We Are Smartmatic

International Day of Democracy: Our path helping modernize elections during 2022

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 13:16:00 +0000

Every September 15 the world recognizes the significance of democratic freedoms by observing UN International Day of Democracy. It is a day to acknowledge the value and benefits of democracy, as well as the endless struggle to preserve, nurture and grow democratic principles in countries around the world.

In observance of this day, we look back to the election projects in the last 18 months of which we’ve been lucky enough to have been part. We look at the positive impact our technologies, services and people have had in helping election officials modernize their elections. We celebrate the work of those officials in making their elections more secure and transparent, and the effort to ensure that citizens’ voices are heard.

Albania
Albania’s Central Election Commission (CEC) modernized its elections with 5,538 Smartmatic biometric voter authentication kits that were deployed nationwide to 3,500 polling places.

Kenya

Smartmatic provided Kenya with an integrated election management system comprising biometric voter registration, biometric voter identification and verification, and official results transmission for the country’s 2022 general election.

Philippines
Since 2010, the Philippine Commission on Elections has trusted Smartmatic for its last five national elections. In May 2022, over 110,000 Smartmatic vote counting machines helped the country achieve its fastest transmission of results ever.

Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County officials again used its Smartmatic-built VSAP ballot marking devices in several local elections. LA voters continue to praise the BMDs for their simplicity, accessibility and accuracy.

Bulgaria
Some 11,500 Smartmatic voting machines were deployed in 9,607 polling centers for votes in 2021. In the second round of presidential elections, Bulgaria deployed 400 Smartmatic machines at its embassies in 21 countries, allow citizens residing abroad to exercise their right using voting machines.

Georgia
Smartmatic delivered its first deployment in Georgia, combining our SAES-1800plus voting device and our VIU-818 Voter Identification unit. The deployment was quite a success, spurring Georgia’s election officials and stakeholders to push for nationwide election automation.

Honduras
The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Honduras used biometric technology for the first time to accurately authenticate the identity of more than 3 million voters during the general elections.

Norway
The Norwegian county of Innlandet held a referendum using an online voting system provided by the Smartmatic-Cybernetica Centre of Excellence for Internet Voting (SCCEIV). This was the second time a Norwegian county used the TIVI system.

Zambia
The Electoral Commission of Zambia deployed Smartmatic biometric e-Poll books during the 2021 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The portable biometric devices were used at polling sites to authenticate voters and help manage polling stations.

Tips on how to avoid falling prey of fake news

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 19:13:00 +0000

Our communications department wants to share with you some best-practice tips on how to avoid being tricked by, and inadvertently spreading, fake news.

The best way to fight disinformation is to avoid recirculating it. Inform others if you see them posting inaccurate information. You should also report false information to the social channel on which it’s posted. Typically, this is done by clicking the drop-down menu on the upper right corner of the post. Here are more tips to help you.

Validate Authenticity: Is the article from a news site you know or one you’ve never heard of before? Does it have an About Us page? Does it have a mailing address at the bottom? Does it have a Wikipedia page? Is it linked other pages that don’t have sources or lack other credible identifiers? Is the account of the posting individual new on the social platform? Do they have few followers? These are some markers you want to look for.

If you see an image claiming to be proof of voter fraud, run a reverse image search on Google. Go to images.google.com, click the camera icon and upload the photo.

Check the Language and Usage: Is the post riddled with typos? Does that language seem unnatural or awkward? Are there obvious errors in language usage and grammar? Are exclamation points used excessively? These are common signs of fake information.

Practice Emotional Skepticism: If information immediately makes you angry or want to instantly share it with someone, recognize that you’re having a visceral (emotional) response – and that’s just what fake news is designed to do. Emotional responses stop your rational brain from working. If you have an emotional reaction, just slow down and don’t do anything. Look at the information again and try to verify its accuracy before hitting “send.”

Check with Experts: Consult fact-checking websites such as Snopes or Politifact, or the “Rumor Control” webpage of US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which pre-bunks areas of potential disinformation.

