Zinkee: transforming business management with no-code SaaS

The “Coffee with Entrepreneurs” initiative brings you closer to leaders of the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem to learn first-hand about their experiences and trajectories.

Our latest Coffee has been with Gonzalo Román, founder and CEO of Zinkee. With more than a decade of experience as a consultant and manager in SMEs, Gonzalo shares how Zinkee SaaS optimizes the processes of opportunity management, budgets, execution, economic control and invoicing, making projects more profitable and efficient.

In his chat with José Carlos Huerta, our Director of the Startups Program, Gonzalo reviews his professional career, shares with us how he launched Zinkee, what his platform brings to the table and what his plans are for the future.

In addition, it highlights how this software, designed to be used by project managers without programming knowledge, offers customized solutions without the need to resort to external consultants or use multiple different tools. This coffee with is an opportunity to understand how technology can drive business success in the world of services.

Here you can see the Coffee with Gonzalo Román:

Below, we summarize the coffee with Gonzalo Román:

In the digital age, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face unique challenges in optimizing their processes and increasing their efficiency. Zinkee, an innovative no-code SaaS (Software as a Service) solution, is revolutionizing the way these companies manage their operations. Gonzalo Román, CEO of Zinkee, shared with us his entrepreneurial journey and how his platform is facilitating the comprehensive digitalization of SMEs.

The Beginnings of an Entrepreneur

Gonzalo has had a career marked by his passion for organization and efficiency. From a young age, he showed an inclination for logistics and management, which led him to study business organization. His first business project was an event management company, followed by a management company for tourist apartments. These early experiences provided him with a deep understanding of business operations and the importance of technology in process optimization.

His career took a significant turn when he decided to pursue an MBA at the School of Industrial Organization (EOI). It was there that he developed a project on alternative tourism, which led him to found Fine Apartments, a tourist apartment management company. This business prospered, managing more than 100 apartments before Gonzalo sold his stake in 2017. In addition, Gonzalo had the opportunity to work in consulting for large companies, such as González Byass, one of the largest Spanish wineries, where he implemented lean management and supply chain systems.

The Need for a Comprehensive Solution

The development of Zinkee arose from the need observed by Gonzalo in his years as a consultant and manager in SMEs. Digitizing business processes is crucial for efficiency, but existing options were not satisfactory. Traditional alternatives included in-house software development, implementing large ERPs, or managing through fragmented tools like Excel and emails. None of these solutions offered the flexibility and integration needed for SMBs.

SMBs typically face four main options when digitizing their processes:

1. In-house software development: Although it allows for customization, it is expensive and relies on an in-house team that may not be sustainable in the long run.
2. Implementation of large ERPs: solutions such as Oracle or Microsoft offer robustness, but they are expensive and require long implementation times, in addition to relying on external consultants.
3. Use of fragmented tools: Using Excel, emails, and shared folders can lead to information loss and inefficient management.
4. Adoption of multiple SaaS applications: Although they are accessible and targeted, they can create information silos and lack of integration.

Zinkee: a no-code SaaS for SMEs

Gonzalo came up with Zinkee because he was not convinced by any of the four alternatives mentioned. Zinkee presents itself as a no-code SaaS platform designed to unify various business processes in a single tool. The central idea is to offer a flexible and customizable solution that allows companies to manage their operations without the need for advanced technical knowledge. This no-code approach allows users to create and adapt solutions to their specific needs, eliminating the reliance on external consultants or IT teams.

The no-code concept is crucial in Zinkee’s design, as it allows users with no programming experience to configure and customize the software. This makes it easy to quickly implement and adapt to the changing needs of the business. Gonzalo emphasizes that Zinkee was developed from the observation of the real needs of companies, and not simply as a technological product without a clear purpose.

Use cases and key features

Gonzalo tells us about some use cases for his clients:

Project management: Zinkee enables comprehensive project management, from opportunity capture and budgeting to execution and economic control. Users can monitor in real-time the progress of projects and profitability, ensuring that each project remains profitable from inception to completion. This includes task assignment, milestone tracking, and resource management.

Operations and Human Resources: The platform is also used to manage operational and HR processes, such as recruitment, inventory management, and supplier collaboration. The ability to integrate and centralize information allows for more efficient collaboration within the company and with external stakeholders. For example, companies can create custom workflows for onboarding new employees, ensuring that all steps are completed efficiently and consistently.

Document platform: Zinkee offers a solution for document management, where all relevant information is kept in context, avoiding dispersion across multiple channels such as emails and chats. This functionality ensures that conversations and documents are always accessible and in the right place. Users can attach documents, have conversations within the context of specific tasks, and ensure that all relevant information is centralized and easily accessible.

Automations: One of the most powerful features of Zinkee is its ability to automate repetitive processes. Companies can create automation rules that trigger actions based on specific events, such as sending notifications when a project milestone is reached or automatically updating task statuses.

Zinkee Advantages vs. Traditional Solutions

Gonzalo points out that Zinkee stands out for its agility and ability to respond quickly to the needs of SMEs. Unlike large ERPs that require lengthy implementations and high upfront costs, Zinkee offers a flexible solution with an affordable monthly fee. In addition, its no-code approach allows non-technical users to adapt the platform to their specific needs quickly and efficiently.

