The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the world's largest certified membership organization with over 30,000 members, faced significant inefficiencies in its examination process.
By transitioning from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital platform, IStructE achieved annual savings of £40,000 in shipping costs, increased its exam adjudication capacity by 300%, and reduced the time taken to mark exams by over 50%.
"This was a landmark project for IStructE; affecting almost all of our members. Distinction understood that from the beginning and went to great lengths to ensure a smooth process. Everyone at Distinction was great at keeping the project moving. Until recently, you could say we’ve been a bit slow to make changes to our technology or digital offerings. However, the success of this project has given key stakeholders the confidence and member backing to drive innovation in other areas of the Institution."
IStructE's traditional examination process was labor-intensive and time-consuming. Completed exam papers were physically collected, shipped to the UK, anonymized, and distributed to examiners worldwide.
This manual handling led to delays, misplaced papers, and inconsistent marking, reflecting poorly on the organization's efficiency and brand reputation.
We conducted a thorough diagnosis of the existing process, engaging with stakeholders at all levels to understand the challenges. Our discovery workshops revealed that examiners were open to change, contrary to initial assumptions.
With stakeholder alignment, we automated the entire marking process by developing a four-part system:
This comprehensive digital solution streamlined the examination process, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.
The digital transformation led to substantial improvements:
These outcomes not only enhanced operational efficiency but also strengthened IStructE's reputation as a forward-thinking professional body.
