B​rais Méndez of Docuten Tells Us How Administrative Digitalization Keeps Companies Operating Smoothly during COVID-19

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times? 

B​rais Méndez:  My family and I are adapting to the current situation, as is everyone else. While it has been difficult in many respects, we have remained healthy, which is obviously the most important thing.  

Tell us about you, your career, how you founded Docuten.

B​rais Méndez:  My background is in computer engineering. After working at several different digital signature and electronic invoicing companies like TB Solutions, SERES, and Invinet, I saw a need in the market to simplify digital administrative processes that were often made overly complex. I partnered with my colleague Ángel Aparicio and launched Docuten in 2009 (formerly under the name Enxendra).  

Over the years, our venture has grown​ ; we now have offices in A Coruña, Madrid, and London and a rapidly expanding team of over 35 employees. Our product suite has also evolved to include e-invoicing, digital signature, and, most recently, collections management solutions.  

In fact, we were recognized by the Spanish business information service, ARDÁN, with their indicator “Gazelle Company 2020” (​ Empresa Gacela 2020), which recognizes an average growth rate of 70% during the last 3 years.

How does Docuten innovate? 

B​rais Méndez:  Digital transformation is about companies relying on interconnected systems at every stage of operations and working with innovative technologies and practices to achieve that. It’s not only about improving the status quo but about changing the way business has traditionally been done. In this sense, digitally transforming administrative processes helps companies stay efficient and cost-effective.​  

Normally, medium and large-sized companies digitally transform these processes using several different providers, which causes unnecessary costs, a lack of coordination, low efficiency, and a considerable increase in response times.

Docuten streamlines the digital transformation process by offering complete administrative digitalization through a single provider. Our Bundle Cloud integrates with company management tools to automate the sending and signing of documents, the issuing and receiving ​ e-invoices, and the management of recurring collections.​  

Docuten offers companies a digitalization strategy for administrative processes that bolsters productivity, reduces costs, and increases profits. Relying on one provider also enhances security and compliance, improves sustainable business practices (by going paperless), and facilitates better collaboration through remote work. 

How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping? 

B​rais Méndez: Our staff’s health and safety come first, so our entire team has been working remotely since March. More recently, as certain restrictions have been lifted, some of our team members have returned to the office​. Due to the nature of our work, as well as the fact that Docuten has offices in various locations and remote work policies were in place prior to the pandemic, it has been a smooth transition to a digital workplace. When thinking about the post-coronavirus company dynamic, a hybrid workplace model that enables both on-site and remote working is our future.

We have also been committed to supporting our clients through these uncertain times. Docuten’s Bundle Cloud has enabled the majority of our clients to continue working during this period since transactions that were traditionally done on paper and/or in-person can now be handled remotely and electronically. Our services have been crucial for many of the companies we work with.

Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned? 

B​rais Méndez:  Our company has been fortunate that we haven’t had to make the difficult choices that many other companies have been faced with (i.e., letting employees go or slowing down operations).  

Digitalization tools have been a key component to keeping businesses operating smoothly during the pandemic. As a result, Docuten has been put in a position to support other companies as they navigate this challenging situation. Our services have aided many companies in continuing their business activity. We have also been able to guide in certain areas, for example, regarding relevant labor documentation.​ 

How do you deal with stress and anxiety? 

B​rais Méndez:  I think it is important to keep things in perspective, especially during these difficult times. Getting support from the people around you, spending time with family, and taking time to recharge are some of the practices that help me.  

That is why one of the pillars of our company is encouraging a healthy work-life balance. We make an effort to adapt to our team’s individual needs, especially since the onset of COVID-19. We actively promote flexible arrangements that help our staff optimize their time at work so that they can fully enjoy their time off. I think encouraging these practices in companies is crucial for the mental and physical well-being of employees.

Who are your competitors? And how do you plan to stay in the game?

B​rais Méndez:  Since the portfolio of products offered by Docuten is diverse, so is our competition. We are up against big names in the digital signature market as well as a variety of e-invoicing companies and collections management services. While there is ample diversity among our competitors, we offer a clear differential value: end-to-end administrative digitalization. 

Contrary to other market players who focus on specializing in one product, our company offers different, scalable solutions through a single provider that enables our clients to save money, minimize risk, implement and onboard faster, and handle updates and compliance more easily.  

Docuten’s focus on personalized solutions to meet individual client needs is another key strength. Our team builds close, lasting relationships with our clients to better address their expanding digital needs. In turn, the digital transformation solutions we provide enable companies to increase competitive differentiation and enhance customer loyalty, which ultimately translates to growth. 

Your final thoughts?

B​rais Méndez:  COVID-19 has forced many companies to rethink how business is done. In the words of Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, “We’ve seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months.” In this changing landscape, it is important to give thought to the ways in which digital transformation solutions can aid in moving businesses forward and how options like Docuten’s Bundle Cloud that offer more complete digitalization services through one provider can provide better support in that pursuit.

Your website?

https://docuten.com/en/