There are 9 levels of
business technology.
Where are you?
Most SMEs are stuck at Level 1 or 2 — paying for tools that don't connect, doing manually what should take seconds. A 20-minute conversation will show you exactly where you are and what to fix first.
No pitch. No obligation. You'll leave knowing exactly where you stand and what's worth fixing.
Tools everywhere.
Nothing talks to each other.
You've got tools everywhere. Nothing talks to each other. Your team waste time on work computers could do twice as fast.
Worse? You've sat through vendor demos that made you feel thick. Promised the earth. Delivered confusion.
Sound familiar?
- ✗ Paying for 12 tools that do the same thing
- ✗ Team manually copying data between systems
- ✗ Can't get a straight answer on what technology you actually need
- ✗ Every "solution" comes with a 12-month contract and a steep learning curve
- ✗ You know things should be better, but you don't know where to start
You're not behind. You've just been sold to badly.
It shouldn't be this hard. Your technology should work for you, not the other way round.
The translator, not the guru.
I know what it's like to sit through another vendor demo wondering if they actually understand your business. I've been on both sides of that table.
I'm Ben Macdonald. Started in retail at 16, ran stores with 100+ people and full P&L, then became Executive Loss Prevention Manager covering half the UK.
Left corporate in 2015. Since then I've been board-level CTO and Sales Director at major UK companies. Co-founded Transpeye, an IoT SaaS platform. Now run T40 Associates, building technology systems that actually work.
- ✓ Board-level CTO and Sales Director at major UK companies
- ✓ Managed 100+ people, full P&L responsibility
- ✓ Co-founded Transpeye — real IoT SaaS, real outcomes
- ✓ Automating business processes since before ChatGPT existed
- ✓ Run a 24/7 AI workforce in my own business today
I build what I recommend. I run what I sell.
I'm a translator, not a guru.
You know your business better than anyone. I know which technology will make it run better.
Three steps. That's it.
Book a free call
20 minutes. We'll talk about where your technology is today and where it's costing you time or money. No pitch, no obligation.
Get your roadmap
We map your technology from where you are to where you need to be. Clear priorities, quick wins identified, no jargon.
Watch it work
We build it, you see results in the first sprint. Real systems, running in your business, making your life easier.
9 Levels of Business Technology
Where are you now? More importantly, where could you be?
Phase 1 · Foundation
Most businesses are here. Tools exist but nothing connects.
Basic Tools
Email, spreadsheets, standalone apps. Everything manual.
Cloud Adopted
You've moved to cloud tools but they don't talk to each other.
Partially Connected
A few integrations exist (maybe Zapier) but they're fragile and nobody maintains them.
Phase 2 · Integration
This is where real ROI starts. Systems work together. Time gets freed up.
Workflow Automation
Core processes automated. Data flows between systems without human copying.
Intelligent Systems
AI assists decision-making. Reporting is automated. Team focuses on high-value work.
Unified Platform
Single source of truth. All systems integrated. Real-time visibility across the business.
Phase 3 · Transformation
Few SMEs reach here. Those who do have an unfair advantage.
AI-Augmented Operations
AI handles routine decisions. Humans focus on strategy and relationships.
Predictive Business
Systems anticipate problems before they happen. Proactive, not reactive.
Autonomous Systems
Technology runs entire workflows end-to-end. The business scales without proportional headcount.
Most clients start at Level 1-3. Real ROI begins at Level 5. The goal is the level that's right for your business.
Want to know your level? Book a free 20-minute reviewTwo simple models.
No long contracts. No vague proposals. Just results.
Advisory Retainer
£997/month
For businesses that need ongoing strategic guidance. Fortnightly calls. Async support when you need it. Cancel anytime.
Best for businesses at Level 2-4 who need a technology sounding board and clear direction.
Command Sprints
from £1,497
For specific challenges that need building, fixing, or implementing. 28-day delivery cycles. Implementation, not just advice.
Best for businesses at Level 3-6 who need systems built, integrations connected, or workflows automated.
What does 23 Sprint Points look like?
How Sprint Points work
Every task gets a point value based on complexity, not time. Simple tasks use fewer points. Complex builds use more. At the start of each sprint, we agree exactly where your points go based on what matters most right now.
1–3
Simple
Audits, quick integrations, tool evaluations
4–8
Medium
Workflow automation, dashboards, migrations
9–15
Complex
Full system builds, AI implementations, multi-tool integrations
Here's a real sprint for a financial services client:
Every business is different. Your sprint gets planned around what matters most to you right now.
Real Example
A financial services business paying £949/month for fractional technology leadership that would cost £10,000/month to hire full-time.
Productive from day one. No recruitment fees. No ramp-up time.
Clear pricing. No surprises.
Health Check
Full technology health check + roadmap. Credits against first sprint.
- Technology audit
- Written roadmap
- Quick win identification
- Credits against first sprint
Advisory
Fortnightly strategy calls, async support. Cancel anytime.
- Fortnightly 60-min calls
- Async email/Slack support
- Technology roadmap (first 30 days)
- Vendor evaluation
- Cancel anytime
Command
23 Sprint Points, 28-day delivery. Implementation, not just advice.
- 23 Sprint Points
- 28-day delivery cycle
- Sprint planning + review
- Clear documented deliverables
- AI-multiplied output
Command Pro
40 Sprint Points, deeper implementation and team training.
- 40 Sprint Points
- Complex builds + integrations
- Team training included
- Priority response times
Transform
12-week complete technology transformation.
- 12-week structured programme
- Full system build
- Team enablement + training
- Complete technology overhaul
Annual
Save £1,464 vs monthly Command. Best per-sprint value.
