VOYA Operations Team wins Operations Team of the Year – SME at Operational Excellence Awards 2026
By Jed Nykolle Harme
August 12, 2026
The VOYA Operations Team secured the Operations Team of the Year – SME Award at the Operational Excellence Awards 2026, distinguished for showcasing exceptional operational excellence through disciplined execution, innovative practices, and measurable business growth across international markets.
The team demonstrated exceptional capability in scaling operations across global markets whilst maintaining operational discipline and resource efficiency. By combining strategic execution with continuous improvement practices, VOYA's operations team delivered significant international expansion, including multiple SKU launches, airline business growth, and market extension without increasing headcount, a rare achievement reflecting operational maturity and efficiency.
Judges commended the team's operational approach. "This entrant showcased exceptional operational excellence through disciplined execution and innovative practices," the panel stated. "The VOYA Operations Team combines hard metrics, such as fulfillment data, international SKU launches, and airline business growth, with a compelling narrative of global expansion, all achieved without increasing headcount. Third-party validations, including B Corp certification and industry awards, support the measurable impact. Well-structured and evidence-rich, the submission highlights cross-functional depth and demonstrates how sustainability, continuous improvement, and operational rigor drive scalable, premium international growth."
The recognition reflects broader trends in SME operations excellence, where high-performing teams distinguish themselves through capability to scale without proportional resource increases, integrate sustainability into operational decision-making, and balance growth ambition with operational discipline. VOYA's achievement demonstrates how operational teams combining hard metrics with strategic narrative and external validation create compelling cases for operational leadership.
The team's ability to launch multiple international SKUs whilst maintaining fulfillment standards and supporting airline business growth highlights cross-functional coordination and execution capability. Achieving this expansion without increasing headcount reflects process innovation, capability development, and operational rigour embedded within the team.
B Corp certification validates the team's commitment to sustainability and stakeholder value creation beyond financial metrics, whilst industry awards underscore peer recognition of operational excellence within their market sector.
Heading into the 2027 awards cycle, VOYA Operations Team's achievement reflects the evolving definition of operational excellence in SMEs as teams delivering scalable international growth through disciplined execution, continuous improvement, and sustainable business practices. As SMEs compete in global markets, operations teams combining hard metrics with strategic innovation and sustainability commitment position their organisations as leaders in premium, responsible business expansion.
Visit the official Operational Excellence Awards website to explore the full list of 2026 winners and subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive insights and continuing coverage from Ireland's operational excellence community.