For Elie Moreno, the best news is the confidence Filipinos have in their elections

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:05:00 +0000

Elie Moreno, vice president of Smartmatic’s Global Services unit, has been traveling to the Philippines for work for more than a decade. He sees most Filipinos as friendly, happy and generous people and that has rubbed off on him. The other takeaway from his experiences in the Philippines is an understanding of large-scale election deployments. “I learn something new with each election, and I incorporate it into my thinking and the methodology I use with other Smartmatic clients so we can continuously improve.”

To date, Smartmatic has supported five national elections in the Philippines since 2010, as well as a regional pilot in 2008. These national elections represent the world’s largest deployments of e-counting machines. Between 80,000 and 107,000 devices used per election. From the Netherlands, where Elie resides, he tells us more about the challenges and lessons learned while helping the Philippine electoral commission, Comelec, execute their elections.

For Elie, the best news is Filipinos' confidence in their elections. Since the first deployment in 2010, the voters’ trust in their automated voting system has only gotten higher and higher. The latest survey by pollster Pulse Asia Research showed 83% of people who voted in the 2022 election found the results trustworthy and credible. In the past, when elections were manual, that figure did not exceed 30%.

Each election in every country has unique challenges. In the Philippines most are technical and logistical. The country is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, and is home to Manila, one of the most populated cities in the world. Although the official languages are Tagalog and English, Filipinos speak more than 165 languages, which poses additional challenges. But for Elie, this only makes the project more exciting. “The most important thing is that you always learn something new in the Philippines.”

When we asked Elie what elements he considers essential in the electoral deployments in the Philippines, he said without hesitation: “People. Without a doubt, the key to success for any organization is people. The dedication of the teams, the collaborative and tireless work between different units, and the support to the client, always.”

Elie has witnessed Comelec's efforts to modernize its elections and build trust in the results. “That 90% of Filipinos want to continue with the automated electoral system is not a coincidence. It is the result of the tireless work of the electoral authorities of the Philippines, in their relentless push to take their electoral system to another level.”

Filipinos are not only trusting the automated electoral system and the election results more and more, but their election authorities, too. The latest PUBLiCUS Pahayag survey shows that Comelec enjoys at 66% approval rating, one of the highest among Philippine government agencies.

“These figures fill me with satisfaction because Smartmatic always has the success of the clients in mind. We are always thinking of greater goals: the confidence of citizens in the results and the stability that this engenders in those nations. It is the most important thing for us, and we leave no stone unturned to achieve it,” concludes Elie.

Working for greater gender equality, one vote at a time

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 13:31:00 +0000

According to the 2021 UNESCO Science Report, the percentage of women who study engineering, construction and information and communication technologies (ICT) is below 25% in more than two thirds of countries worldwide. UNESCO also notes that women only make up 33% of the world's researchers and still hold fewer senior positions than men at top universities.

Although this data may seem discouraging, the statistics on women's access to higher education invite optimism. At the end of 2020-21, women made up almost 60% of college students in the US, an all-time high according to the National Student Clearinghouse.

At Smartmatic we have an important group of women who give their best every day to facilitate democratic participation, making elections more inclusive. We are proud that these professionals help design and implement solutions that give voice – through voting – to millions of women around the world. On this International Day of Girls and Women in Science and STEM, we want to celebrate the importance of their efforts for greater gender equality.

Larissa Herrera, Product Manager at Smartmatic, is optimistic about the evolution taking place in many countries. In the past, it was taken for granted that women were not good enough to hold positions in tech companies. "Times are changing. Today you can see a lot of women holding top executive positions in different business areas in STEM industries.”

Larissa can attest first-hand to the progress in large tech deployments in which she has been involved. “I have seen how people who did not believe in the technical skills of women when it comes to an election, begin to trust you after a few initial conversations. From what I have seen, those who still do not believe are a minority,” says Larissa.

Product Manager Shari Little shares Larissa's opinion. “Women in STEM careers today are becoming important role models for young women, reducing gender stereotypes in cultures where the male role still dominates.” Shari sees the election industry as a great field of work for women working in STEM careers. “In an industry where more than 60% of election administrators and authorities are women, I would say that election technology is a great opportunity for us, because it combines different types of products and technology that requires varied perspectives to achieve have the best solutions and services on the industry.”

