and medium-sized business owners seeking to build resilience and unlock scalable growth in a rapidly changing market?
For small and medium-sized businesses that are aiming to build resilience and unlock scalable growth in today’s dynamic market, they need to consider a holistic and strategic approach. Investing in adaptable technology forms a strong foundation and by choosing platforms that evolve with your business and market trends, you can avoid the pitfalls of rigid systems that may hinder progress as circumstances shift. Equally important is fostering agility within operations and empowering teams to make swift, informed decisions, enabling your business to respond quickly to both new opportunities and unexpected challenges.
Harnessing the power of unified, real-time data is another critical strategy. Leveraging actionable insights not only informs smarter decision-making but also enables the delivery of personalized experiences that enhance customer engagement and loyalty. To stay ahead, small and medium-sized businesses should embrace innovation by adopting emerging technologies and cultivating a culture that values continuous learning.
Finally, building strong partnerships with industry experts and implementation partners can significantly reduce complexity and accelerate results. By tapping into external expertise, businesses can ensure optimal use of resources and focus on what matters most —delivering enduring value to their customers in an ever-evolving marketplace.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
