Creating Space and Closeness in the Wake of the Coronavirus
With the epicenter of the Coronavirus shifting to the West uncertainties abound, including when restrictions will be lifted, cures, precautions, and government’s role in backstopping the economy. Contrast this with our corner of the world –enterprise software solutions— where clear trends have emerged. The first is the uptake of our tools for meeting the need of social distancing allowing legions of workers to work remotely, or from home. Adoption of platforms for online collaboration (Microsoft Teams, Slack), web-conferencing (Zoom, GoToMeeting), and business management (Square, Salesforce, Sage Intacct) illustrate the potential to create space. For proof of this trend, witness announcements from Microsoft and Slack showing sharp increases in new paid customers for their respective collaboration tools. Another emerging trend is the need for closeness; that while we’re being asked to leave our collaborative workspaces we can ill-afford to leave constituents behind. Meeting this requirement means the craft of our systems must allow us to better orchestrate the natural cadence of worker collaboration and idea exchange because our efficiency depends on it, and because we just can’t be there to do it together. The third trend is the moral hazard associated with “our technology infrastructure is good enough.” Specifically, firms hosting their own applications, and/or depending on awkward hosting arrangements for a patchwork of remote access single-tenant solutions, are now underpaying the required premium for system safety, uptime, and efficiency. Said differently, if they persist, their employees and customers will be forced to cover for their inactivity in the next crisis.
Let’s take a further look at where we’re going in the race to create both space and closeness through the use of enterprise software. Both of these metaphors need qualification, which we’ll term “effective.” Thus, effective space and closeness. Effective space is supported by the underlying software architecture. The starting point is users having the same practical desktop no matter where they are. Add to this that their core application set is open to integration, revised from a single code change, with the ability to scale. At this point in the evolution of computing the fitting technology jargon is mobile, interoperable, and multi-tenant for scale. Generally, true Cloud application platforms, with options for Web Service integration. From here, we have the potential to move (walk across space), with our cohorts, in concert. A bet on the future suggests this will come together without separation of your application desktop from web conferencing –essentially fusing web conferencing to your application desktop so that everything will be seen, presented, and transacted together without the need for separate “Meet Now” efforts. Turning to effective closeness, we think in terms of the craft of our software –a step beyond getting us together, or creating effective space. This requires specific software capabilities, or allowing us to see better together. If we’re working toward a facsimile of being, figuring, and thinking together, then the ability to pull this off comes from seamless handoffs, better visualization tools, collaborative workbenches, and the evidence of decision-making from audit trials, transaction attachments, and approval workflows. Each of these requires software that shows what you would otherwise have at your fingertips in the office, scrambling through a network of people, with their on hand physical, electronic, and ad hoc documents. Some likely next steps in the evolution of creating closeness includes software that intelligently intuits what you want (think of this as the steady progress of artificial intelligence (AI)).
Given progress toward creating both effective space and closeness, and the need to cover existing moral hazards, what workplace settings are most likely to be impacted? The most recent National Compensation Survey (Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2019) specific to workplace flexibility suggests sales and office and management, professional, and related segments are likely candidates for further onboarding (see graph below). That is, with flexibility to move outside the office for work, these groups are ranked highest for their potential adoption of Cloud enterprise solutions.
While industries that require onsite work participation and fulfillment (think trades, manufacturing, and field service) will continue to lag typical service industries, the survey-wide 7% figure suggests high growth of Cloud with advances in field service, transportation, and production methods (broader changes regardless of industry). Further detail of the survey for sub-industry groups (see chart legend “Sub:”) shows opportunities which may have been captured in the weeks following the CV19 shelter-in-place directives, including those for management, sales, office administration, and support. Finally, industry/vertical candidates that appear as near-term adopters of “space and closeness” platforms, include medical and telemedical, education, delivery distribution, non-government organizations (NGOs), and sales organizations.
While we all miss workplace interaction, and really can’t get the same from virtual cocktail hours, the lessons learned during these past three weeks won’t be unlearned. What CV19 portends for the future of online computing is profound, and provides further historic evidence that after a massive shock developing trends in technology, and social change, become normative. We believe our Sage Intacct practice, including our marketplace partners, have prepared for the transition to a truly distributed workforce –realizing the potential of both space and closeness. Moreover, that the risks of data and application management are highly attenuated from these leading providers. We’ll look for ways to support you and your growth using all the tools of collaboration, innovation, interoperability, and scale that true Cloud computing has to offer.
Make your business more efficient, and drive performance and growth without adding hardware, software, or staff. Please contact us for further information regarding Cloud ERP/business management software from Sage Intacct. Seth Pomeroy / Seth.Pomeroy@claconnect.com / 630-954-8163.
Improving corporate performance, enabling growth, and meeting overall business strategy using leadership and expertise in financial accounting, reporting, systems, project management, performance metrics, and sales. A 27-year vested interest in customer success.
Great insights Seth!