Latest news with #Quickbase


Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
What Is 'Gray Work'? Productivity Killer Impacts 2 Industries
New research indicates that the rise in workplace tools isn't always for the best. These days, rapidly evolving workplace technology, like AI, has many professionals grappling with new productivity tools on a regular basis. But not all employees believe the benefits outweigh the pain points. One in seven workers refuse to use new tools, and 39% of them identify as reluctant users, according to the 2025 Workplace Tech Resistance report by Yooz, a provider of cloud-based purchase-to-pay automation solutions. Software company Quickbase's 2025 Gray Work Report, which surveyed more than 2,000 full-time working professionals including C-level, manager-level and director respondents, took a closer look at how workplace tools impact professionals and productivity. Related: Avoid These 10 Business Habits to Increase Workplace Productivity What is "gray work"? Quickbase defines "gray work" as the "hidden costs of disconnected data and manual workarounds" that often come with increased use of workplace tools and lead to declines in productivity. According to the research, 80% of respondents reported increased investment in productivity, work management and collaboration tools, up from 66% in 2024, yet 59% agreed it feels harder than ever to be productive. What's more, 73% of respondents said using multiple project management software solutions prevents sharing information easily and 75% said they make it difficult to see all data in one place. As a result, many workers asserted such tools cause delays (50%), reduce impact (53%) and waste time (59%). Related: 10 Tips to Boost Employee Productivity and Skyrocket Performance This tool-based productivity challenge spans different industries but is especially prevalent in the financial services/insurance and professional services industries, which saw manual work rise by 67% and 63% respectively compared to last year, per the report. The research suggests that increased AI adoption could help streamline productivity with workplace tools but isn't without its own challenges. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents anticipate that their organization will increase its budget for AI tools in 2025; however, 89% of respondents have concerns around data security, compliance and privacy. But there are ways to reduce gray work and optimize AI for productivity, per the study. Learn more here.


Forbes
11-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Low-Code/No-Code Development Empowers Operations-Driven Industries
Ed Jennings is CEO of Quickbase, an AI-powered operations platform. Tariffs, supply chain breakdowns, geopolitical shifts, recession and inflation fears and more: Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we've been living in a world of near-constant disruption, challenging companies of all sizes to maintain operational excellence while navigating unpredictable market conditions. In conversations with countless experts, from CEOs and founders to project managers and field superintendents, I've heard countless stories of how technological agility can be the deciding factor in success or failure during these times. That agility is often led by platforms like low-code/no-code solutions, putting powerful flexibility in the hands of teams and employees that need it most to keep projects on track. Suddenly, organizations can rapidly develop and deploy custom applications without extensive programming expertise or prohibitive IT investments. That democratization of development is particularly important for operations-heavy sectors like manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and energy—industries where efficiency gains directly impact bottom lines. That said, complex tools can scare away teams and employees who are operations experts first, technologists second. The Operational Imperative In Economic Headwinds When economic conditions deteriorate, operations-focused businesses face unique challenges. Cost pressures intensify, while customer expectations remain unchanged. Supply chains become less predictable. Skilled labor becomes harder to find and retain. The traditional response—cutting costs across the board—can compromise operational capabilities precisely when they're most needed. The smart leaders and teams I talked to recognize that outdated, inflexible systems represent a hidden vulnerability during economic uncertainty. Legacy applications that once seemed adequate become anchors, dragging down organizational responsiveness. Meanwhile, the traditional solution for most industries—custom software development—typically requires substantial capital investment, specialized talent and months of implementation time. That might be OK for companies in financial services or software development, but not for industries where physical work collides with mechanical and technological processes and workflows. Low-code/no-code platforms fundamentally alter this equation, unlocking rapid application development using visual interfaces and pre-built components, allowing teams to digitize workflows, automate processes and capture operational efficiencies without committing to lengthy, expensive IT projects. This helps them turn ordinary work into extraordinary impact. The Strategic Advantage Of Low-Code/No-Code In Operations Based on my experience in the industry, I've found that this approach delivers three critical advantages when surfing the uncertain waters of economic uncertainty: • Accelerated Time-To-Value: Traditional software development cycles, measured in months (or years), are compressed to weeks or even days. An idea on Monday can be built into an app by Wednesday and be in operation by Friday. Operational improvements deliver returns faster, which is critical when every gain in efficiency impacts the bottom line. An example of this could be quality control, where a supply chain disruption can have massive (and costly) downstream effects. Pivoting quickly to rework a quality control process using a traditional, rigid software solution is almost impossible. There's just not enough flexibility in the platform. Low code/no code delivers that flexibility, deploying a custom quality tracking application in just two weeks, avoiding six months of development time and preventing subsequent revenue loss. • Democratized Innovation: Low-code platforms empower the people closest to operational challenges—floor supervisors, quality managers and logistics coordinators—to have direct and influential participation in solution development. The frontline experts in doing the work understand operational nuances in ways that traditional IT departments never could. That input bridges the gap between operational expertise and application development, with the bonus of building a continuous improvement engine powered by those who understand the work best. • Reduced Technical Debt: Traditional software solutions often become tomorrow's technical debt—expensive to maintain, rigid, inflexible and difficult to change. Low-code/no-code platforms are inherently more adaptable, able to be customized to the way you work, with modern architectures and automated maintenance that reduce total cost of ownership. This flexibility becomes particularly valuable during economic uncertainty, when operational requirements can shift rapidly in response to market conditions. Three Actions Leaders Should Take Now If you're an executive in an operations-intensive industry looking to balance operational excellence with economic resilience, here are three specific actions you can take where low-code/no-code (and AI) can play a role: • Launch an operational process assessment with digital transformation in mind. Identify high-impact processes where digital transformation can deliver immediate operational value. Look for workflows that are currently manual, error-prone or data-intensive—ones that slow teams and projects down. Prioritize processes that directly impact customer experience, cost structure or operational flexibility. The goal isn't complete digital transformation; instead, target improvements where returns will be highest and most immediate. • Create cross-functional development teams combining operational and technical expertise. Build small, empowered teams pairing operational process owners with technically minded staff who can quickly learn low-code development. This combination of process understanding and technical aptitude creates a powerful force for rapid, relevant application development. Provide these teams with appropriate governance structures, but minimize bureaucratic oversight that would slow their progress. • Implement a balanced portfolio approach to digital investment. Instead of a single large bet on transformational technology, look to create a portfolio of smaller low-code/no-code initiatives with varying risk profiles and timelines. Some projects should deliver immediate operational improvements; others should build capabilities for longer-term advantage. This portfolio approach manages risk while still advancing digital capabilities. By treating these initiatives as a portfolio of options rather than a single transformation program, you can maintain flexibility, systematically building capabilities while also creating a series of wins to prove the case for continued improvement. Economic uncertainty and operational intensity create both challenge and opportunity. Low-code/no-code development offers a way to meet both—empowering operational improvement without massive capital investments or specialized technical talent. For those willing to embrace this new approach to digital transformation, the reward is operational excellence that doesn't break the bank or create future rigidity. In uncertain times, a balance of capability and flexibility just might be the most important competitive advantage of all. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?


