Case Study

Atlas Copco Power Technique: a capability and operating transformation

How the Power Technique function moved from reactive support to strategic business enabler, through a practical operating system and a competence program built for daily adoption. The program is the centerpiece.

This engagement is our proof of the embed-it half of how we work: building the capability and operating rhythm that make performance hold. The diagnose and fix-the-engine half is proven by Sergio's operator track record.

Power Technique
Business Area, global industrial technology
Multi-region
Decentralized operating structure
Multi-year
Modular, multi-year competence curriculum, deployed worldwide
Client profile

A decentralized global leader

Atlas Copco Group is a global industrial technology leader with a highly decentralized operational structure. This engagement focused on the Power Technique Business Area (PTBA), a division managing complex, capital-intensive equipment solutions across multiple regions.

The challenge

A function stuck in reactive mode

The PTBA communications function faced a critical inflection point. Despite strong high-level strategy, the team operated as a reactive service provider rather than a strategic business enabler.

The growth bottleneck

Rapid scaling and decentralization created decision-making gridlock and fragmented resources across shadow priorities.

Capability and fluency gaps

The team lacked the data confidence and technical depth needed to partner credibly with engineering and sales peers.

Strategy-to-execution misalignment

High-level vision lacked a practical operating system. GTM strategy and daily execution were disconnected.

Our approach

Adoption-led transformation

Most transformations fail because they lack behavioral integration. We installed a practical operating system designed for daily adoption, not just announced change.

Three workstreams, operating system, adoption, and a global competence program, turning the Power Technique function into a business enabler
Three workstreams turned the Power Technique function into a business enabler, with the competence program at the center.
Workstream 01

Practical operating systems

Clear decision roles, a weekly review cadence, and visible progress tracking. The team moved from ad-hoc responses to structured, accountable execution.

Workstream 02

Adoption over frameworks

Rather than distributing playbooks, we embedded leaders as coaches. New behaviors were practiced in real work, reinforced through feedback, and tracked for consistency.

Workstream 03

Business-enabling functions

The communications function was repositioned as a business enabler, learning to speak the language of operations, sales and finance, moving from cost center to value creator.

The solution

A global competence program

In partnership with Atlas Copco experts, we co-created a modular, multi-year competence curriculum, six modules made up of roughly 25 courses, deployed across Atlas Copco's global organization. It is the centerpiece of the broader Power Technique transformation.

  • Module 1: Foundations. Group mission, PTBA portfolio, financial processes, sales and marketing funnel
  • Module 2: Brand & Communication. Brand positioning, customer journey, buyer personas
  • Module 3: Integrated Marketing Communication. Campaign efficacy through sales alignment
  • Modules 4 & 5: Digital Communication & Analytics. Data-driven decision-making, system literacy, digital fluency
  • Executive module. Leadership focus on brand perception as a business driver and product differentiation
Outcomes

From reactive to strategic

Mindset

Before: Reactive support

After: Proactive business enabler

Technical fluency

Before: Gaps in data and systems

After: Data-literate, technical parity

Operational cadence

Before: Fragmented, shadow priorities

After: Clear decision roles, aligned rhythms

Business alignment

Before: Disconnected from GTM

After: Unified strategy across regions

  • Recalibrated leadership: Executives now coach to clear standards
  • Accelerated proficiency: New-hire onboarding significantly reduced
  • Institutionalized innovation: A reference point for competence-driven transformation
Why Vaz Lopes Group

Senior practitioners, not template consultants

Atlas Copco worked with Vaz Lopes Group because we operate as senior practitioners who have led change in complex, global, capital-intensive environments. For PTBA, this meant we could speak the language of engineering and operations peers, a prerequisite for a communications function to credibly enable growth.

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