We thank the entire High Plast team and Mr. Robert Santa for their trust and support throughout this period.
You can read more about the role of consulting services and process digitalization in a business in the interview below, published in Transilvania Business magazine. A digitalization process can bring added value when the client's processes are clear and functioning, says Felix Garai, co-founder of the consulting firm Share IT Smart.
Insights from Client and Consultant
A dialogue between Robert Santa (High Plast) and Felix Garai (Share IT Smart)
As manager of High Plast SRL, you decided to work with the consulting firm Share IT Smart to implement the project 'Efficiency in Production and Logistics.' What prompted you to take this step?
High Plast is a young company, established in 2014, which quickly rose within the plastic processing market. In 2015, we produced our first part. By 2020, we closed the year with a turnover of 3.9 million euros.
High Plast Growth Journey
Just as in life you need 'school' to gain new knowledge and improve yourself, our company needed the help of a consulting team to 'learn' how to improve and handle the challenges that come with rapid business growth, expanding staff, and a growing customer portfolio.
Together with Mr. Raul PantiÈ™, you are partners in the company Share IT Smart SRL. You offer operational consulting, training, and IT services. You've completed over 26 projects in Romania, Hungary, South Africa, Bosnia, and Mexico, with sales exceeding 1,000,000 euros. Why is consulting necessary, and how is it perceived by clients?
I see consulting as akin to going to the doctor. A patient - or an organization - must recognize a 'symptom' of illness, accept that there's a problem, and determine whether support from a specialist is needed.
The Healthcare Analogy
Recognize the symptoms
Accept there's a problem
Seek specialist support
When is the Right Time for Consulting?
Absolutely. The need arises when you can no longer control things with just 'pen and paper,' and you realize that no matter what you do, the results don't change.
When traditional methods no longer work
When results don't improve despite efforts
When you're caught in the spiral of daily problems and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel
Yes, in at least two cases - when companies grow too fast or suddenly decline. Both situations create a crisis that pushes the organization out of its comfort zone and forces it to act.
Rapid growth requiring new systems
Sudden decline needing intervention
The Value of Digitalization in Consulting
Digitalization only works if the processes are clear. From my perspective, this can only be done after a company has matured a bit and become aware of its own processes. To accelerate things, a consulting program is necessary. We started a digitalization process two years ago. We didn't 'know' how to interpret the information we were receiving.
It only adds value if the client's processes are clear and functional. On the contrary, if there are inefficiencies, digitalization can amplify them.
Real-World Impact: Tulcea Shipyard
Once a process becomes clear and the inefficiencies are resolved, and communication channels are established, digitalization can transform the process radically. For example, at our client in the Tulcea shipyard, the introduction of software led to optimized equipment use and cost reductions.
Before and After: Measuring Success
Before:Problem Collectors
Before, we were problem collectors. We had no time for daily tasks, let alone process improvements.
Data-Driven Solutions
The project with Share IT Smart was a success - it helped us speak in numbers instead of vague phrases like 'I think.' It facilitated finding real solutions to our problems.
For us, it's all about trust and transparency. We build long-term relationships.
Long-term Partnership Value
The client's strategies and particularities become increasingly clear to us, and our support becomes more specific and better aligned with their medium- and long-term vision.
Consultancy for All Company Sizes
Can both SMEs and large companies turn to consulting and digitalization services? Are there industries where Share IT Smart's solutions are a better fit?
Until 2020, we mainly worked with large clients, which was natural given our corporate backgrounds. But since 2021, we've also decided to work with local SMEs. It's a strategic decision because we want to 'share' what we've learned in the corporate world and at the same time learn from our SME clients - their natural flexibility and agility.
Why Work with SMEs
It's a strategic decision with mutual benefits for both parties:
Share Corporate Knowledge
Transfer expertise from multinational environments
Learn from SME Agility
Understand natural flexibility and quick adaptation
Key Takeaways
Consulting is not just about fixing problems - it's about building sustainable systems, fostering growth, and creating long-term partnerships that drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Reported by Ioan Șandor