Techday NZ
10-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Nasuni bolsters executive team amid global hybrid cloud push
Nasuni has announced the appointment of three executives to its leadership team, strengthening its focus on talent, information technology, and security functions. The company has named Alison Bayiates as Chief People Officer, Dalan Winbush as Chief Information Officer, and Elyse Gunn as Chief Information Security Officer, reflecting its intent to support business growth in the hybrid cloud storage sector and enhance its global operations. Leadership appointments Bayiates joins Nasuni with significant experience in scaling people strategies for technology firms and has previously held leadership posts at RSA and Veracode. Winbush, who becomes CIO, brings over 25 years of responsibility for enterprise IT, data, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence projects, including experience at Quickbase and Comcast. Gunn, as the new CISO, will lead on global security and compliance, having established security and compliance practices in earlier roles at Pax8 and Quickbase. The appointments follow the recent recruitment of Sam King as Chief Executive Officer. King has expressed confidence in the expanded executive lineup, stating: "As Nasuni enters this next phase of growth, we are thrilled to welcome Alison, Dalan, and Elyse to our team. Each brings an impressive track record in their respective fields and will play a pivotal role in driving our strategy forward, from technological innovation and enterprise security to talent development at a global scale. These areas will be instrumental to enable our continued innovation and growth, delivering differentiated hybrid cloud storage and data management capabilities to our customers." Individual backgrounds Bayiates, as Chief People Officer, will oversee all aspects of talent and organisational development as the company expands globally. She has been credited for building inclusive workplace cultures that align with business strategy during her time at RSA and Veracode. Winbush, as Chief Information Officer, will supervise worldwide IT operations, enterprise systems, AI strategy, data analytics, and infrastructure. During his tenure at Quickbase, he integrated artificial intelligence and generative AI into core operations and established a unified data strategy. His experience at Comcast included responsibility for a USD $300 million portfolio, delivering infrastructure and analytics projects. Gunn, in her role as Chief Information Security Officer, brings expertise in security and regulatory frameworks for SaaS companies. She has led security governance and AI governance initiatives, securing certifications such as ISO 27001, NIST, SOC 1, SOC 2, and Tx-RAMP. She will now direct Nasuni's global security strategy, product security, and regulatory compliance programmes. Market context and focus Nasuni's expansion of its leadership team coincides with growth in demand for hybrid cloud data services among enterprise IT customers. The company is positioning itself to address challenges such as cost reduction, streamlined IT management, and increased resilience in data protection at a global scale. A company spokesperson highlighted the aim to optimise infrastructure and support data-driven operations for clients in sectors such as manufacturing, consumer brands, construction, energy, and media. Nasuni states that its unified file data platform is designed to combine storage and data services into a single solution, with a focus on reducing infrastructure expenses and offering data protection without requiring additional cybersecurity tools or backup systems. The company claims that its platform can cut infrastructure costs by as much as 67%. The leadership appointments are part of a broader growth strategy, as Nasuni continues to build its presence internationally, delivering services in more than 70 countries.


