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How office pets transform the workplace

How office pets transform the workplace

by | Jul 16, 2024 | Blogs

Here at LINK!, we know firsthand the happiness and support that pets provide. This is why we have a policy that allows employees to bring their pets to work.

We hope that our pet policy will help make our workplace more animal-friendly for our employees and their families. The inclusion of pets in the office has the potential to increase happiness, decrease stress, and strengthen bonds among team members, in our opinion. Who among us doesn’t adore a playful puppy wagging its tail or a furry cat snuggled up in a corner, purring away?

How Office Pets Can Relieve Stress

An individual’s general health and output can be significantly improved with the company of a furry pet while working. Pets make people happier, less anxious, and better able to concentrate, which in turn makes for a more pleasant and productive work environment.

Petting an animal, such as a dog or cat, can have a calming effect on your anxiety and stress levels. These mild-mannered friends bring comfort and camaraderie, allowing you to centre yourself and enjoy the here and now. Their ability to love without conditions might provide a welcome break from the stresses of daily life.

Pets as Cultural Ambassadors and Conversation Starters

Pets in the workplace have the potential to greatly enhance teamwork and communication. These furry friends have a knack for making people feel more at ease and bringing everyone together.

Pets in the Workplace: A Unique Employee Perk

For many employees, their furry companions are an integral part of their lives, and the ability to bring them to work can be a significant factor in their job satisfaction and overall well-being. By embracing a pet-friendly culture, companies demonstrate a commitment to their employees’ happiness and work-life balance.

By providing companionship, promoting physical activity, and offering a sense of purpose, pets can significantly contribute to improving mental health and overall quality of life.

How can onboarding as a service improve customer experience?

How can onboarding as a service improve customer experience?

by | Feb 13, 2024 | Blogs

Onboarding new software is traditionally a cumbersome process for organizations. It often requires massive amounts of manual work to migrate data, configure complex integrations, and train users.

 Some of the biggest challenges include:

  • Time-Consuming Setup: Tech teams spend significant time and effort setting up new software. Between data migration, integration development, and testing, it can take weeks or months to fully onboard. This delays realizing the benefits of the new solution.
  • Manual Data Migration: Importing data from legacy systems is typically done manually. Teams export data, transform it into the right format and import it. For large data sets, this is extremely labor intensive. Data mapping and transformation are often complex as well.
  • Complex Integrations: To work seamlessly, new software usually needs to integrate with other key systems like CRM, ERP, e-commerce, and more. IT teams have to develop and maintain custom integrations which adds costs, risks, and time.
  • Poor User Experience: For end users, adapting to a new interface and workflow often involves a steep learning curve. Without proper training and support, users struggle to use the software effectively, leading to frustration and reduced adoption.

The upfront burden of migrating data, building integrations, and training users ultimately hampers the adoption of new solutions. Organizations don’t realize ROI as quickly and users suffer through a subpar onboarding experience. There is a need for a better approach.

How Onboarding as a Service Works

Onboarding as a Service (OaaS) takes the pain out of adopting and rolling out new software by managing key aspects of the onboarding process for you. Rather than your team spending weeks or months migrating data, integrating apps, and training users, OaaS providers handle it seamlessly behind the scenes.

OaaS typically includes:

  • Automated data migration – Historical data like customer records, product catalogs, and sales histories are migrated quickly and seamlessly to the new system. You don’t have to worry about manually exporting, transforming, and uploading data.
  • Integrations set up – OaaS providers will integrate the new software with your existing apps and data sources. API connections, single sign-on, and moving data between systems happen automatically.
  • Training and support – Dedicated onboarding specialists will provide training resources and over-the-shoulder support for your users. They’ll ensure everyone gets up to speed quickly on the new software.
  • Focus on user experience – The onboarding is designed around easing the transition for your users. The goal is to quickly get them productive, satisfied, and capable with the new tools.

By removing the adoption barriers and complexity of managing multiple apps and data sources, OaaS enables businesses to get the most value out of new software investments.

