As a cloud-based platform for enabling teams to manage, automate and report on work at scale, it’s only natural that Smartsheet Inc. announced today a cross-functional coalition of industry leaders to bridge the gap between people and technology.

The “Achieve as One Alliance,” revealed during Smartsheet’s major annual ENGAGE event, will include Time USA LLC, GE Healthcare Inc., and various academic and cultural leaders as participants.

“One half of all collaboration that takes place on our platform is cross-company,” said Mark Mader (pictured), president and chief executive officer of Smartsheet. “It’s not a surprise that people interact with one another here. We have companies that interact with hundreds of brands outside of their own, so we serve as that cross-connect for companies.”

Mader spoke with Rebecca Knight and Jeff Frick, co-hosts of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the Smartsheet ENGAGE event in Seattle, Washington. They discussed findings from a research study conducted by the company and how emerging new technologies could play a role in bridging workplace gaps (see the full interview with transcript here). (* Disclosure below.)

Silos still an issue

To spotlight the gaps that hold organizations back, Smartsheet conducted research in advance of Tuesday’s alliance announcement. Among its findings were that silos and repetitive tasks were hindering people from being successful and employees felt companies were missing the mark in the deployment of workplace technology.

“There’s never been a higher percentage of people who feel disconnected from their work,” Mader noted. “If they can somehow feel connected to something purposeful, that is a mechanism for feeling connected to work.”

The research also found that a majority of respondents were excited about the use of new technologies. One of the goals of the new alliance will be to address the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the workplace.

“If the machine can help me further inspect, more deeply assess, have that next moment of insight, that’s contributing, not taking away,” Mader said. “We, as a vendor, have made it very clear that for more advanced types of AI, people need to opt in. Should they choose to opt in, the system will get to a point where it will be able to make recommendations and derive insights.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of Smartsheet ENGAGE. (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the Smartsheet ENGAGE event. Neither Smartsheet Inc., the sponsor for theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE