As a leading investment firm with a strong client-first philosophy, Burgundy Asset Management approached us with a clear goal: begin a digital transformation that preserves the firm’s highly personalized, human-led client experience while dramatically improving internal efficiency through data and AI.
They faced the realities of legacy systems, siloed workflows, and varying levels of digital readiness across stakeholder groups. The challenge wasn’t just technological it was cultural. Success required aligning executive vision, operational needs, and long-term scalability across the entire organization.
Burgundy’s operational backbone relied on a patchwork of legacy technologies — systems that were serviceable, but siloed and increasingly misaligned with modern data needs. Accessing consistent, unified insights across departments was time-consuming, and automation opportunities were limited by outdated platforms. Any move toward AI and LLM integration required first untangling this infrastructure and creating pathways for scalable, secure data use.
With multiple departments — from portfolio management to compliance, operations, and client services — there was no one-size-fits-all approach. Each group had different levels of digital fluency, different pain points, and different expectations. Aligning these internal voices around a single transformation vision required careful facilitation, clear communication, and the formation of a cross-functional governance group to ensure that the roadmap addressed real-world use cases, not just top-down strategy.
Burgundy is known for its deep, relationship-driven approach to client service — and preserving that human element was non-negotiable. The challenge was to identify how AI could quietly power the background — from data preparation to reporting — without diluting the personalized, face-to-face interactions their clients expect. The roadmap had to make space for both: discreet automation behind the scenes, and trusted human connection at the forefront.
Rather than rushing into AI implementation, we focused on building a structured, realistic transformation plan one that respects Burgundy’s culture, enhances operational performance, and keeps clients at the center. We designed a solution that strategically integrates AI where it can provide the most value within internal workflows while preserving the human-first approach that defines their brand. The result: a clear, cross-functional roadmap that balances innovation with intentionality.
We delivered a phased plan outlining how and where to begin using AI responsibly. The roadmap prioritized use cases with immediate impact internal tools for research, reporting, summarization, and knowledge retrieval while also identifying mid- and long-term opportunities. Each phase was mapped to Burgundy’s technical readiness and organizational capacity, ensuring a realistic path forward.
To keep momentum and alignment across the firm, we established a governance group composed of leaders from different stakeholder groups. This team became a critical force in decision-making, change management, and success measurement. It also gave the transformation a clear owner empowering Burgundy to implement solutions with clarity, accountability, and internal trust.
Recognizing Burgundy’s commitment to personal client relationships, we focused all AI applications on internal team efficiency, not client-facing automation. This approach included tools that free up team capacity from intelligent document processing to internal chat interfaces — allowing employees to spend more time on high-value, human-led work. In short: AI supports the people, not replaces them.
Clarity in Complexity
Burgundy now has a unified roadmap that turns an overwhelming digital challenge into a sequence of manageable, strategic actions demystifying AI and turning it into a tool for practical, measurable value.
With a governance model and shared language around transformation, stakeholders across the organization are no longer siloed they’re aligned, engaged, and equipped to lead the next phase of change from within.
We began by conducting a deep dive into Burgundy’s internal systems, data sources, and existing digital workflows. This diagnostic uncovered where key data lived, how it moved through the organization, and where inefficiencies or silos existed. We evaluated the firm’s tech stack in terms of scalability, security, and AI readiness giving us a full picture of what needed to evolve before intelligent tools could be introduced.Through a series of collaborative workshops and visual audits, we developed a refined identity system including a new logo, color palette, typography, and visual language that communicates clarity, trust, and modern sophistication. Packaging was reimagined to reflect this shift, ensuring consistency across physical and digital touchpoints.
The result is a brand that feels both clinical and contemporary built to stand out on the shelf and scale across digital channels.
Next, we connected with stakeholders across departments from compliance to investment operations and client service — to better understand their day-to-day realities, frustrations, and aspirations. These conversations allowed us to map opportunities through the lens of each team’s goals, while also uncovering common threads and resistance points. This phase was essential in shaping a transformation plan that wasn’t just technically sound, but also grounded in empathy and organizational dynamics.
BrainyYack is a digital agency based in Toronto since 2006. Our heritage is built upon over 100 years combined experience and expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration.
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