Benefits for Businesses

With Onboarding as a Service, businesses can fast-track deployment and adoption. Rather than managing complicated migrations in-house, you can rely on experts to seamlessly transition data, users, and processes.

Key benefits for businesses include:

  • Faster deployment – Start using new software in days or weeks rather than months. Avoid getting bogged down in lengthy setup and configuration.
  • Smoother transitions – Migrate all historical data, integrate with existing systems, and ensure continuity for users. Minimize business disruption during software changes.
  • Increased adoption – Get users up to speed quickly with training and support resources. Drive engagement with the new solution through the critical ramp-up period.
  • Improved productivity – Enable users to be productive from day one rather than losing time learning and struggling with new software. Accelerate time-to-value for the business.

With a streamlined, turnkey onboarding experience, enterprises can be nimble in adopting the latest solutions. Onboarding as a service paves the way for realizing the full benefits of new technologies.

Benefits for Users

When onboarding new software, your users should have an intuitive experience with minimal disruptions to their daily workflow. Onboarding-as-a-Service enables a quick ramp-up by providing dedicated support and resources for your users every step of the way.

Rather than leaving users to figure things out on their own, Onboarding-as-a-Service provides:

  • A seamless transition of data and workflows from legacy systems to minimize business disruptions
  • Intuitive interfaces and workflows designed for ease of use from day one
  • Quick ramp-up with access to training materials, webinars, and tip sheets tailored to different user profiles
  • Ongoing support with in-app messaging, chat, and phone support to immediately resolve any user issues

By focusing on the end-user experience during onboarding, businesses can increase user adoption and productivity. Onboarding-as-a-service ensures your users are supported with the resources they need to get up to speed quickly on new software.

Increased Agility and Adoption

With Onboarding as a Service, businesses can try new tools and switch between applications easily, without migration headaches.

The traditional software onboarding process often involves time-consuming and error-prone data migration projects. Whether transitioning from legacy systems or adopting new SaaS applications, IT teams had to spend weeks or months managing complex integrations.

With Onboarding as a Service, that changes completely. Companies can spin up new apps in days or hours, with zero migration. Historical data is ported over automatically via integrations, so users can get right to work in the new system without missing a beat.

Rather than prolonged downtime and manual migrations, onboarding is now seamless and frustration-free. 

Enhanced Customer Experience

Onboarding as a service allows software providers to offer an enhanced customer experience by removing many of the friction points associated with adopting new technology. By handling migration of historical data, integration with existing systems, and ongoing education and support, onboarding services create a much more frictionless experience for end users.

By focusing on the entire user lifecycle, from initial deployment to ongoing education and support, onboarding as a service ensures users can realize the benefits of new innovations much faster, with less disruption. The result is an improved customer experience and faster returns on technology investments.

LINK’s Onboarding as a Service

LINK’s Onboarding as a Service provides a comprehensive solution for onboarding customers to new software platforms. By handling every aspect of the transition, LINK enables businesses to deliver an exceptional user experience.

Key features include:

  • Automated data migration – LINK seamlessly transfers your historical data like customer profiles, sales records, and product catalogs to the new system. There’s no manual exporting or importing required.
  • Pre-built integrations – LINK has established connectors to the most popular business apps and databases. You can integrate new software with your existing systems right out of the gate.
  • Dedicated admins – LINK’s onboarding experts become an extension of your team. They configure the software based on your needs, import data, and provide hands-on training.
  • Ongoing training – LINK conducts live onboarding sessions so users can master the new platform. Support is available 24/7 by phone, email, and chat.

With LINK handling the heavy lifting of software transitions, you can focus on your business while delivering a smooth, frustration-free onboarding experience. Get in touch today to learn more about automating your customer onboarding.

Case Study: Intuit

Background

A major e-commerce platform, known as the largest in the world, faced a significant challenge when Intuit announced the discontinuation of support for its legacy QuickBooks Desktop Point of Sale system. This change threatened to disrupt the onboarding process for new merchants, potentially leading to increased activation times and operational complications.

