BMS Roadmap Development and Rationalisation

Project Overview

The Broadcast Management System (BMS) Roadmap Development and Rationalisation project was focused on optimising and future-proofing one of the clients' most critical business systems. The BMS supports the creation and publication of both linear and non-linear channels, serving as the backbone of content scheduling, rights management, and distribution.

With a large user base across different departments, Porterson needed to develop a clear, actionable product roadmap that enhanced system capabilities, improved user experiences, and aligned with the broadcaster’s strategic goals.

The rationalisation effort aimed to eliminate outdated or redundant features, streamline workflows, and ensure the BMS was equipped to meet future industry demands.

Project Approach

Discovery and Stakeholder Alignment

• Engage key stakeholders from programming, scheduling, content operations, and technology to gather insights on how the BMS is currently used across the organisation

• Identify pain points, user challenges, and areas for improvement in managing linear and non-linear channels

• Define business and strategic objectives, aligning the BMS roadmap with goals such as expanding digital platforms, enhancing rights management, and improving multi-channel publishing capabilities

System Audit and User Feedback

• Conduct a comprehensive audit of the BMS, analyzing its current functionalities, integrations, and overall system performance

• Gather detailed feedback from the large user base, identifying both feature gaps and redundant tools that no longer provide value

• Assess system utilisation and workflow efficiency across linear and non-linear channels, pinpointing bottlenecks or inefficiencies in daily operations

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Roadmap Development

• Develop a phased product roadmap that outlines key upgrades and new feature developments to enhance the BMS, including improved scheduling, rights management, and publication workflows

• Prioritise feature requests based on user needs, system performance data, and business priorities, ensuring that both immediate improvements and long-term enhancements are accounted for

• Include timelines for rolling out key upgrades, integrations with other systems (e.g., MAM/DAM), and user training, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations

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Rationalisation Strategy

• Identify redundant or outdated features within the BMS that no longer align with current operational needs or add complexity to workflows

• Develop a clear plan for rationalising the system, removing or consolidating underused functions while introducing automation and efficiency improvements

• Streamline workflows for both linear and non-linear channel management, allowing users to operate more efficiently within the system and reduce manual tasks

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 Implementation and Development

•  Work closely with technical development teams to implement new features and improvements outlined in the roadmap, utilizing agile development cycles to ensure flexibility and responsiveness to feedback

• Integrate new tools for automated scheduling, rights management, and content publishing, enabling better control over both linear and on-demand channels

• Collaborate with IT and data teams to ensure smooth system integrations with other platforms, such as content delivery systems and analytics tools, creating a more cohesive broadcasting ecosystem

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Data-Driven Decision Making

• Integrate advanced analytics into the BMS to allow users to track content performance, audience engagement, and rights utilisation in real-time

• Use data-driven insights to optimize channel schedules and publication strategies, improving both operational efficiency and audience targeting

• Continuously gather user feedback and performance metrics to inform future updates and roadmap refinements

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Post-Implementation Support and Optimisation

• Provide post-launch support for new BMS features, ensuring that the user base is fully trained and able to take advantage of the system’s new capabilities

• Establish ongoing monitoring processes to track system performance, user satisfaction, and any emerging issues that need addressing

• Refine and optimize workflows based on user feedback and data, ensuring that the BMS remains a high-performing and reliable tool for managing the broadcaster’s core operations

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Training and Knowledge Transfer

• Conduct comprehensive training sessions for all BMS users, covering new features, upgraded workflows, and best practices for managing both linear and non-linear content

• Create detailed documentation and support materials to ensure users can easily adapt to changes and continue to use the system effectively

• Ensure that key stakeholders are informed of future updates, system capabilities, and opportunities for further customisation or enhancement

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Ongoing Roadmap Review and Refinement

• Regularly review and update the BMS roadmap to ensure it remains aligned with evolving business needs, audience preferences, and technological advances in broadcasting

• Maintain an open feedback loop with users and stakeholders, ensuring the system continues to evolve and support the organization’s growth in a competitive and rapidly changing media landscape.