Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Dukes.
Elizabeth, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My partner, Don Traweek, and I were providing outsourced office and facility services to the Fortune 1000. We were managing with spreadsheets, paper logs, and emails and were unable to effectively manage service delivery and demonstrate ongoing value to our customers. We recognized a need in the market for technology to solve these challenges. At the time, 2002, the internet was becoming recognized as a business platform. We developed iOFFICE to solve three key challenges 1. Unleash data – make it accessible real-time so that companies could proactively manage. We developed a SaaS-based model that allowed for scalability across geographic location. Our modular design allowed multiple services to be managed within a single portal (one database). Resulting in real-time data across multiple locations and multiple service lines for accurate analytics and more intelligent planning.. 2. Open systems – We recognized early on that we needed to play well with others. Customers had core systems that they had invested time and money in and were, for the most part, performing a valued function. In addition, many systems like HR had valuable data that we needed to deliver effective workplace services.
Today we use our API to integrate core systems and new tech to help deliver solutions for customers. 3. User experience was a priority. If customers were going to get their historically non-tech savvy FM teams to use the software, it had to be intuitive and smart. In addition, we also recognized if we could get the end user (employee in the workplace) to use the software to submit requests and find the information we could improve the integrity of data end enhance overall service delivery. Today we serve 1,400 customers globally supporting 12 languages and on average 2.5 million users per month. Our founding principles apply today in the new world of work. We are in the age of the Digital Workplace. iOFFICE helps companies create workplaces that uplift the employee experience creating a graceful intersection between people and place that results in positive business outcomes.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course, it has not been a smooth road. We are a boot-strapped business. For the first two-years, we were not paid. Our first enterprise deal with a channel partner allowed us to get the business off the ground. We got off focus for a brief period of time providing consulting and management services for large-scale commercial moves. The objective was to use iOFFICE software to manage the project and then the customer would want to continue using the software to manage facility operations on an on-going basis.
However, it was a heavy HR burden to deliver the service that resulted in high revenues, low-profit margins, and no software sales. We discontinued this service and refocused on software. Don, my current partner, and I had a third partner. He managed the financial side of the business. He died unexpectedly in 2011. Although we had regular meetings to keep us abreast of each others area of responsibility, we had a steep learning curve to get the financial management back on target. Since that time we have invested heavily back in the business in R&D and Marketing. It has proven to be very successful, but we are in a continuous state of process improvement ensuring our roadmap is meeting customer needs while simultaneously staying ahead of the curve AND ensuring we are effectively communicating to the marketplace our value.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the iOFFICE Inc story. Tell us more about the business.
iOFFICE is the #1 employee experience IWMS and the only 100% SaaS platform that equips workplace leaders with real-time data and mobile tools to intelligently plan for the future. In the most recent Verdantix Green Quadrant report, we scored 2.4 out of 3 for user interface simplicity and level of intuitiveness. iOFFICE has an extremely robust Data & Analytics platform allowing customers to improve insights resulting in positive business outcomes.
iOFFICE Hummingbird is a set of employee experience solutions that capture key data from floor maps, people or meetings making it available for employees to FIND, RESERVE, REQUEST and RECEIVE everything they need to be productive in the workplace through mobile apps, kiosks, and even collaboration tools, like Slack. iOFFICE Hummingbird is unlike any other employee experience solution as it “hovers” above your existing IWMS. Leveraging your current tech stack, you can easily create an employee-centric workspace by giving employees the tools they need to work efficiently. With iOFFICE Hummingbird, you can choose from many carefully crafted solutions that are designed to make your workplace as flexible and productive as your workers.
Like a hummingbird gathers nectar, iOFFICE Hummingbird collects real-time data and insights from the actions of employees and how they work. It works with your current HR, IT, ERP and other technologies and creates analytics through its built-in Insights module. Now, you can take intelligent action in line with your employees’ needs, while gaining insights to plan for the future.
The iOFFICE Marketplace is a growing network of partners who share a common vision of a fully integrated workplace. Today, the Marketplace includes solution partners in these categories:
• Digital Signage/Wayfinding
• Room Kiosks
• Energy Optimization
• Occupancy & Space Planning
• Crowd Sourcing
• IoT, Sensors
• Lease Administration
• Project Management
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I am not sure I really believe in the concept of luck overall as it applies to our business. Our mission and business model have been spot-on since inception. We have an exceptional team of people and are a profitable business. We have tried to be thoughtful about every decision we make. As a result, we have made mistakes but we have learned from the mistakes and changed course as a result. I don’t view it as good or bad luck – I see it is opportunities for continuous improvement in the face of challenges (being able to overcome) and success (building on what works).
Contact Info:
- Address: 1210 W. Clay
Houston Texas 77019 - Website: www.iofficecorp.com
- Phone: 713.526.1029
- Email: sales@iofficecorp.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/iofficecorp
- Twitter: twitter.com/iofficecorp
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