Exclusive: Smartsheet's VP talks all things AI and expansion

Smartsheet's Vice President and General Manager for Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ), Nigel Mendonca, has shared his insights into the company's innovative journey, expanding reach, and the critical role of AI and hybrid work in shaping the future of work management platforms.

"Smartsheet is a work management platform that helps organisations plan, execute, and scale their work efficiently," Mendonca said.

The company collaborates with large organisations like Uber and Foxtel Group as well as smaller enterprises and non-profits, including the Royal Flying Doctors Service.

"We help organisations be more efficient in the way they go about their work, run projects, connect strategy to execution, and save time," he added.

Smartsheet, founded in 2005, has grown substantially over nearly two decades. "We now have customers in over 190 countries and more than 100,000 customers worldwide, including thousands in Australia," Mendonca noted.

While Smartsheet isn't physically present in all these countries, many customers have found the platform because they face similar challenges, irrespective of geography.

"They're looking for solutions like Smartsheet to help them plan, execute, and scale their work in the most efficient way," he said.

One of the latest advancements from Smartsheet involves the incorporation of generative AI into their platform. "Generative AI is a hot topic, and we're looking to integrate it into our offerings," Mendonca explained.

"We don't see it as a standalone product but as a tool to help customers get from point A to point B more efficiently." For instance, Smartsheet's new 'Generate Formulas' feature uses natural language processing to create formulas based on user inputs, making the platform more intuitive and accessible.

Internally, Smartsheet leverages AI to enhance customer interactions.

"We use AI to understand how customers interact with our platform and provide valuable insights for self-directed experiences," Mendonca said. This includes generating helpful prompts based on user behaviour, allowing customers to explore new features autonomously.

AI isn't just a buzzword for Smartsheet; it's a significant time-saver.

"Time is most people's most valuable commodity," Mendonca remarked. "We help organisations reclaim time and find new levels of efficiency within their teams."

One of Smartsheet's standout features is its scalability, particularly with the Control Centre. This capability allows organisations to manage multiple projects without recreating them, essential for companies like the Foxtel Group, which runs up to 50 live sporting events every weekend.

"Foxtel needs to bring together internal and external teams with real-time updates, and they do all of that on Smartsheet," Mendonca said.

Smartsheet's presence in the APJ region is robust, with headquarters in Sydney and additional staff in Brisbane and Melbourne. "We have partners all over Australia and New Zealand," Mendonca mentioned, highlighting the importance of these partnerships in expanding their reach.

Addressing market trends, Mendonca noted that nearly every organisation is undergoing some form of strategic transformation. "80% of strategic transformation value is lost at the execution level," he stated. Smartsheet aims to bridge this gap by connecting top-level strategy with ground-level execution.

And the rise of the 'citizen project manager' is notable.

"People managing projects without formal qualifications need tools to do so efficiently," Mendonca said. Smartsheet offers an intuitive platform that simplifies project management for all users.

Hybrid work has significantly impacted Smartsheet's approach. "Hybrid work is here to stay," Mendonca asserted.

Smartsheet focuses on asynchronous collaboration, allowing teams to work together without real-time interactions. "Waiting is the ultimate momentum killer," he noted, emphasising the need for tools that support asynchronous collaboration to maintain innovation and efficiency.

Smartsheet's enterprise-grade capabilities, such as security, scalability, and governance, set it apart from competitors.

"These are important not just for large enterprises but also for smaller organisations that value accessibility and affordability," Mendonca explained.

Reflecting on Smartsheet's momentum, Mendonca highlighted their milestone of reaching $1B in annualised reoccurring revenue.

"This allows us to reinvest and meet our customers' needs through continuous innovation," he said. Smartsheet's customer-driven approach ensures that new features and improvements are aligned with user feedback.

The company's customer conferences, like the recent ones in Melbourne and Sydney, are vibrant and full of energy. "Our customer community is super engaged," Mendonca said. These gatherings provide valuable insights and foster a sense of community among users.

Smartsheet's impact extends beyond businesses to individual users, helping them advance their careers.

"We see individuals adding value to their organisations and progressing their careers with Smartsheet," Mendonca shared. This personal impact brings a sense of pride to the Smartsheet team.

"We want to be an enabler, not an inhibitor, helping organisations and individuals achieve their best work."