Rolls-Royce is transforming from a traditional manufacturer into a service-led enterprise, driven by its "IntelligentEngine" vision. Candyspace was appointed as a strategic partner to architect the digital ecosystem required to support this fundamental shift. Two of our key transformative initiatives were a unified customer service portal and Yocova, an innovative data-sharing marketplace.
Our work unlocked significant value, with the Yocova platform turning a £1 million investment into £30 million in funding – a 30x ROI. By consolidating fragmented backend systems into a seamless, data-driven interface, we have also streamlined operations for global B2B customers. Today, our partnership continues to evolve as we develop a secure Generative AI tool for internal staff.
BUSINESS NEED
Transform a manufacturing giant into a data-driven, service-led enterprise
CUSTOMER DEMAND
A seamless, transparent digital experience that provides real-time access to critical data
HERE ARE THE RESULTS
30x
return on investment
£30m
funding secured
1
unified customer view
The business context
In the highly specialised aerospace and power systems industries, Rolls-Royce is undergoing a radical evolution. The company’s "Power as a Service" model requires a fundamental shift in how it interacts with B2B customers and manages vast amounts of operational data.
However, the existing landscape was defined by complex data silos and fragmented backend systems that hindered seamless service. To realise its strategic ambitions, Rolls-Royce needed a partner capable of designing a scalable, secure digital ecosystem that could unlock new revenue streams from shared information while serving both internal teams and global customers.
Candyspace's remit and objectives
As a strategic digital partner, Candyspace was tasked with moving beyond traditional B2B websites to create innovative digital products that delivered on the service-led promise. Our remit focused on two key workstreams: transforming the Customer Service Platform and creating a new data collaboration venture, Yocova.
Our core objective was to find the "sweetspot" between Rolls-Royce’s need for new revenue and their customers' demand for efficiency. For the Service Portal, this meant consolidating disparate systems into a single interface. For Yocova, the goal was to build a new business that would monetise data by facilitating collaboration across the wider aviation sector.
I can't imagine how we could have achieved such a good result with any other partner.
Team structure and deliverables
To deliver these complex products, Candyspace embedded product strategists, UX/UI designers and developers into highly collaborative, cross-functional teams. Our methodology was rooted in Agile principles, allowing us to adapt to the evolving needs of a global enterprise. We began with deep-dive workshops to understand specific pain points, ensuring our strategy was founded on user reality.
Speed and technical excellence were paramount. For Yocova, we prototyped an MVP in just four weeks to validate the concept and secure internal funding. On the technical front, we developed a robust Angular front end engineered to integrate with Rolls-Royce’s complex technology stack, handling real-time data from engine assets to power dynamically configured dashboards.
Innovation and impact
Candyspace’s partnership with Rolls-Royce was defined by our ability to fuse strategic vision with technical execution to deliver transformative business outcomes. The measurable impact was significant:
New revenue stream: The Yocova platform unlocked a new business model, with a £1million investment leading to £30 million in funding, demonstrating a 30x return on investment.
Operational efficiency: The new customer service portal streamlined complex service delivery, improving communication and efficiency for both Rolls-Royce teams and their global customers.
Enhanced customer experience: By unifying fragmented systems into a personalised, data-driven interface, we delivered on Rolls-Royce’s vision of a modern, seamless digital touchpoint for its B2B clients.
This partnership cemented Rolls-Royce's commitment to digital transformation and demonstrated our expertise in turning complex business challenges into innovative, high-impact digital products.
Candyspace continues to work on a retained basis with Rolls-Royce across multiple digital transformation workstreams. One of our live engagements is developing Karl AI, a secure internal tool giving Rolls-Royce Power Systems staff access to generative AI in a controlled, enterprise-grade environment.
