Case Studies

See how PPO helped leading industry players optimize their project portfolio management

Illustration of a brown suitcase with dark straps and a handle. A purple magnifying glass focuses on one buckle. Above, a handwritten arrow labeled “case study” highlights how Project Portfolio Management organizes key assets.

Client: Certa

Web: https://certaireland.ie/
Industry: Energy

A woman in a navy jacket stands at a fuel station pump, smiling and holding a pink-handled fuel nozzle—her confident stance reflecting the precision of portfolio management as she chooses between Unleaded, HVO, and Diesel options.

The Client

Ireland’s largest fuel supplier, Certa, a business with a proud legacy in the energy sector – servicing commercial, industrial, residential and mobility sectors with fuel, lubricants and renewable energy for over 40 years. The Certa Ireland brand is owned and operated by DCC Plc who provide solutions across three transformative sectors: Energy, Healthcare and Technology. DCC employs over 16,000 colleagues in 22 countries, across four continents.

In March 2023, Certa established its Project Management Office (PMO) to create a unified approach to managing its growing portfolio of change initiatives. The PMO operates as a centralised hub, managing projects across strategic, divisional, and business unit levels. Its focus is on driving alignment, ensuring governance compliance, and delivering projects efficiently across all areas of the business.

A brightly lit Certa gas station at night with multiple fuel pumps and an EV charging point in the foreground. Perfect for businesses focusing on portfolio management, the forecourt is empty, and signs indicate EV-only parking against a dark blue sky.

The Challenge

Certa faced significant internal transformation following a series of acquisitions and a rebrand in September 2022. The company operated as separate businesses with disparate systems, structures, and processes. This fragmented approach made managing change projects and parallel initiatives increasingly challenging.

The lack of a cohesive project oversight system hindered visibility into project interdependencies, pipeline management, and resource allocation.

“We realised that a reorganisation of the entire business was required. It was becoming increasingly difficult to manage change and deliver multiple projects in parallel.” Mairead Golding, Director of People & Change

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A red and blue Certa fuel truck, part of the company's robust portfolio management, drives along a gravel road overlooking a scenic landscape of green hills and a body of water under a partly cloudy sky.

The Solution

Certa chose Project Portfolio Office (PPO) for its adaptability, user-friendly interface, and ability to scale with the organisation’s evolving project management maturity. Unlike other tools, PPO offered an implementation approached focused on quick adoption and gradual enhancement:

  • Centralisation: A single source of truth for all project-related information, ensuring consistency and improved visibility.
  • Flexibility: The ability to start with a basic framework and add controls as Certa’s project management capabilities matured.
  • Ease of Use: Intuitive functionality designed for line managers handling projects alongside their day-to-day roles.
  • Automated Workflows: Streamlined project registration, pipeline management, and approvals, enhancing efficiency and reducing manual effort.
  • Collaboration Features: Tools for tagging teammates and sharing updates within the system, minimising reliance on external communication platforms.

“PPO’s flexibility and focus on usability were critical for us. We needed a solution that would empower our teams, rather than overwhelm them. The tool has been instrumental in enabling our managers to adopt best practices without compromising their other responsibilities.” Fiona MacCormac, PMO Lead

Four people stand outside a Certa fuel station, smiling. Two in the center are shaking hands and holding an award for excellence in Portfolio Management, while the others stand on either side. All are dressed in business casual clothing.

The Results

Certa has seen transformative results since adopting PPO, with an improved ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. The tool has provided a single source of truth, ensuring better project visibility and streamlined communication across all levels of the organisation. Beyond traditional project management, PPO has also become a hub for broader business processes, fostering collaboration and reducing duplication. By leveraging PPO’s resource management tools, Certa’s PMO can now proactively address bottlenecks and allocate resources efficiently.

“One of the most significant changes for us has been the improvement in project reporting. Reports are now automated and delivered regularly, providing a comprehensive overview of the entire project portfolio. Our teams are now more connected, enabling us to tackle projects and day-to-day tasks with confidence and precision.” Mairead Golding, Director of People & Change