In this Q&A blog, we talk to Duncan Allen, one of InterSystems\u2019 Sales Managers, about his almost two decades with the business, the importance of data quality, and some of the latest innovations in healthcare applications.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a Sales Manager at InterSystems and have held this position for the last 18 years. In this role, I initially led the introduction of the Ensemble platform to the UK market, helping to establish Ensemble as the market leading integration platform in the NHS, used by over 120 Trusts and Boards.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve also headed up some really exciting projects, such as securing InterSystems\u2019 first major sale to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and achieved InterSystems\u2019 largest sale of integration software to enable a large system integrator to service NHS Trusts in the North, Midlands and East regions of England. I\u2019m now leading the introduction of IRIS for Health into the UK market.<\/p>\n
I come from a sales background and held the position of Sales Manager at HP, before taking up roles as a Strategic Alliances Director. In my early career, I worked in electronics engineering, and qualified as a Chartered Engineer.<\/p>\n
For me, the main drivers were the quality of the people I met during the hiring process, InterSystems\u2019 different way of thinking about the purpose of business, and its approach to business. I had a gut feeling about InterSystems and that has proved to be right – hence why I\u2019ve spent almost two decades here!<\/p>\n
InterSystems has changed a huge amount, growing from a one-product company sharing offices in Eton, to the large and multi-faceted business it is today. Each year has brought new and interesting challenges which has allowed me the freedom to try new things with InterSystems\u2019 support.<\/p>\n
Most recently I was hugely proud to be part of an outstanding team of talented InterSystems people that won the MoD CORTISONE project for InterSystems in 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n It has to be working with talented, motivated people in great teams, combined with having the satisfaction of selling a solution which truly delights a customer, and meets and exceeds their expectations<\/p>\n I believe that having an understanding of data is and will be the source of wealth and power in the 21st<\/sup> century – in the same way as access to oil was in the 20th<\/sup> century. So, the now common saying that data is the new oil really is spot on.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt that data can be extremely valuable to businesses and if used wisely it can do immense good. However, equally, if used in the wrong way, data can do immense damage, so having that understanding of data and how to use it to the best effect is crucial.<\/p>\n I think my biggest frustration would be data quality or the lack thereof in some cases and the impact this has on trust. After all, if the quality of a data set is in question, you can\u2019t trust any insights or decisions that then arise from it.<\/p>\n Within healthcare provision, I think we are about to see many new innovative solutions reach the market which combine the power of data with artificial intelligence (AI) to create new ways of preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease and illness.<\/p>\n Additionally, Western healthcare systems typically have healthcare costs which are rising faster than GDP, which is clearly unsustainable and, therefore, demands radical change. I hope the pandemic will act to accelerate this change and open people\u2019s minds to new ways of working.<\/p>\n I recently saw a new AI application which makes a rapid and early diagnosis of Alzheimer\u2019s which could be ground-breaking.<\/p>\n I would be centre-forward for Barcelona football club during the day and play blues guitar in a super cool club in the evenings.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure most of my colleagues already know this (and are probably sick of hearing about it!), but I\u2019ve climbed Kilimanjaro and trekked to Everest base camp in the last four years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In this Q&A blog, we talk to Duncan Allen, one of InterSystems\u2019 Sales Managers, about his almost two decades with the business, the importance of data quality, and some of the latest innovations in healthcare applications. What\u2019s your job role at InterSystems and what does it involve?\u00a0 I\u2019m a Sales Manager at InterSystems and have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":1460,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/ec-projects.co.uk\/intersystems-uki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/intesystems3.jpg","yoast_head":"\nWhat is your main motivation in your work life?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Why is data important?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
What\u2019s your view on utilising data for business benefits?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
What\u2019s your biggest frustration in the world of data? <\/strong><\/h4>\n
How do you see data and its uses evolving in the future? <\/strong><\/h4>\n
What are the biggest benefits you\u2019ve seen in the utilisation of AI whilst working at InterSystems?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
If you could choose any job in the world, what would you choose?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Tell us something about yourself that your work colleagues wouldn\u2019t know.<\/strong><\/h4>\n