For Zoey Lin, Hardware Designer at Smartmatic, being part of the election technology industry is an excellent way to bolster her professional development and, at the same time, contribute to the bolstering democracy. “The essence behind the election technology that we deploy is the strengthening of democracy. For me it is a point of pride to be part of an effort to make them better each time.”

Achieving gender equality in the scientific arena still represents a great challenge. At Smartmatic we are proud of the work of the women who today help develop and implement our state-of-the art voting technology. Building more egalitarian and democratic societies involves improving citizen participation processes. We will continue working for gender equality, one vote at a time.

Ted Lasso Life Lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 22:34:00 +0000

By Franklyn (Skip) De la Cruz

Sometime in August 2020, when the world’s collective outlook was at its bleakest, and when it seemed that this planet’s reservoir of good cheer had all but been sucked clean by the pandemic, a mustachioed khaki-clad football coach came streaming into our TV sets and started spouting folksy wisdom in a thick Southern accent, beating back the gloom and doom with his megawatt smile.

One episode in and we all found ourselves infected with his highly contagious bonhomie. Ted Lasso had captured our hearts.

How can you not love a show that makes you believe that despite the uncertainty, it’s alright to laugh and hope and dream again? For many people cooped up indoors brooding over the world’s future, that’s really all that mattered.

It’s not every day that an unabashedly and unapologetically feel-good TV show manages to capture the imagination of a world grown jaded and skeptical of such unbridled positivity. It’s rarer still for one to leave lessons that hit home and have useful applications in our personal and professional lives.

Here are just ten of the many nuggets of wisdom the show offers.

1. Aptitude Can Be Learned. Attitude is Everything.

It seemed like a recipe for disaster when Lasso, a small-time American football coach who knows nil about futbol was put in charge of AFC Richmond, a Premiere League club which is itself a seething mass of unchecked egos and raging insecurities.

Except that coach Ted Lasso knew that aptitude flows from attitude. Being the great leader that he is, he knew that before working on actual plays, they needed to work on themselves first. Before long, Lasso’s kindness offensive was working its magic on everybody. Relationships started healing, unresolved issues finally found closure, and the team started gelling before everybody’s eyes.

And after the required self-work had succeeded in putting them in the right headspace, the team almost magically began to acquire the needed chops and became the winning machine it never dreamed it could be.

Smartmatic’s reputation for winning can be largely traced to its people having the right attitude. The philosophy of excellence is, in fact, so pervasive in the company that it touches every aspect of our lives. If we continue to nurture this culture, we ensure our future.

2. Share The Credit. Take the Blame.

One unforgettable episode revolved around a play that was developed by Nate, the club’s bumbling kit man. Desperate for something to foil the heavily favored opponent, Ted plucked the play out of obscurity and bet all on it for a do or die game. Nate’s play worked and gave Richmond the win sending the fandom into fits of ecstasy. Rather than take credit, Coach Lasso made sure everyone knew who actually created the play. The recognition made Nate’s day and set him off on a journey of self-actualization.

By the same token, Ted Lasso never passed blame on anyone whenever things went south. As the leader, the buck always stops with him.

Excellence indeed flourishes in cultures where successes are celebrated, and failures quietly resolved. In Smartmatic, we are trying to create a Goldilocks zone where people can bask in triumphs, learn from mistakes, and grow to become the best versions of themselves.

3. Be a Goldfish.

It doesn’t matter how crushingly humiliating a defeat is. Be a goldfish with a fifteen-second memory and completely forget about the embarrassment in no time.

Remember, not every tender will go well, not every negotiation will go your way. There will be defeats. But never let them stop you. Lick your wounds, learn your lessons, and lunge back into the action.

4. Believe.

The show can be distilled in that sign that Ted taped high up on a wall of the locker room.

It’s how a fish-out-of-water American coach found his niche and made a difference across the Atlantic. It’s how a directionless Richmond found itself and stated accomplishing the impossible. It’s how we can get through every rough patch in our lives and emerge triumphant.

