Exec Q&A: Getting Organized In The Workplace With Gluru Founder Tim Porter

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Work can be hectic. Access to digital information in the modern workplace has only exacerbated the problem. Information overload is another name for it.

Gluru is an attempt to solve the problem of too much data and information overload with intelligent predictive organization.

In.Credibly spoke with Gluru founder and CEO Tim Porter, who previously worked as marketing director at Shazam; as part of the core iTunes Europe team at Apple; and at Google, where he was instrumental in launching Google Play in EMEA.

Porter described the Gluru product, how it functions, how it came to be and what the future holds for this fast-moving high-tech startup.

In.Credibly: What is Gluru and what does it do?

Tim Porter: Essentially, Gluru is a smart personal assistant for your workflow. Too many products trying to solve the issue of too much data are adding to the problem by creating another layer.

We try to take the problem away by focusing on what matters and organizing everything using three core features or pillars.

With Gluru, if you search for a specific file and click on it, you’ll see all the files related to that one file you’re about to work on. It’s kind of like a supercharged file explorer.

Second, we try to keep you up on the day ahead, including people, meetings, and so forth. We create what we call a Daily Digest for this. This can include anything from spreadsheets to emails to presentations, and other data. What we do is predict what’s coming up in your day.

The third pillar provides one-click access to whatever you need, the instant you need it. Gluru instantly identifies and brings up relevant emails and files you need in that moment.

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How is Gluru different from products like Siri, Google Now, and Cortana?

Those products focus on the consumer and mass-market. They do a great job of keeping track of flights, providing directions, and so forth.

Gluru, on the other hand, focuses on your workday. Gluru makes you more productive by pulling together the documents you need to accomplish whatever task you are working on at that particular moment.

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Your background and personal history is full and varied. What, if anything, at Shazam or Apple or Google helped lead you to Gluru?

Actually, there wasn’t one particular company or experience that led me to Gluru. I loved all of that. It inspired me and taught me a great deal.

There was, however, the problem of too much information in the workplace. That problem nagged me and I wanted to come up with a solution.

Beyond that, it was a very personal thing. I’m not the most organized person in the world but not the least either. I think I fit in with the general average of the population.

Realizing that people like me needed help organizing and not seeing anything out there I thought, “Maybe I should do it.”

When we did our due diligence, we realized the extent of the problem was huge. Systems that didn’t talk to each other, employees with not enough time in the day, and so forth.

So, we asked ourselves, “What would be a smart and efficient way to solve this problem without creating yet another problem?” The result was Gluru.

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What’s the vision for Gluru and what does the future hold for this type of technology?

Our vision includes connecting to any major productivity app a company may use.

More specifically, we have an iOS app coming out in the first half of next year. We’ll be integrating with SalesForce in the first half of next year as well.

As the technology develops, I think one thing will be the ability to understand the workload and continue to improve in the ability to provide the information needed when it is needed.

People tend to work in patterns. For example if you’re a salesperson, you’re measured on the number of sales you do. There are steps along that path. In the future, this technology will not only be able to identify you as a specific worker but also help you progress along your chosen path in a way that is more streamlined and much faster.

One of the main points of Gluru is to create efficiency and save time in the workplace. What do you like to do with your free time?

I have two wonderful kids and they are my passion. I’m also English so I love soccer, rugby, and cricket.

I’m also passionate about rowing. In London, I try to go out rowing once or twice a week. It’s one of those few times I get to be purely on my own. It’s great thinking time and a good time to clear my head. Everyone needs to have that kind of time.

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