Unbabel’s Switch from OKR Spreadsheets to Quantive StrategyAI

Challenge

Unbabel used a quarterly OKR planning process prior to Quantive StrategyAI, but the team struggled to keep those goals top of mind throughout the quarter. Unbabel needed a way to incorporate strategic priorities into the day-to-day work.  

Unbabel was using spreadsheets to track OKRs, which limited their ability to scale. 

“We got to a point when a spreadsheet was very far from perfect. We couldn’t continue like that if we wanted to make a real difference."  

The team found that the biggest challenge of OKR spreadsheets was the lack of structure or routine for updating goals, with key insights getting lost. With only start and end-of-quarter data inputs, Unbabel was missing out on mid-quarter progress updates or being proactive about red flags — having both capabilities would help them not only achieve, but exceed their goals.  

Unbabel began their hunt for the OKR solution best suited to their needs and best positioned to maximize their process.  

Solution

Unbabel is as diverse as their solution, with teams distributed worldwide — this is both a strength and challenge, as communicating across different time zones can be difficult. Organization-wide alignment was the uncompromisable benefit that made Quantive StrategyAI stand out.

Quantive StrategyAI eliminates communication and alignment barriers — Unbabel found common ground in this mission, as they seek to eliminate linguistic and cultural barriers. This was the start of a new and improved OKR mission for Unbabel.

They wanted a solution for alignment, real progress tracking, and visibility across the company. It had to be user-friendly, engage every employee, and seamlessly integrate with their process top-to-bottom. Quantive StrategyAI checked all the boxes.

Unbabel’s teams use Quantive StrategyAI to organize their meeting agendas, track progress, initiate problem-solving discussions, and review cross-functional projects. 

“Quantive StrategyAI has given a boost to our cross-functional projects — teams are more aligned, can clearly see what each one is working on, and how they feel about their progress."

Outcomes

Unbabel saw immediate impact on their focus, alignment, and transparency in switching from OKR spreadsheets to OKR software. Leaders at Unbabel noticed incorporating Quantive StrategyAI into their day-to-day was a catalyst to spark cultural communication shifts. 

“Our teams build their weekly activities around key results, and Quantive StrategyAI has become a part of their routine.”  

Check-ins, the process of intentionally setting goals and reflecting on them, fostered this shift. Teams review and discuss weekly progress through Check-ins, in a space for honest conversations where everyone’s voices are heard. “We’ve become more mindful of the planning process (through Check-ins) and what works best to achieve our goals.”

Quantive StrategyAI also provides out-of-the-box reporting, giving Unbabel progress and confidence insights at their fingertips. As an AI powered company, they leverage data-heavy reports to drill down to the details of any goal if need be. “We can see progress across the company clearly and look at root causes of issues,” leadership at Unbabel shared.  

Unbabel quotes Quantive StrategyAI as a game changer for putting their OKRs front and center. 

“OKRs have always been very important to us, thanks to Quantive StrategyAI, they truly have become a central part of Unbabel and its day-to-day work."  

Years later, ditching spreadsheets unlocked the true power of OKRs at Unbabel.

Quantive empowers modern organizations to turn their ambitions into reality through strategic agility. It's where strategy, teams, and data come together to drive effective decision-making, streamline execution, and maximize performance.  

As your company navigates today’s competitive landscape, you need an Always-On Strategy to continuously bridge the gap between current and desired business outcomes. Quantive brings together the technology, expertise, and passion to transform your strategy from a static plan to a feedback-driven engine for growth.  

Whether you’re a visionary start-up, a mid-market business looking to conquer, or a large enterprise facing disruption, Quantive keeps you ahead — every step of the way. From OKR software to OKR consulting, we help you plan and meet your goals. For more information, visit www.quantive.com.