Believe in yourself. Believe in our mission. Believe that our work of providing secure and reliable elections is creating a real impact on humanity. BELIEVE!

5. Superstars Don’t Win Games. Teamwork Does.

On paper, the AFC Richmond was a powerhouse even before Ted arrived. It boasts of superstars like Roy Kent, a fan favorite who still commanded respect even in the twilight of his career. It also has Jamie Tartt, a talented young striker who leads the league in scoring but is too smug and cocky for his own good. Also in its lineup is Dani Rojas, a smiley Mexican striker who has the ability to fire up the crowd with his dazzling plays. The team also has the insanely good midfielder Sam Obisanya from Nigeria.

All this talent and yet the team was a mess.

Richmond was headed nowhere until Lasso came and dropped this truth bomb: Superstars don’t win games. Teams do. Once this sunk in, the team found its mojo and was well on its way to greatness.

While we already have top shelf technology, success is only guaranteed with top quality help from the rest of the team — from those who pitch our solutions to those who close the sale, from those who roll out the project and to those who tell the story of our wins.

6. Integrity Always Wins the Day.

Reporter Trent Crimm from The Independent was perhaps the bitterest critic of Ted Lasso, not wasting any opportunity to pillory Lasso with his acerbic pen for the littlest fault.

Yet that never bothered Lasso who just kept on plugging away trying to give Richmond fans a team to be proud of again. Little by little, Lasso’s solid work ethic and unshakeable integrity chipped away at Crimm’s antagonism which eventually gave way to grudging respect. By second season, the two were friends.

Uncompromising integrity is Smartmatic’s calling card to the world. Time and again the company has shown that it would sooner hurt its own bottomline than renege on its principles. Every day we are given the opportunity to live up to this sterling reputation by conducting ourselves with integrity and basing our every dealing on rock solid principles.

7. Never Give up on Anyone.

Dani Rojas, Jamie Tartt, Roy Kent, and Coach Beard all had at one point found themselves in a blue funk from which they could not claw their way out. Yet Ted Lasso never gave them up for lost. He kept reaching in for them pulling them back to the light because that’s what great leaders do.

A friend, a colleague, a family member might one day find themselves in a bad place. Do a Lasso and just reach in and refuse to let go. With your dogged determination to help, you’ll be amazed to see them find themselves back.

8. Be Authentic.

Lasso lives a life sans filter and deals with everyone with complete candor and openness. His genuineness has successfully torn down wall after wall of resistance and has converted legions of skeptics into followers.

The show lets us partake, even vicariously, of a life without guile, without agenda, without fakery.

In Smartmatic, where a culture of teamwork reigns supreme, candor is indeed currency. The more open and honest we are with our colleagues, the more cohesive the whole team will be.

9. Never Take Things Personally.

On his very first day on the job, Lasso was subjected to a withering firestorm of insults from an incredulous press, a livid fanbase, and outraged players. Yet he is completely impervious to this sort of abuse. Undeterred, he simply keeps believing in himself and his leadership style, and as a result, the guy just keeps on winning.

Like Ted, we too are professionals on a mission. We don’t take things personally. Constructive criticisms sculpt us. Petty insults slide off us.

10. Be Kind.

How can a TV show crackling with humor and positive vibe have nearly every character fighting an inner demon? Such irony is a stark reminder why we all need to be kind to one another.

This should resonate with anyone who has had to wear a fake smile to mask some inner turmoil or put up a brave front while fighting their battles in silence. And like Ted, we can choose a radical, transformative kindness to reach out and change the world — one fellow human being at a time.

4 keys for electoral continuity while facing supply chain challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 19:55:00 +0000

“COVID-19 has had a disruptive effect on supply chains. There are product shortages, gridlocks at ports, and a global rise in prices. The unequal reactivation of the world’s economies has created huge tensions, which makes booking spaces for shipments extremely difficult.” These are the words Debbie Lai, Procurement and Supply Chain Analyst at Smartmatic, describing the supply chain crisis the world is facing today.