Challenge

The primary challenge was to replace the outdated QuickBooks Desktop POS with a more efficient system without increasing the onboarding time for new users. The e-commerce platform required a solution that would seamlessly integrate with their existing infrastructure and expedite the merchant activation process.

Solution

The e-commerce platform turned to LINK, known for its expertise in integrating business applications, to develop a robust solution. LINK leveraged its experience in app integrations to create a streamlined onboarding process.

Key steps in the solution included:

  • Analysis of Existing System: LINK conducted a thorough analysis of the e-commerce platform’s existing onboarding process and identified key areas for improvement.
  • Custom Integration Solution: Using its expertise in various business applications, LINK developed a custom integration solution that replaced the legacy QuickBooks system.
  • Streamlining Onboarding: The new solution provided a more straightforward and efficient onboarding pathway for merchants, significantly reducing the time and effort required.
  • Eliminating Internal Efforts: By directing merchants through LINK’s integrated system, the e-commerce platform could reduce its internal onboarding efforts for specific operational challenges.

Results

This collaboration led to impressive outcomes:

  • 20% Reduction in Activation Times: The new user activation time was reduced by 20%, significantly improving the onboarding experience for new merchants.
  • Enhanced Operational Efficiency: The integration eliminated the need for the client’s internal onboarding efforts, freeing up resources for other strategic initiatives.
  • Scalable Solution: The implemented solution was scalable, ensuring that the e-commerce platform could efficiently handle an increasing number of merchants.

Conclusion

The case of this e-commerce platform and LINK illustrates the transformative impact of effective app integration and streamlined business processes. By leveraging LINK’s expertise, the e-commerce platform not only overcame the challenges posed by the discontinuation of QuickBooks Desktop POS but also enhanced its operational efficiency and merchant satisfaction

The future has never looked more integrated!

Are you ready to transform your customer onboarding process? LINK  offers a seamless Onboarding as a Service solution that automates data migration, app integration, and dedicated support so you can remove adoption barriers and complexity.

Simplify your onboarding and equip your business for growth and flexibility with LINK.

Next Steps:

Get started with an onboarding Demo consultation today!

LINK founder and CEO Sriram Subramanian joins Forbes Technology Council

LINK founder and CEO Sriram Subramanian joins Forbes Technology Council

by | Nov 27, 2023 | News

LINK Founder and CEO, Sriram Subramanian, has been selected as a member of the prestigious Forbes Technology Council,  a vetted professional networking community for leading CIOs, CTOs and senior technology executives. 

With his expertise in driving innovation and transforming businesses, Sriram’s inclusion in the Forbes Technology Council is a testament to his pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Review Sriram’s profile and content contributions on the Forbes Technology Council site. 

Link hires new advisor – CFO

Link hires new advisor – CFO

by | Nov 24, 2023 | News

LINK welcomes experienced CFO Mike Armsby to its Advisory Board; team expands globally LINK, the integration as a service provider operating within the Restaurants and Retail sector, formerly known as ShoppinPal has announced the appointment of experienced CFO Mike Armsby to its Advisory Board.

Mike is seasoned in guiding technology companies to new heights. A Harvard Business School alumnus, Mike has held CFO positions at five high-impact technology firms over the last twenty years, demonstrating his ability to spearhead growth and secure financing to scale operations significantly. His tenure as CFO of Yodlee stands out as a highlight, during which he steered the company through a period of dynamic growth culminating in a successful initial public offering (IPO) and subsequent acquisition by Envestnet. Further cementing his reputation as a leader adept at navigating companies through transformational milestones, Mike served as the CFO of Personal Capital, guiding it through its strategic acquisition by Empower.

“There is an exciting surge in new restaurant and retail apps, which in turn is creating significant challenges for small businesses and app providers in terms of managing the complexity around migrations and integrations. We believe there is an opportunity to offer an essential partnership for merchants and a nexus point for restaurant and retail app providers. We’re gearing up for an exciting journey ahead, and having seasoned professionals like Mike will ensure we continue on our path of innovation and growth,” commented Sriram Subramanian, Founder and CEO of LINK.

