What is Digital Transformation to a TeamSpirit Product Manager?
Today we have the huge privilege of having Ninomiya Naoki— the product manager of TeamSpirit’s Expense module— with us!
Ninomiya has 8 years experience as a software engineer and is an invaluable product manager to the TeamSpirit Expense team. Today, he shares with us his idea about what digital transformation is, what motivates him as a product manager in TeamSpirit, and how companies should strive to reinvent themselves through COVID-19. Enjoy the interview!
Here is the breakdown of the interview by timestamps.
0:06 Quick background information about Ninomiya and Team Spirit Company.
Ninomiya Naoki is a Software Product Manager at Team Spirit Singapore. Team Spirit is a software company that provides integrated software solution which helps workforce management to do daily attendance report, time tracking, expense, and more. Team Spirit is a SalesForce partner for over 10 years and is now used by more than 250,000 people in Japan. As a product manager, Ninomiya is responsible for product planning, gathering requirements, and defining specifications.
2:05 Team Spirit in Singapore.
The director of Team Spirit in Singapore decided to hire people in Singapore and thinking of developing and expanding business in Australia and to other countries in Southeast Asia as well.
3:31 Digital Transformation defined.
Digital Transformation will bring big game change across the world’s industries. According to Ninomiya, it is like an industrial revolution which happened in 18th century.
Digitalization uses digital technology to change the process and produce new values, whereas digital transformation is a fundamental change that improves the current process of workforce.
5:36 Meaning and example of fundamental change.
The use of software and digital technology makes the process more efficient but because of COVID-19, people are unable to do any work for now even with the presence of latest technology.
For example, expense claim is usually done through paperwork and submitted to the finance team. With fundamental change, you don’t need to do any of that. Instead, the company offers a corporate credit card to automatically record or transfer your expense.
7:45 Securing oneself in the system.
One can prevent being out of the scheme by focusing on doing creative work such as creating new things that cannot be replaced by the system.
Technically, AI can create anything from scratch but when it comes to creativity, it can’t be done by any software.
9:10 Tips on having successful digital transformation process.
Digital transformation is a fundamental change for reforming businesses. One of the most important things to consider is the Mindset. Organizations tend to stick to what they are currently doing. Organizations are winning the market by sticking to what they are doing right now.
Another key thing to consider is speed. Digital transformation is somehow accelerated especially during today’s Covid-19 situation. Traditional companies are already losing their strengths because they are struggling in reforming their work style or businesses, whereas small start-up companies are already adapting their work style to the current pandemic situation.
11:38 What people think about digital transformation.
One myth is that some people might think that they already know what digital transformation is and know where it should be going. But it is important to note that digital transformation has many aspects and that everyone should be well-informed about how it can make one’s work style more efficient and better than before.
13:16 Memorable experience as a product manager.
Ninomiya shared that his most memorable experience working in Team Spirit Singapore is the Go Live of their first customer at the beginning of this year. The team has been developing their new product for three years and their customer’s go live will serve as a proof that their product can help clients. Additionally, knowing that customers are happily using their product is their team’s biggest achievement.
14:29 Digital industry during pandemic situation.
Today’s digital industry is significantly changing very fast. During the pandemic we are experiencing, Ninomiya suggested that everyone should be keen in catching up with the trends the world is providing.
By doing this, everyone will be aware of what they can do to be prepared of what will happen next and eventually be able to survive this current pandemic situation.
We hope that you have enjoyed the interview! Please feel free to leave a comment or share this post!