The MELLON Method
Map. Evaluate. Lay the foundation. Launch. Observe. Normalize.
Six stages that take an operational problem to a measured improvement, then repeat on the next one. Consulting usually stops at the recommendation. This is built to run past it.
See if an audit fitsWhy the order is fixed
Automation applied to a process nobody owns produces failures faster and hides them better.
So the sequence does not move: understand how work actually flows, decide what deserves attention, design the operating model, then build. Technology enters at stage four.
The method adapts PDCA to real estate operations. Plan covers Map, Evaluate, and Lay the foundation. Do is Launch. Check is Observe. Act is Normalize.
The six stages
One cycle, start to finish.
Map
How does work actually move through the business?
Current workflows, triggers and outputs, people and responsibilities, systems and data sources, handoffs, delays, repetitive tasks, failure points, current performance.
You get: Current-state process map, workflow inventory, technology map, stakeholder interviews, baseline data.
Evaluate
Which problem is most valuable and most practical to solve first?
Each opportunity scored on financial impact, frequency, time consumed, client impact, risk, effort, data readiness, adoption difficulty, and time to value.
You get: Bottleneck analysis, root-cause assessment, opportunity matrix, ROI estimate, prioritized roadmap.
Lay the foundation
What should the process look like before anyone automates it?
Future-state workflow, human and automated responsibilities, decision points, approval requirements, exception handling, data requirements, ownership, success metrics.
You get: Future-state process map, solution architecture, responsibility matrix, measurement plan, implementation plan.
Launch
Can the redesigned workflow survive the real business?
Build, internal and exception testing, user acceptance testing, limited pilot, team training, production launch. In that order, with a rollback plan.
You get: The working implementation, configured integrations, test documentation, SOPs, training materials, recorded walkthroughs, launch support.
Observe
Did it improve the outcome it was designed to affect?
Response time, processing time, contact rate, administrative hours, error frequency, completion rate, adoption, data quality, capacity gained, cost avoided.
You get: Performance reporting, before-and-after comparison, adoption analysis, exception report, ROI assessment.
Normalize
How does the improvement become durable?
Standardize the process, assign ownership, finalize documentation, train the team, set the monitoring cadence, and apply it where else it fits.
You get: Final SOPs, ownership and governance, monitoring cadence, optimization backlog, next-cycle recommendations.
The four stages of an engagement
How the method turns into a commercial relationship.
Diagnose. Workflow Performance Audit.
A paid diagnosis producing a costed, prioritized roadmap for one high-impact workflow. Starts at $3,500, credited toward implementation.
Design. Operational Blueprint.
Future-state workflow, solution architecture, responsibility matrix, and measurement plan. Included in the implementation on smaller projects, priced separately on complex ones.
Build. Fixed-scope implementation.
One workflow, agreed acceptance criteria, milestone billing, testing, documentation, and training. We use a standardized delivery method and reusable components so a project never starts from a blank page, and every workflow stays configured around your operation.
Optimize. Managed Operations.
Monitoring, a monthly improvement cycle, governance, and reporting against the metrics set before launch. Mellon administers the technical infrastructure behind the workflow, with a defined monthly allowance, usage alerts, and a spending ceiling written into the agreement.
Boundaries
What you will not get.
A recommendation to automate something that should stay manual. A quote based on the number of automations or agents. An unbounded monthly retainer. A dashboard nobody opens.