“LINK has established initial successes with major software application providers within the restaurant and retail sector and is now entering a phase of rapid growth and development.  I am excited to work with Sriram and the LINK team to refine and extend their model to drive the company forward.” commented Mike.

This news comes as LINK’s global team undergoes expansion, having recently launched a new Onboarding-as-a-Service vertical and growing to more than 50 team members.

 

Insights from three working moms at LINK

Insights from three working moms at LINK

by | Nov 7, 2023 | Culture

Ever wonder how it’s possible to juggle a thriving career with being a parent? At LINK, we’ve got some super parents who are doing just that, and today we are meeting three recently joined moms who are here to share how they make it work. Meet Divya, Natasha, and Sue, three new team members who joined LINK in the past two months.

First up is Divya Dirisam, our CEO’s executive assistant and mom to a 17-year-old boy. She’s all about LINK’s flexible work hours. “At LINK, we are trusted to work the hours we need to, to get the job done, rather than specific hours,” she says. “Of course I need to be available for meetings, and work with colleagues across different time zones. But the flexibility to choose means I can be there for my son’s big moments and still focus on my career.” Natasha Gowans, our head of communications and mom to energetic 7-year-old boys, agrees. She juggles meetings and mom duties, thanks to LINK’s flexible schedule. “Having young kids is very stressful, and it’s definitely a juggling act, but the way I can spread out my working hours during the day is very helpful.”

Our moms have their daily routines down to an art. Divya mixes work with family life, staying on top of things with a mix of planning and teamwork with her family, assigning duties to her son to help out his parents at home during the week. Natasha’s mornings are full of chaos and school prep, but once the kids leave for class she is able to get some time to focus on getting herself ready for the day, before heading to a co-working for some calm and focus. Natasha gets a couple of hours of free time during the middle of the day to catch up on errands, friends or family admin, but she is usually back online after dinner time for a couple of final calls with cross-timezone colleagues. 

Now, let’s shine the spotlight on Sue, our customer success leader and mother to a 10-year-old. Sue’s journey at LINK is a testament to how part-time roles can lead to full-time fulfillment. “Choosing a part-time role was my golden ticket to being there for my son’s milestones while growing my career,” Sue reflects. Her mornings are a whirlwind of school runs and work prep, but she finds her groove as soon as she logs in. “There’s something empowering about managing a successful workday and still being there for homework time,” she adds.

Sue also emphasizes the importance of self-care. “Finding time for myself isn’t just a luxury, it’s essential. Whether it’s hitting the gym or getting lost in a good book, it helps me recharge and be a better mom and professional,” she advises. She’s a big advocate of strength training, not just for physical health but for mental resilience too. 

These ladies aren’t going it alone; they’ve got a village at LINK and beyond. Natasha’s secret weapon? A solid support network and some emotional coaching helps to keep the kids regulated and to manage moments of higher stress levels. 

Recap: Top tips for working moms

  • Leverage flexible work arrangements: LINK’s flexible work arrangement empowers working moms to manage their schedules and be there for their families when needed while pursuing their careers.
  • Time management tools: Use tools like calendars and to-do lists to stay organized and prioritize tasks efficiently.
  • Delegate and share responsibilities: Don’t hesitate to delegate household chores and share responsibilities with partners and children.
  • Seek support and connection: Lean on your support network of fellow moms, friends, and family members to navigate the challenges of balancing work and motherhood.
  • Embrace flexibility and self-care: Adjust your schedule and practice self-care techniques like reading, music, or exercise to manage stress effectively.
  • Recognize the rewards: Balancing a career and motherhood can be deeply rewarding,  since we get to be primary care -givers and contribute in a meaningful way to a company like Link that solves such a big problem in the fintech world. 

At LINK, we’re not just about the 9-to-5. We’re about building a place where moms (and dads!) can thrive, not just survive. We celebrate diversity and champion women in the workforce. 

So, if you’re thinking about joining a place that gets the whole work-life-mom-life balance, check out our Employee Handbook for the inside scoop. At LINK, we’re more than a team; we’re a community that lifts each other up, every single day.