Business Wire
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Quickbase Appoints New Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Product Officer to Accelerate Market Differentiation and Growth
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Quickbase, the AI-powered operations platform, today announced the appointments of Alys Reynders as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Marcus Torres as Chief Product Officer (CPO). These strategic hires underscore Quickbase's commitment to accelerating its go-to-market strategy, delivering innovative solutions that leverage AI and low code/no code to help operations and IT teams transform ordinary work into extraordinary impact. In her role as CMO, Aly will lead Quickbase's global marketing organization, playing a critical role in strengthening market presence, accelerating pipeline, and deepening customer connections. She has nearly 30 years of marketing and communications leadership experience, including serving as CMO at IRIS Software Group, Definitive Healthcare, and PeopleFluent. Aly started her career in corporate communications, with in-house and agency roles in strategic communications and media relations. She holds a BA in English Literature from Hamilton College. Marcus Torres brings more than 20 years of product experience in SaaS, including leadership roles at ServiceNow, Salesforce and Twilio. He has extensive experience in building no-code/low-code products blending customer needs and innovation, like AI, and scaling them across industries and markets. In his role as CPO, he will lead product and design teams, focusing on strategy, roadmap, and customer experience to shape the evolution of Quickbase's platform in the agentic age to deliver more value, faster. "Our customers and the industries we serve have really unique needs and ways of working that traditional software just can't handle," said Ed Jennings, CEO of Quickbase. "We have to have a deep understanding of customer pain points coupled with high levels of customization and flexibility to solve today's problems and prepare for tomorrow's challenges. In Alys and Marcus, we're adding two leaders with expertise in bringing innovative solutions to market that solve real customer problems, reflecting our commitment to bold execution, a customer-centric approach, and building a world-class platform that drives real growth.' About Quickbase Quickbase is the AI-powered operations platform used by more than 12,000 organizations worldwide to transform ordinary work into extraordinary impact. Combining powerful AI capabilities and the flexibility and ease of low code/no code technology, Quickbase boosts productivity, improves efficiency, and enhances employee safety for organizations managing large-scale projects and operations in industries like Construction and Manufacturing. Founded in 1999, Quickbase is headquartered in Boston with teams in London, Sofia, and Bangalore. For more information, visit

Hospitality Net
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Rupali Sawhney has been appointed Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at Otelier (formerly myDigitalOffice)
Otelier, a hospitality data platform powering the future of hotel operations, today announced the appointment of Rupali Sawhney as Chief Customer Officer. In this newly established executive role, Sawhney will lead Otelier's customer organization with a focus on building strong, lasting partnerships across the entire customer lifecycle - from onboarding and implementation through training, feature adoption, and ongoing success. Sawhney brings more than 15 years of experience driving service excellence and transformational growth across enterprise software organizations. Her leadership will be instrumental in empowering Otelier's customer-facing teams to deliver hands-on support and proactive guidance, helping hoteliers operate more efficiently, drive profitability, and unlock a 360-degree view of their operations and guests. Prior to joining Otelier, Sawhney held senior executive roles at top SaaS and enterprise technology firms, including Quickbase, Saama, IBM Watson (now Merative), Pegasystems, and Sovos. Her experience spans every stage of the client journey - enterprise sales, customer success, product strategy, and solution delivery - giving her a holistic perspective critical to Otelier's customer-first approach. The appointment of Sawhney underscores Otelier's continued investment in customer success and its broader vision to centralize hotel operations data, reduce manual workloads, and drive performance across every department. Learn more about the hospitality data platform powering the future of hotel operations at