AI NIMBLE - EMBRACING THE JOURNEY

Cùng Ecotek, một công ty tiên phong trong lĩnh vực tư vấn công nghệ và giải pháp gián tiếp tại Việt Nam, trên hành trình điều hướng bối cảnh hậu đại dịch. Khám phá cách họ chú trọng vào việc chuyển đổi kỹ thuật số và tích hợp các công nghệ trí tuệ nhân tạo, giúp các tổ chức tận dụng tính linh hoạt và đưa ra những quyết định tối ưu. Nền tảng công nghệ giúp người lao động “an sinh tài chính” Ekko được thiết kế để chăm sóc những người chưa được hỗ trợ về mặt tài chính tại Việt Nam, thúc đẩy sự hợp tác với các nhà tuyển dụng trong các ngành để người lao động tiếp cận tiền lương một cách an toàn và hiệu quả. Cùng nhau, chúng ta hãy định hình một tương lai nơi công nghệ và tài chính toàn diện vì sự phát triển bền vững và thịnh vượng!

Lưu ý: Bài viết dưới đây được trình bày bằng tiếng Anh.

(Note: The article below is written in English language)

Join Ecotek, a forward-thinking technology consultancy and outsourcing firm, as we navigate the post-pandemic landscape. Discover how their dedication to digital transformation and the integration of accessible AI technologies empowers organizations to embrace agility and make informed decisions. Explore the innovative financial wellness platform, Ekko, designed to uplift the financially underserved in Vietnam, fostering collaboration with employers across industries for secure and efficient salary access. Together, let's shape a future where technology and financial inclusion converge for sustainable growth and prosperity!

Mads Werner, CEO and co-Founder of Ecotek Vietnam, disclosed the following in the first issue of the NOVO - Dale Carnegie's 2023 ASEAN Newsletter:

"The world is emerging from the trials of the pandemic, presenting entrepreneurs and business leaders with new opportunities for growth and impact. As the CEO and Co-Founder of a B2B2C financial wellness company in Vietnam, working with companies in all industries and sizes, I'm excited to share my perspective on navigating this transformative time.

In the post-pandemic economy, most companies have realized that embracing the digital revolution is no longer a choice but a necessity. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, revealing new ways to connect, innovate, and serve our communities.

In fact, our business model has emerged as a trailblazer in its market category, making only possible companies embracing digital transformation. Without the implementation of HR systems to manage employee data, time-keeping systems for monitoring attendance, payment solution APIs for processing transactions, and the ubiquity of smartphones among staff, we wouldn't be able to provide the financial services we offer to company’s employees today.

So why bring this up? Although we are just a small part of the bigger picture, it’s become clear to me that companies that do not keep up with the pace of innovation will miss out on opportunities and have a difficult time to compete with companies continuously innovating. Many companies  proudly say that they are at the forefront of their digital transformation journey because of implementing a recognized ERP system, without realizing it is merely the first step of the journey.

For companies who have embraced digital transformation in the last decade and invested into digitization of crucial business processes and developing digital capabilities among workers, they are well-positioned to thrive in the times ahead. Particularly from 2023 and beyond, with artificial intelligence becoming more accessible than ever, we must prepare for the inevitable changes in our business models and operations. In the past artificial intelligence was only used by researchers, engineers, or major tech corporations but now it’s packaged and easily accessible for everyone. We will start to see companies who have already undergone digital transformation will be able to harness the power of AI in conjunction with their accessible data for improved decision making.

As we embark on this new chapter, cultivating agility across all organizations is essential.

So, what is agility? The concept of ‘agile’ emerged from a shift in software development methodologies in the early 2000’s when a group of software engineers sought to revolutionize the way software was created, moving away from the traditional linear approach known as the waterfall model, where each phase (requirements, analysis, design, coding, testing etc.) of a project must be completed before moving on to the next one. A model that becomes an issue for complex projects as it does not foster collaboration amongst teams and requirements tend to change all the time.

In contrast agile development embraces an interactive, incremental approach to software development with focus on collaboration and adaptability. Designers, coders, testers are encouraged to work tightly together in short cycles called sprints, during which they develop, test, and refine their work, allowing them to respond quickly to changing requirements. Instead of writing all detailed requirements at the start of a project, only the key objectives are communicated giving freedom for creativity and empowerment in the team

Overall, the agile framework fosters a culture of continuous learning and experimentation allowing companies to pivot quickly in the face of new challenges or opportunities and can be a crucial skill set that can be applied across all functions in a company. At Ecotek, we have implemented agile methodology in our software development process since inception, and we are now extending the mindset to all functions in the company. In example, we do this through empowering teams to make decisions and take ownership of their work and focus on the big picture with quarterly goal setting via OKRs. 

In many ways we can see that digital transformation in an organization empowers agility by making information and data more transparent. As AI gradually integrates into our company, slowly becoming a part of everyone’s work life, we will start to see that AI can help us bring us the most important information we need on the decision table to move fast and take well informed risk.

It’s essential to continuously collaborate with our teams to challenge the following key questions:

• How can we optimize our business with technology on an ongoing basis, looking 1, 3 and 5-years ahead?
• How might technology reshape our business model in the future?

But the heart of our journey lies not only in embracing technology but also in championing the human spirit! In many ways, the pandemic has taught us the importance of empathy, compassion, and resilience.

We must foster a strong company culture built on shared values and commitment to our teams. At Ecotek, we recently redefined our company values to ensure the right mindset and people for the future ahead, and recognized humanity, integrity, commitment, and agility as the guiding principles to shape our path towards our vision. A clear vision can inspire, fostering a sense of unity and hope in the face of adversity and foster true agility. I personally strive to spend as much time with everyone at Ecotek, communicating how our work can and have a profound impact on people's financial well-being and contribute to a more equitable society.

Drawing on the wisdom of Dale Carnegie, we can lead with empathy, courage, and integrity, inspiring our teams to dream bigger and embrace the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic world. We must not only chart the course but also empower our teams to become agents of change, fostering a culture of innovation and resilience. 

Together, let us embrace the journey, and emerge from the pandemic with renewed energy, optimism, and determination to build a better future for ourselves, our organizations, and our global community through embracing digital transformation and agile methodologies!"

Check out our latest DC ASEAN Newsletter

-------------

Mads Werner

Ecotek

CEO & Co-Founder

In 2018, Mads co-founded Ecotek, a technology consultancy and outsourcing firm as an extension of Ecopark Group's smart city planning initiative and started working at Ecopark Group as a business development advisor. In 2021, Mads launched Ekko, a financial wellness platform to support the financially underserved in Vietnam. Ekko works closely with employers in various industries such as manufacturing, retail, F&B in order to provide employees with safe and fast access to the salary they have earned at any time. He has lived in Hanoi for nine years and has a Bachelors Engineering Degree in IT and Economics.