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June 14, 2022

Synergy WorldWide powers daily standups and developer productivity with virtual scrum master Geekbot and Microsoft Teams

Operating in more than 40 countries, Synergy WorldWide formulates, manufactures, and distributes high-quality supplements and skin care products. Synergy is a subsidiary of Nature’s Sunshine Products, a pioneer in natural health and nutrition since 1972. Nature’s Sunshine was the first company to sell herbal supplements in capsule form, and its culture of innovation extends to its marketing and sales efforts. Synergy markets and sells its products exclusively through a network of digital channels that includes 20+ localized country websites, several mobile apps, and an e-commerce-based affiliate program.

Synergy WorldWideNatures Sunshine Products

“Getting everyone together in the same room at the same time was almost impossible, and when we did, what was supposed to be a 15-minute meeting turned into 60. We needed the information the standups provided, but in a way that worked across locations and time zones and made us more productive, not less.”

Mike Murakami, Senior Digital Product Manager, Synergy WorldWide

So, Murakami began searching for a solution that would automate the standup process and support Synergy’s asynchronous workflows, which is exactly what he found in Geekbot.

Customizable Geekbot makes successful virtual standups a reality

Geekbot is a virtual scrum master that works directly in Microsoft Teams. The asynchronous Geekbot bot functions like a traditional scrum master, requesting status updates, recording the results, and sending reminders as needed. The bot can also collect surveys, share responses, and post updates right in Teams channels.

“What I like best about Geekbot is that it works in Teams, so we can complete the entire standup process in minutes without interrupting our work,” said Murakami. “Plus, it’s completely customizable. We can customize what questions the bot asks, our developers can customize when they are asked based on their time zone and work schedule, and I can customize the reports I receive.”

“What I like best about Geekbot is that it works in Teams, so we can complete the entire standup process in minutes without interrupting our work.”

Mike Murakami, Senior Digital Product Manager, Synergy WorldWide

A friendly UI and caring customer service smooth the way to Teams

While Synergy has used Geekbot for years, using it in Teams is relatively new, following the company’s switch to Microsoft. “Because Geekbot wasn’t available in Teams when we moved to Microsoft, we tried other solutions, but none of us were happy with them,” explained Murakami. “They didn’t have the friendly, intuitive user interface we’d come to expect from Geekbot, and the customer service wasn’t nearly as quick and responsive.”

When Murakami first tried to install Geekbot in Teams, he ran into a few questions, but those were quickly addressed by the Geekbot team. “Every time I had a question, the representatives from Geekbot were right there to help. They set up a meeting and showed me how to install it step by step. They really care about their customers.”

“Every time I had a question, the representatives from Geekbot were right there to help…. They really care about their customers.”

Mike Murakami, Senior Digital Product Manager, Synergy WorldWide

Virtual scrum master drives real results

By asking developers directly, at a time and place that makes it easy for them to answer, Geekbot helps Murakami identify any blockers to progress so he can address them right away, increasing developer productivity and improving morale. “Geekbot makes my work easier. I can see everyone’s work status and updates right in Teams, so I don’t have to follow up with them all the time. Plus, I can make sure they’re working on what’s most important.”

By eliminating in-person standups, Synergy was able to cut 60 minutes of unproductive meeting time out of every day. “Developers are an expensive resource, and when you think about the cost of 40 developers times 60 minutes—well, we’re saving a lot of money using Geekbot,” Murakami noted.

“Developers are an expensive resource, and when you think about the cost of 40 developers times 60 minutes—well, we’re saving a lot of money using Geekbot.”

Mike Murakami, Senior Digital Product Manager, Synergy WorldWide

Geekbot and Teams power the new normal workplace

Moving forward, Synergy plans to expand its use of Geekbot to other regions and new teams as the company grows. Given the realities of remote work since COVID-19, Murakami is confident Geekbot will play an important role in the company’s continued success. “We’re 100 percent remote now, and no one wants to go back to the office. But we’ll always need to have standups, and without Geekbot, we simply couldn’t do our work the way we need to. I’m so grateful we have Geekbot.”

“We’ll always need to have standups, and without Geekbot, we simply couldn’t do our work the way we need to. I’m so grateful we have Geekbot.”

Mike Murakami, Senior Digital Product Manager, Synergy WorldWide

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