José Duarte (48), since 2013 the head of Unit 4 and software maker hopes to grow with business software that is user friendly. He is looking for “Google simplicity.
In the past, the workplace was the forefront of innovation in the field of information technology, “said José Duarte, CEO of business software maker Unit4. Mainframes , the first desktop computers, laptop computers:. everything was developed for applications in business, or defense ‘
these, now seems barely there: in many office spaces are found bulky computers clunky software that showed contrasting with the use of smartphones and tablets used by employees outside working hours.
“Consumers sit for a year or five in the front row at launches of the latest gadgets and latest software. Businesses remain behind.
Eiffel Tower
The jaunty Portuguese arrived in 2013 at Unit 4. With sales of EUR 525 million in 2014. UNIT4 is one of the world’s largest makers of software for businesses, governments and other organizations, such as the city of Stockholm and the British Cambridge University. Duarte previously worked with the German rival SAP, which is considerably bigger with a turnover of 27 billion euros
Who is José Duarte?
Portuguese. Worked after studying accounting and management in Lisbon include consultant at Arthur Andersen (now Accenture). Then at software company SAP. After a sabbatical in 2013. Duarte was CEO of business-software maker UNIT4. He is married and has three daughters.
“Before I knew it, I worked there for twenty years. Eventually, as boss of the global consultancy arm, at which time a business with a turnover of around 10 billion euros. And when I had no fun anymore. I was a slave with gold chains. I had a huge office with a view of the Eiffel Tower, a second office in Berlin, but when I looked at the morning shaving in the mirror, I saw no lucky guy. I was 43, 44. Not ready to settle down. Then you stop shaving, or start looking for something else. “
He did it last, and opted first for a sabbatical year, which he took, among other cooking classes in Paris and came into contact Chris Ouwinga, founder of Unit 4 and then the CEO. “He invited me to go to work at Unit 4, after many conversations about how we both saw the future of the market for business software. First in 2013 as co-CEO from 2014 as sole CEO.
Automation
That future, according to Duarte betting software in the workplace that do is user-friendly. “Google simplicity,” he calls it. For Unit 4 is that strategy all the more important because the company’s customers mainly come from the service sector
As an example he gives consultants, -. Often with healthy reluctantly – at the end of the week their cost must declare and indicate to a computer system for which clients they have worked that week, and for how long.
Suppose you use someone’s smartphone to automate small but time-consuming tasks, says Duarte.
“Fly your consultant from Amsterdam to a customer in London, know the system, thanks to the GPS signal when you land, and you will see the airport picks up a taxi to a hotel in the center. By communicating with your calendar, the system also knows which customer you make the trip. Of all the receipts you take a picture with your phone. You run the following afternoon away from the client’s office, you will get a message asking if it is true that you had three hours to the customer and that you have made before that x number of cost. You just need to “yes” or “no” button.
Duarte admits a system that knows when its users are true, can initially cause resentment. “It is the duty of employers and employees to speak out when the system is, and when it is not used.” He expects enterprise inspired by the ease of consumer electronics, eventually just liberating. “You do have more time for your normal work or to go to the pub on Friday night. That seems more exciting than the scan receipts last week.
Where?
Buitenplaats Slangevegt, Breukelen
What?
Starter
Beef Tartar with bavarois onions and focaccia bread
Main Course
baked on the bone plaice with langoustine
Drink
Tomato, spa blue
Cash
€ 40
Platforms
Another task for which Duarte state, is to increase the brand awareness of Unit 4. The company is in the thirty years since its inception grown rapidly, partly through acquisitions.
So it bought British accountant CODA software maker in 2008. This summer’s Three Rivers Systems took over, an American company which develops systems that universities the ins and outs of their students can manage.
Through these acquisitions UNIT4 has become a hodgepodge of brands and applications. “We focus on simplifying the brands. UNIT4 as the main brand with several products below.
Duarte also aims at further integration of the various applications. “It was, and is, unfortunately, still sometimes the case that two products that both came from the stable of Unit 4, still felt like two different platforms.
” We are working to create a sort of central platform, ” UNIT4 People Platform “, where different systems converge. This ensures that data between the applications go smoothly back and forth. And to build a recognizable interface. But to be honest: it takes time and manpower. We are therefore now seeking four hundred people for the development department.
Elsevier No. 40, October 3, 2015
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