Preface

In the wake of the most distressing terrorist attack in Israel's history, Akooda grapples with profound emotions - sorrow, grief, anger, and heartache. Yet, amidst these emotions, we're profoundly appreciative of the unwavering support from colleagues and partners during this challenging time. Many in our company have been personally affected, and our prayers are with them and their families.

We want to emphasize that this blog post is not intended as a pat on the back but as a testament to the extent our team is willing to go through to ensure that we can continue providing the highest level of service to our customers and partners during this time of extreme horror. While words fail to express the depth of our feelings, we are unwavering in our belief in the strength of our dedicated employees and our homeland.

‎Introduction

As Israel grapples with an unprecedented crisis, a harrowing ordeal that has sent shockwaves not only through the nation but across the world, it underscores the profound need for resilience. In times of crisis, both on a national scale and within the business world, resources become unpredictable - sometimes too few, other times too many. Needs emerge from every direction, and a disjointed, uncoordinated response can turn problem-solving into chaos.

In Israel, we are witnessing a surge of overwhelming support from people and organizations across the globe. While the intention is undoubtedly noble, the lack of defined paths of communication has led to disparities in the distribution of aid. Some areas receive an excess of assistance, while others remain underserved. This phenomenon mirrors the challenges faced by companies when they encounter a sudden shock. It often takes time for the dust to settle and a clear understanding to emerge regarding what needs to happen next.

‎At the core of these problems is the necessity for visibility across the entirety of the entity, be it a nation or a company. A comprehensive understanding of the situation is crucial for gaining a clear picture of where bottlenecks, surpluses, and blockers exist. It's about ensuring that resources are directed effectively and efficiently, addressing the most critical needs in a coordinated and streamlined manner. This principle applies universally, demonstrating the shared challenges and solutions that countries and companies alike encounter during times of crisis.

The Akooda Experience

Israel is facing one of its most horrifying crises, a stark reminder of life's unpredictability. In mere minutes, everything that the nation relied upon changed forever, leaving many in a state of shock. In a single moment, the country, and every single citizen within it, faced extraordinary challenges. At Akooda, a small but dynamic company, the crisis hit close to home. 75% of our management team became unavailable to operate at full capacity, and every employee was impacted directly in one way or another. For a small business, this could be catastrophic. Akooda, however, was lucky enough to have a unique solution in place.

Akooda's Unique Platform

From our inception, Akooda’s goal has been to help companies gain an in-depth understanding of their organization. We humbly acknowledge that we were lucky enough to have developed a tool that could help in exactly this type of situation. The Akooda platform sits on top of all the SaaS tools a company already uses, bringing together both formal and informal, structured and unstructured data to provide a true picture of what's happening within the company, where efforts are being spent, and what is driving resources. By doing so, Akooda empowers businesses to navigate through adversity, making them resilient in new and innovative ways.

Understanding the Whole Picture

At Akooda we integrated our own Akoods instance with the tools we use internally, including Slack, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Jira, HubSpot, Notion, Zoom, and probably some others I’m forgetting. This integration allows us to get a complete view of where our teams are investing their time and effort. In moments of crisis, such insights become invaluable. As Matan Jackont, a former consultant at Akooda, experienced, the platform enabled him to step in and help when the team was operating at half-mast.

Matan's Speedy Onboarding Story

‎Matan was a consultant at Akooda during the earlier stages of our company's journey. He was gracious enough to step in now when we really needed support. Though he had not been an active member of the team for some time, he had a deep understanding of our product, goals, technology, and company DNA. We are incredibly lucky that he was willing to step in and help us in this time of need. However, he needed to get up to speed very quickly without the ability to have a formal handoff with the team.

Matan used Akooda to quickly get a handle on the ongoing projects, priorities, and milestones and identified areas where he could have an immediate impact. He was able to pinpoint bottlenecks and project blockers, even diving down to individual tasks, emails, meetings, and more. This level of insight empowered him to take decisive actions to support the team. In a crisis, knowing precisely where to step in can make all the difference.

Natural Disasters Are Their Own Type of Crisis

‎Acts of terror are rare, but the same level of chaos can also occur during times of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, and present substantial challenges. When a company is confronted with such a crisis, the implications can be equally profound. Earthquakes can disrupt office locations, rendering them inaccessible and unsafe for employees. Remote work becomes a necessity, and the availability of staff can be compromised due to personal situations or even fatalities. In some cases, a reduction in force may be necessary to compensate for lost revenue or the closure of branches or office locations.

In such scenarios, the ability of a company to bounce back and continue operations hinges on its ability to maintain a comprehensive understanding of its own workings. When faced with crises the need for visibility across the entirety of the entity is a universal requirement. It underscores the importance of adaptability and resource allocation based on an accurate and informed understanding of the situation, turning unpredictable and potentially devastating events into manageable challenges.

Beyond Contingency Plans

While companies often prepare for unforeseen events with contingency plans, some crises can strain resources more than anticipated. Akooda's approach, by allowing a comprehensive view across all teams, empowers companies to adapt swiftly. We were able to reallocate resources and plug holes as they arose, making the company resilient in a novel and adaptable way.

The Power of Adaptability

Having a clear understanding of your business and the ability to adapt swiftly is essential. The recent crisis in Israel highlights how life's unpredictability can disrupt even the most well-prepared organizations. We’ve been lucky to understand that technology can be a powerful ally in maintaining business resilience. By having a true picture of your organization, you can navigate through challenges and come out stronger on the other side.

In these trying times, our prayers are with those affected by the ongoing crisis. We hope that businesses can find inspiration in the outpouring of support and the resilience demonstrated by the country and citizens of Israel.