Hey there, friends!
Today, I’d like to share something a bit different from my usual posts. I want to talk about a significant part of my life – my business. If you didn’t already know, I’m the founder, President, and CEO of a company called DataCorps. We’re not just coworkers; we are a tight-knit family constantly learning, adapting, growing, and changing.
Recently, we embarked on an exciting journey into the world of Lean thinking. Lean is all about creating the most value for customers with the least waste. Sounds simple, right? But implementing it involves deep-diving into our customer’s needs, ensuring their voice permeates every facet of our operations.
To achieve this, we’ve introduced something called Gemba walks (a Japanese term meaning “the real place”). These are visits to our clients’ actual environments to see firsthand their needs and challenges. It’s like stepping into their shoes and seeing their world from their viewpoint.
When we started this, we were in for some surprises. We thought we knew our customers well, but these walks brought us even closer to their reality. We traded our assumptions for hard facts, getting a clear view of what our customers experience daily.
Through these walks, we’ve woven strong ties with our clients, and have even played a role in creating connections between them, crafting a supportive network where everyone benefits.
We’ve become advocates for our clients, some of whom were initially challenging to work with. Once we saw things from their perspective, we were able to join forces and face those challenges together. This approach has led to more robust and mutually beneficial partnerships.
This Lean journey has been a roller coaster of learning, growth, and honestly, a lot of fun. We feel like explorers discovering new territories, with our customers’ voice as our guiding star. The shift in our approach is invigorating, and I’m excited about where it’ll take us next.
I can’t wait to share more about this journey with you. Until then, whether it’s life or business, remember, the journey often holds as much value, if not more, than the destination itself.
Stay curious!