Ivan Canovese Delivers Double-Digit Savings, Reaching Up to 60%

Ivan Canovese Delivers Double-Digit Savings, Reaching Up to 60%

Key highlights

• 15 projects delivered across operations, HR, facilities, fleet and more
• Double-digit savings achieved, reaching up to 60% in some categories
• Organisation without procurement function supported through full stakeholder alignment

Ivan Canovese has been part of ERA Group since mid-2019, where he focuses on helping organisations unlock value through structured cost optimisation and cross-functional collaboration. Based in Italy, he brings a relationship-driven approach built on curiosity, analysis, and deep engagement with client stakeholders.

One of his most significant client stories began through his personal network, leading to an introduction at a major legal publishing company. At the outset, the opportunity was still open-ended—focused on understanding the client’s needs and determining where value could be created across the organisation.

What quickly became clear was the complexity of the environment. The company had no central procurement function, meaning purchasing decisions were decentralised across multiple departments and managers. Ivan and his team stepped into this structure to help bring clarity, consistency, and a broader strategic view to spending decisions across the business.

As he explains, “at that moment, you don’t always know if you can be useful—but you start by understanding the client’s needs in depth.”

Working closely with the CEO and departmental stakeholders, the team supported a wide range of initiatives across operations, facilities management, fleet, HR, and sales-related functions. In total, 15 projects were delivered across the organisation.

The results were significant, with double-digit savings achieved across categories and reaching up to 60% in certain areas. But beyond the financial impact, Ivan highlights the importance of knowledge transfer and shared learning throughout the engagement.

Over time, the project evolved into more than just cost optimisation. It became a broader transformation exercise, improving visibility, decision-making, and even performance in areas such as revenue and e-commerce.

A key part of the success, Ivan notes, was the collaborative mindset established early in the engagement. By working closely with leadership and ensuring stakeholders were aligned, the team created the right conditions for sustainable implementation.

As he puts it, “we are not inspectors—we are there to learn together and help the client improve.”

His story reflects how structured analysis, stakeholder alignment, and a collaborative mindset can transform a complex organisation into a series of successful, high-impact projects that go far beyond cost savings.

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