If there is anything that can make 2020 better, it is a positive outlook on the future that is still to come. Just ask Bastian Lossen! We caught up with the HICO-Group CCO to talk and discuss various topics – from corona and business to family and friendships. If there was ever a doubt about great things happening during the pandemic, we are sure this conversation will help you see things clearly. Let’s get started.
Bastian, you’ve been given an elephant. You can’t give it away or sell it. What would you do with the elephant?
What a brilliant way to start a conversation! I think I’d definitely enjoy the ride. I’m not sure if it would replace my Tesla but I’m sure it would be so much fun!
If you could use only one word to describe 2020, what word would it be?
COVID-19.
Work or sleep – which do you do more nowadays?
As much as I enjoy sleeping, it’s work.
Did you pick up any new hobbies since the pandemic started?
Homeschooling is definitely new – absolutely new to me. With that being said, I am thrilled to be able to spend more time with my son than ever. I’ve really been enjoying it more than anything this year.
Give us a movie, TV show or book you recently enjoyed?
It sounds super funny but I really enjoyed reading a YouTuber’s autobiography recently. It’s called ‘Angstgetrieben’ by JP Kraemer.
Could you give us a list of your personal highlights of 2020 so far?
Apart from homeschooling my son, one of the biggest highlights for me was definitely the business trip we took to South Africa at the beginning of the year for a partner onboarding. I was simply amazed by the amount of people and talent I got to know down there. I hope we can repeat that very soon! The closest we got to that level of enjoyment this year has been during a houseboat trip this summer in France with the HICO-Group management team.
Speaking of HICO-Group, in one word, can you describe “life at HICO” in 2020?
Uncertainty.
What is the biggest change you noticed in your day-to-day since the pandemic (and the lockdown) started?
The lack of human contact. There is a noticeable gap in engagement with people, which also affects team performance. For me, this entire year has been about making sure people are still on board and enabling everyone to do their jobs with ease and with pleasure. The unstructured life of home office hasn’t just put a laptop between us all and that’s it. It has caused an entire change of behavior. As leaders, it is our job to keep pushing our teams forward – provide the necessary tools and structure to not lose efficiency and effectiveness, especially for those who have never worked remotely before.
What is the biggest new trend you noticed in your line of work during the pandemic?
That’s easy. Collaborative Business Intelligence! I genuinely think the modern workspace is going to rely more and more on tools that have a direct impact on how things get done. The business world as we know it is changing right out from under our feet – from the way we approach budgeting and forecasting to how we assess revenue pools. It takes a lot of data and a lot of teamwork to get the job done. So far, I think we’re headed in the right direction.
Is there any “next big” change or development you expect to see in the industry soon?
Data storytelling. The novel uncertainty of the future is something that can only be eased by genuine data insights that provide a story about your business’ performance and possibilities. It’s a ripple effect that I can already see how it’s affecting major business decisions. For example, this year we spent only 15% of our planned budget for traveling expenses. How will we plan this for next year?
Is there any particular piece of advice you’d give to businesses and partners out there during these times?
Invest your time in something that can yield positive results for you. In other words, try to find out what really matters to you, your business or your clients. Then, spend as much time as needed to make it happen with the right people, tools, and processes. As much time as needed.
To wrap it up, do you think there is anything HICO-Group has done or is doing differently during 2020 to future-proof its success?
Partnerships! Expanding our business portfolio with new clients is always the goal. But we are doing more than that at HICO-Group this year. Something different. We are now onboarding other BI businesses who have been affected by the pandemic and creating partnerships that propel the whole BI industry forward in the DACH region and beyond. It is something we are proud of and plan to continue doing, as the BI collaboration space has not nearly reached its peak yet and we want to be the crown jewel at the top when it does.
The future is bright! Amidst the pandemic, people sometimes forget that the future is still there. At HICO Group, we are rolling out some great ideas, doubling down on our TRUECHART software, and following suit with KPI-Chat. Looking forward to seeing where it takes us!
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