smartimpact | Gecco

Executive Summary

smartimpact, a leading UK digital transformation consultancy, partnered with gecco as an exclusive white-label reseller to expand their service offerings with cutting-edge AI solutions for membership organisations and non-profits. Within the first year, this strategic partnership enabled smartimpact to establish market leadership in AI services while enhancing their own operational excellence through 52 deployed AI assistants. The partnership delivered comprehensive AI implementations to major organisations including FIA, BHTA, RCVS, and RCOphth. By combining gecco's robust technology platform with smartimpact's deep sector expertise, the partnership created a unique value proposition that perfectly addresses the evolving needs of membership bodies seeking digital transformation.

Introduction

Objective: This case study examines how the gecco and smartimpact partnership created a successful model for AI technology distribution in the UK membership sector, demonstrating both market expansion success and operational excellence enhancement.

Scope: The study covers the first year of the partnership from February 2025, including the reseller agreement structure, client implementations, internal AI adoption at smartimpact, and the development of a comprehensive service offering combining AI assistants, automation, and future AI agents.

Audience: This case study is intended for potential reseller partners, membership organisations considering AI adoption, and stakeholders interested in understanding successful AI implementation models.

The partnership represented a natural alignment. Adam Richardson, gecco's founder, previously served as General Manager at the Fire Industry Association (FIA), bringing deep understanding of membership organisation operations and challenges. This insider knowledge enabled gecco to design AI solutions specifically tailored to the sector's unique needs, making the technology immediately relevant and applicable for smartimpact's client base.

Drivers for Change

The partnership emerged from a perfect alignment of market opportunity and strategic vision. Membership organisations were actively seeking AI solutions to enhance productivity and member engagement, creating significant demand for specialised services. smartimpact recognised the opportunity to expand their already successful consultancy services by adding AI capabilities to their portfolio, enabling them to offer comprehensive digital transformation solutions.

The membership sector presented an ideal market opportunity. Organisations were eager to modernise their operations, with administrative tasks consuming significant staff time that could be redirected toward strategic member engagement. These organisations sought partners who understood their unique needs and could deliver tailored AI solutions rather than generic technology implementations. smartimpact's established reputation and deep understanding of the sector positioned them perfectly to address this demand through partnership with a technology provider.

Strategic Goals and Vision

The partnership aimed to create a comprehensive AI ecosystem for UK membership organisations, establishing smartimpact as the go-to provider for sector-specific AI solutions. Key objectives included expanding smartimpact's service portfolio with AI capabilities that complemented their existing consultancy offerings, deploying proven AI solutions to membership organisations seeking digital transformation, and creating sustainable value through a subscription-based service model.

The vision extended beyond technology distribution. Both partners sought to build a progressive service offering where AI assistants would evolve into automated workflows and eventually autonomous AI agents. This approach would provide membership organisations with complete digital workforce transformation while allowing smartimpact to deepen client relationships through increasingly sophisticated service delivery.

Solution/Approach

gecco and smartimpact established an exclusive white-label reseller agreement in January 2025, creating a synergistic division of expertise. gecco provided the core technology platform, including over 100 pre-built AI assistants optimised for membership organisations, technical infrastructure through ChatGPT Teams workspaces, and the proprietary GRAFT methodology for assistant design. smartimpact brought their Microsoft ecosystem expertise, established client relationships, and deep understanding of membership sector needs to ensure successful deployments.

The implementation approach followed a proven 6-week programme.

Weeks 1 to 2 focused on creating Core Documents that captured each client's unique knowledge and context.

Weeks 3 to 4 involved department-specific assistant deployment and seamless integration with existing systems.

Weeks 5 to 6 encompassed comprehensive training from Beginner to Master levels and establishing AI Champions within client organisations.

smartimpact enhanced their own operations by deploying 52 AI assistants across all departments. Sales and marketing teams utilised 15 assistants for proposal excellence and campaign optimisation. Operations teams deployed 20 assistants for streamlined project management and documentation. Finance and administration leveraged 10 assistants for enhanced reporting and process efficiency. This approach of using the same technology they provided to clients created deep product expertise and authentic testimonials.

Results/Outcomes

The partnership delivered exceptional results in its first year. Four major membership organisations successfully deployed AI solutions, with implementations ranging from 30 to 50 assistants per organisation. The Fire Industry Association, where gecco founder Adam Richardson previously served as General Manager, became one of the first successful implementations. This demonstrated the power of combining insider sector knowledge with innovative technology. Client feedback highlighted transformative impacts on their operations. Organisations reported substantial time savings, with training effectiveness increasing by over 25 percent and member engagement showing marked improvement.

smartimpact's operational enhancements proved equally impressive. The 52 deployed assistants optimised workflows across the organisation. Proposal creation became more efficient, reducing from 8 hours to 90 minutes while maintaining quality. Client onboarding accelerated from 3 weeks to 6 days through streamlined processes. Meeting documentation became automated, saving 3 hours per meeting. Consultant utilisation increased from 68 percent to 87 percent, enabling the team to deliver more value to existing clients while expanding their client base.

The partnership established strong market positioning for future growth. Additional major organisations entered the pipeline for implementation. The upcoming launch of automation services and AI agents positions both partners to deliver even greater value. smartimpact achieved first-mover advantage in a market ready for specialised AI solutions, as demonstrated by their successful competitive tender for RCOphth.

Call to Action

Discover how the gecco partnership model can enhance your organisation's service offerings or transform your operations. Whether you are a consultancy seeking to expand your portfolio with AI services or a membership organisation ready to embrace digital transformation, proven solutions await deployment. Schedule a consultation to explore partnership opportunities or request a tailored AI demonstration for your organisation.