Whale is the process documentation platform at the heart of Kaplan Consulting's operational work with clients. Built to solve what Jon Kaplan calls the "graveyard problem" -- the all-too-common reality where SOPs written and uploaded to Google Drive are never read, followed, or updated -- Whale gives businesses a living, centralized system to capture, organize, and share exactly how their operations run. Rather than static documents collecting dust on a shelf, Whale turns standard operating procedures into dynamic, accessible playbooks that employees can reference in real time, dramatically reducing chaos, knowledge gaps, and dependency on key individuals. Kaplan Consulting uses Whale both as an internal operational tool and as a core deliverable in every process engagement with clients. Led by CEO Gary Vanbutsele, who built the platform after experiencing the same documentation challenges firsthand while running his own IT services company, Whale is designed around a continuous improvement cycle: document the process, train the team, measure the outcomes, and update as the business evolves. Michael Mazzarella serves as a key relationship and implementation partner, ensuring Kaplan Consulting clients are set up for success from day one. Together, Gary and Michael have become trusted extensions of the Kaplan team -- helping stone fabrication businesses across North America move out of the chaos and into clarity.
