Operational Strategy Firm Ordinal Launches in France with "Understand Before Automating" Philosophy
Ordinal, a new operational strategy consultancy founded by Pierre-Hugo Meynet, Monica Villanueva, and Geoffrey Beldjord, has launched in France with a core principle its founders first applied to themselves: prioritize deep understanding before implementing automation. The firm targets French and European SMEs, guiding them to build the foundational clarity and processes that make automation viable and sustainable, rather than starting with the selection of tools.
The founders' approach is born from direct experience. Before advising clients, they rigorously tested their own methodology internally to ensure its effectiveness. This foundational work involved mapping and analyzing their own operational workflows in detail to identify what truly needed optimization. This practice of self-audit now forms the cornerstone of their client engagements.
Ordinal's service model is structured around a phased, diagnostic-driven process. The initial phase focuses exclusively on gaining clarity—mapping existing processes, identifying pain points, and defining precise operational objectives. Only after this comprehensive understanding is established does the firm proceed to the design and implementation of tailored automation solutions. This method is designed to prevent the common pitfall of deploying technology onto unstable or inefficient processes, which often leads to wasted investment and complexity.
The firm argues that many automation projects fail because they are technology-led rather than strategy-led. By helping SMEs first build robust operational foundations, Ordinal aims to ensure that subsequent automation drives genuine efficiency, scalability, and competitive advantage. The launch positions the consultancy to address a growing market need among SMEs seeking to digitalize intelligently and avoid the costs of misguided tech adoption.