- 12 sprints included
- Annual commitment
- Best value per sprint
- Priority access
Minimum commitment: 3 sprints for Command/Pro. Real change takes time — we're honest about that.
Need flexibility? Sprint Point Packs: 5 for £400 · 10 for £750 · 20 for £1,400
A new employee costs more.
And delivers less.
Most businesses default to recruiting when they hit a capacity problem. Another admin. Another coordinator. Another pair of hands.
An entry-level employee costs at least £25,000 a year. Add employer NI, pension, recruitment fees, equipment, training, and the 3-6 months before they're actually productive — you're looking at £30,000-£35,000 before they've made a single meaningful contribution.
Productive from day one.
A new employee takes 3-6 months to become useful. We deliver a full technology audit and your first quick win in week one.
AI-multiplied output.
A Fractional Technology Director backed by AI systems can research, process, and deliver at a scale no single employee can match. Briefs go in at 5pm, results land at 8am.
Senior, not junior.
You're not getting someone learning the ropes. You're getting 20 years of board-level experience. You'd need three hires to match that breadth.
No hidden costs.
No employer NI. No pension contributions. No recruitment fees. No desk. No equipment. No HR. No management overhead.
| Entry-Level Hire | Fractional Technology Director | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | £30,000-£35,000+ | From £11,964 (Advisory) |
| Experience level | Beginner | 20+ years, board-level |
| Time to productivity | 3-6 months | Week one |
| Breadth of skills | One role | Strategy, systems, AI, implementation |
| Available outside hours | No | AI systems work 24/7 |
| Risk if it doesn't work | Notice period, redundancy | Cancel anytime |
Before taking someone new on, consider whether a fractional role could give you senior expertise for less than entry-level cost.
The cost of inaction.
While you hesitate, competitors automate.
While you patch spreadsheets, they scale.
While you're firefighting technology, they're winning customers.
The gap gets wider every month.
20+
Years Experience
100+
People Managed
Board
Level CTO
IoT SaaS
Co-Founder
Two Guarantees. Zero Risk.
48-Hour Technology Health Check
Your complete technology audit and written roadmap delivered within 48 hours of your Health Check session, or your money back. No questions asked.
First Implementation in 30 Days
Your first working automation, integration, or system will be live within 30 days of starting your first Command sprint. If we miss it, we work for free until it's delivered.
Simple conditions: you grant system access within 72 hours and respond to questions within 48 hours. Fair for both sides.
Technology we use and recommend
Is this right for your business?
✓ Good fit
- • You do £1M to £50M in revenue
- • You have 5 to 200 employees
- • You know your technology should work harder but don't know where to start
- • You're the owner or senior director who can make decisions
- • You're busy and need someone to handle this properly
- • You want practical results, not theory or training courses
✗ Not a good fit
- • You're a startup with no revenue yet
- • You want the cheapest option above all else
- • You need enterprise-level compliance from a Big 4 consultancy
- • You're looking for a course or workshop, not implementation
- • You can't commit to at least 3 sprints
Straight answers
Aren't you just another IT consultant?
No. We don't fix printers or reset passwords. We're strategic technology leadership that builds working systems. Think of it as having a CTO on your team without the CTO salary.
What if it doesn't work?
Advisory cancels anytime. Sprint work has documented deliverables agreed upfront. If we don't deliver the first implementation within 30 days, we work for free until it's done. No vendor lock-in.
How long before I see results?
Most clients see immediate wins in week one. Full workflow automation typically takes 1-2 sprints. The Triage alone gives you a clear roadmap you can act on, even if we never work together again.
Do you only work with big companies?
No. We work with businesses doing £1M to £50M who know their technology should work harder for them. Too small for a full-time CTO, too important to leave it to chance.
What's the catch?
No catch. We're practitioners, not theorists. We win when you win. The minimum commitment is 3 sprints because real change takes time — we're honest about that.
Can my existing team implement this?
Absolutely. We build alongside your team, not in place of them. They learn, you grow, everyone benefits. Team training is included in Command Pro.
What's a Sprint Point?
A unit of work based on complexity, not time. An audit might be 3 points. An automation build might be 8. At the start of each sprint, we agree exactly where your points go based on your priorities. When they're gone, they're gone — no hidden extras.
Do I need to understand AI?
No. That's the whole point. You tell us what's frustrating. We work out whether AI, automation, or a simpler tool fixes it. Often the best solution isn't AI at all — it's just connecting what you already have.
Why not just charge by the hour?
Because you don't care how long something takes. You care that it works. Sprint Points align the work with results rather than time tracking.
What happens after the £400 Triage?
You get a written roadmap with prioritised actions, quick win identification, and a clear picture of where you are and where to go next. The fee credits against your first sprint if you proceed. If you don't, you still keep the roadmap.
Six months from now.
This is what businesses look like after working with us.
Your systems talk to each other
No more copying data between spreadsheets. Information flows automatically where it needs to go.
You make decisions from dashboards, not gut feel
Real-time visibility into what matters. No more chasing people for updates.
Your team gets hours back every week
The repetitive work that drains your best people? Automated. They focus on what actually needs a human brain.
Monday mornings stop being stressful
No more "what's broken now?" The technology runs itself. You run the business.
You stop paying for tools you don't use
Most businesses are paying for 3-5 tools that overlap. We consolidate, integrate, and cut the waste.
You scale without proportional headcount
Growth doesn't mean hiring more people to do the same work. Your systems handle the volume.
In 12 months, your competitors will be at Level 5.
Where will you be?
A 20-minute conversation. No pitch, no obligation. You'll leave knowing exactly where your business technology stands and what's worth fixing first.
Free 20-minute call · No obligation · Cancel anytime · No vendor lock-in
The best time to fix your technology was last year. The second best time is a 20-minute call this week.