Agility is one of Zinkee’s key competitive advantages. Being a smaller, more flexible company, you can quickly respond to customer requests and adapt your platform accordingly. This is in contrast to large corporations that may have slower and more bureaucratic processes.

Another significant advantage is Zinkee’s ability to deliver a personalized user experience. SMBs can configure Zinkee to their specific needs, without having to conform to a predefined model. This customization is critical for companies looking for a solution that fits their processes exactly and not the other way around.

The Team and the Company Culture

The Zinkee team is comprised of people who are passionate and committed to the company’s vision. Gonzalo emphasizes the importance of having a diverse and talented team, and has implemented a hybrid work model to attract and retain talent from different parts of the world. This labor flexibility has been crucial for the growth and development of the company.

The company culture at Zinkee is focused on collaboration and innovation. Gonzalo stresses that the company’s success is largely due to team cohesion and the ability to work together towards common goals. The company fosters an environment where ideas can be freely shared and creativity and innovative thinking are valued.

Advantages and disadvantages of remote and face-to-face work

Zinkee has adopted a hybrid work model, combining the advantages of remote and face-to-face work. Gonzalo has been an advocate of remote work for years, highlighting several advantages:

• Access to global talent: allows you to hire the best talent without geographical limitations, which enriches the diversity of the team and brings different perspectives and skills.
• Work-life balance: facilitates work-life balance, which is especially valuable for employees with families. Gonzalo, for example, values the extra time he can spend with his five children thanks to remote work.
• Flexibility: employees can organize their time more efficiently, increasing productivity and job satisfaction.

And some disadvantages:

• Lack of personal interaction: Some conversations and processes, such as ideation and brainstorming sessions, are more effective in person. Gonzalo highlights the importance of face-to-face meetings to capture subtle and non-verbal details that can be lost in video calls.
• Isolation: Employees may feel isolated without daily interaction with colleagues, which can affect morale and a sense of belonging to the team.
• Challenges in team management: Coordinating and monitoring a remote team can be more complicated, requiring specific tools and strategies to maintain cohesion and communication.

Zinkee Type Customer

Zinkee is designed to be a flexible and adaptable solution for a wide variety of businesses, but has focused primarily on SMBs with between 10 and 300 employees. This range allows businesses to take full advantage of the platform’s collaboration and customization capabilities.

Zinkee’s customers are typically companies looking for:

• Operational efficiency: Companies that need to optimize their internal processes and are looking for a comprehensive solution that unifies various business functions.
• Flexibility: Organizations that require an adaptable platform that can be easily customized to their specific needs without the need for programmers.
• Innovation: Companies that value agility and the ability to quickly implement new solutions and improvements.
• Collaboration: Teams that need a centralized tool to manage projects, documents, and communications, both internally and with external stakeholders.

Gonzalo mentions that within these companies there is a very particular type of user who finds great value in Zinkee: those he calls “MacGyvers”. These are professionals who like to implement their ideas quickly and agilely, adapting the platform to their specific needs without having to rely on third parties. They are creative and resourceful people who are looking for tools that allow them to be flexible and efficient in their daily work.

The typical user profile within these companies includes project managers, operations and human resources managers, and other roles that require efficient process and documentation management.

Challenges and lessons learned

Gonzalo has faced several challenges on his entrepreneurial journey, from technical issues to managing a remote team. One of the greatest learnings has been the importance of focusing on the customer and their needs. Zinkee has gone through several stages where, by focusing too much on growth and process internalization, it lost sight of the direct connection with its customers. During these periods, the company experienced a decline in customer satisfaction and had to redirect its efforts to put the customer back at the center of its strategy.

Maintaining constant communication with customers and adapting quickly to the changes they demand are the key to Zinkee’s success, Gonzalo tells us. Maintaining constant communication and adapting quickly to market changes has been key to Zinkee’s success.

A major challenge has been scaling the technology to support a growing number of customers and be able to serve larger customers. Zinkee has had to remake its product from the ground up to ensure it can handle the load and deliver a smooth user experience. This process has been a significant learning experience and has highlighted the importance of building a strong technological foundation from the start.

Gonzalo also mentions that one of the biggest challenges has been managing people. Each individual brings a unique perspective and aligning their personal goals with those of the company can be tricky. However, Gonzalo has found that having a team of passionate and committed people makes this process easier.

The Future of Zinkee

Gonzalo sees Zinkee as a global leader in the digitization of SMEs in the next five years. The vision is to provide a comprehensive no-code solution that enables businesses around the world to optimize their operations efficiently. With a focus on collaboration and flexibility, Zinkee is well-positioned to transform the way SMEs run their businesses.

Zinkee’s mission is to democratize access to advanced business management tools, allowing any company, regardless of size, to benefit from digitalization. Gonzalo firmly believes that the future of business software will be in the hands of end users, who will have the power to create and customize their own solutions without the need for programmers.

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