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Data & Integration Digital strategy Architecture

Realdania creates a decision‑making foundation for a new core system for philanthropy

Realdania was facing the need to replace a core system that was more than ten years old by 2026 and engaged Kraftvaerk as an independent advisor. The outcome was a solid decision‑making foundation that provides the organisation with clarity around needs, opportunities, and the next steps in its modernisation journey.
Realdania
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data focus areas

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core system

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Solution

Kraftvaerk was working with Realdania to deliver a comprehensive advisory programme focused on creating insight, structure, and a solid decision‑making foundation.

The approach was based on three key tracks:

  • insight into Realdania’s internal processes and needs

  • analysis of the existing system landscape and data

  • market analysis of relevant core systems

The process was carried out in close collaboration with the organisation’s employees through interviews, workshops, and analyses.

The objective was not merely to identify a new technological solution, but to develop a deeper understanding of the organisation’s own ways of working and its future needs.

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Realdania as an organisation

Realdania is a philanthropic association working to improve quality of life through the built environment. The organisation supports and develops projects within urban development, architecture, and sustainability, and collaborates with a wide range of partners across both public and private organisations.

Each year, the philanthropic department handles a large volume of applications, projects, and grants, placing significant demands on systems, data management, and workflows.

After more than a decade with the same core system, Realdania was facing a necessary modernisation. To ensure a sound decision‑making foundation, the organisation chose to undertake a comprehensive analysis process focusing on business needs, technology, and future requirements.

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The challenge

Realdania’s existing core system had for many years supported the organisation’s work with applications, projects, and grants. Over time, however, the system had become tightly interwoven with the organisation’s workflows.

As a result, many processes had either been adapted to the system’s limitations or developed outside the system through manual workaround procedures.

This left the organisation facing a number of key challenges:

  1. 1
    First, there was no consolidated overview of how the system was used across the organisation. Workflows, data flows, and dependencies between systems were only partially documented, making it difficult to assess the implications of changing the system.
  2. 2
    Second, it was unclear what needs the organisation would actually have in a future system. Many requirements had emerged over time, and it was difficult to distinguish between genuine needs and workflows that had simply been established around the existing system.
  3. 3
    Finally, Realdania was facing a complex decision‑making process. Multiple departments had differing needs and priorities, and the organisation wanted a decision‑making foundation that would enable it to choose the right solution without compromising either day‑to‑day operations or future opportunities.

Results

The project resulted in a comprehensive report that provided Realdania with a clear decision‑making foundation for the next phase of the process.

The report included, among other things:

  • proposals for a target architecture

  • a functional gap analysis

  • principles for the future system landscape

  • recommendations for the implementation strategy

  • an assessment of vendors’ capabilities and limitations

During the process, it became clear that one vendor in particular closely matched the organisation’s needs. As a result, the final analysis focused on validating this choice and establishing a clear plan for the subsequent implementation.

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Mapping the organisation’s workflows

As a first step, a comprehensive analysis of workflows and processes across the organisation was conducted.

This included, among other things:

  • mapping of user journeys and workflows

  • identification of key touchpoints within the system

  • identification of pain points in existing processes

  • documentation of functional needs and requirements

Service blueprints were also developed to visualise how systems, users, and processes interacted in the organisation’s day‑to‑day operations.

This insight made it possible to identify both areas for improvement and areas where existing workflows could be optimised or rethought.

In parallel with the process analysis, Realdania’s existing system landscape was analysed.

This included, among other things:

  • mapping of systems and platforms

  • analysis of integrations and dependencies

  • mapping of access and permission models

  • identification of technical risks and complexities

Purpose

The purpose was to create an accurate picture of the organisation’s technical architecture and ensure that future system decisions could be made on a well‑informed basis.

A strong, trust‑based relationship developed, where open and honest conversations could take place.

Thomas Witrock,

IT-chef at Realdania

“We felt heard, and Kraftvaerk established a strong framework that was not rigid. A close and trust‑based relationship emerged, allowing for open and honest dialogue. The process made room for the organisation to share its stories and needs on its own terms.”

Comprehensive reporting

The project resulted in a comprehensive report that provided Realdania with a clear decision‑making foundation for the next phase of the process.

The report included, among other things:

  • proposals for a target architecture

  • a functional gap analysis

  • principles for the future system landscape

  • recommendations for the implementation strategy

  • an assessment of vendors’ capabilities and limitations

During the process, it became clear that one vendor in particular was a strong match for the organisation’s needs. As a result, the final analysis focused on validating this choice and establishing a clear plan for the subsequent implementation.

After completing the advisory programme, Realdania was left with:

  • a consolidated overview of workflows and system usage

  • a documented understanding of the system landscape and data

  • a clear decision‑making foundation for a future core system

  • a concrete roadmap for the next phase of the modernisation

In addition, the process provided the organisation with a new understanding of its own workflows and the potential to optimise them going forward.

Based on insights from the analysis phase, the market for relevant core systems was analysed.

This included, among other things:

  • desk research on potential vendors

  • initial technical due diligence

  • platform demos and evaluations

Future strategy

The process made it possible to evaluate which systems would best support Realdania’s needs and future strategy.

Data analysis and migration options

Data plays a central role in Realdania’s work with applications, projects, and reporting.

This also included an analysis of the organisation’s data foundation, including:

  • data models and metadata

  • data flows between systems

  • data quality and consistency

  • options for exporting and migrating data to new systems

Proof of concepts

As part of the analysis, proof‑of‑concepts were conducted on data extraction from the existing system to assess the possibilities for future data migration.

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Let's talk

Jacob Enslev
Unit Director