In this difficult and uncertain post-pandemic environment, companies are seeking alternatives to keep their products available to consumers. Smartmatic is not a stranger to this, as it must meet its commitments with election commissions worldwide to help them carry out secure elections on fixed timelines. Unlike some other industries, which have the luxury of delaying their deliveries, postponing an election can have a lasting negative impact on the stability, economy, and democracy of an entire country. The work of our Procurement and Supply Chain (P&SC) team is today more critical than ever.

Debbie remains focused on her task despite the pressure. From our offices in Taiwan, she tells us about the four keys that have helped her navigate the current global supply chain crisis: 1) building relationships of trust, 2) being flexible, 3) thinking outside the box, and 4) working as a team. All are fundamental to finding the way through this situation.

Since 2003, Debbie has been in charge of connecting suppliers with customs agents, creating shipment routes, coordinating container space, and other indispensable logistics tasks. The trusting relationship that she has built with all stakeholders has become very valuable in these difficult times. “Facing such volatility and uncertainty, we need to have empathy with those who support us. We need to be candid and communicate efficiently with everyone. We must make sure we are all aligned.”

Flexibility and adaptability are proving to be very useful traits these days. For many companies, changing logistical processes is extremely hard. “Not for Smartmatic, where flexibility is in our DNA.” For Debbie, flexibility has helped the company weather these abrupt changes without breaking down. Despite the supply chain crisis, Smartmatic has delivered election equipment to at least nine countries this year without any delays. “Logistically, we are used to finding new alternatives when plan A doesn’t work. We do this without stopping or getting stuck on the first plan.”

In a time of extraordinary upheaval in the world economy, Debbie has found creative solutions to the challenges. “The worst thing to hear when working in logistics is ‘we have to pay a delay penalty.’ That is why I’m doing my best during this crisis and won’t take no for an answer.” Reacting quickly and thinking creatively are crucial aspects in Debbie’s day-to-day routine.

“Being in sync with the team in the field so we can take appropriate steps at the right time is also a fundamental point.” In Smartmatic, we know that teamwork helps meeting our goals. That is why our ability to work collaboratively is a well-defined company strength.

While some experts believe that getting back to normal will take until late 2022, some feel the collapse is already behind us. regardless of which is true, Smartmatic delivers to meet the expectations of electoral commissions worldwide, offering technologies and services to make each step of the electoral process more efficient and transparent.

STEM careers, an opportunity to get out of the comfort zone

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 19:48:00 +0000

“Even though the number of women working in STEM around the world has increased, women are still very underrepresented. My best advice to women wanting to pursue a career in the tech industry is to not feel intimidated. Let your work performance, ethics and rich knowledge speak for you.” These words from Alaba Olumegbon, project manager at Smartmatic, reveal the determination with which she and many other women have built successful careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

In the last 50 years, the number of women working in critical fields has increased markedly. However, according to United Nations’ figures, women still represent only 33% of scientific researchers; 28% of engineering, physics and mathematics graduates; and only 40% of graduates in computer-related fields. This is worrisome, since these are the professions that are leading the digital revolution today and will move the world tomorrow.

To discuss the challenges of young women in STEM, we interviewed three women who play key roles in Smartmatic’s development, innovation and engineering teams: Alaba Olumegbon, PMO project manager, and Iveth Palma and Tanisha Salazar Scott, who are both quality assurance senior engineers.

Iveth tells us that a key to developing a career in this field has been "being your own best cheerleader." For Iveth, challenges represent learning and improvement opportunities that allow her to show what she can become. This optimistic approach has allowed her to keep rowing in the face of adversity.

UN Secretary General António Guterres believes that “without more women in STEM, the world will continue to be designed by and for men, and the potential of girls and women will remain untapped.” He also noted that "greater diversity fosters greater innovation."

Tanisha Salazar Scott agrees with the UN chief. She believes that women on technology teams can bring a different and innovative points of view. "The ability of women to reinvent themselves, organize, project, and grow in the midst of adversity can contribute new and valuable ideas that result in great innovations that can benefit humanity."

Iveth feels that “non-traditional careers give women the opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and do extraordinary things … taking on challenges that allow them to be strong without losing their kindness.”

Tanisha adds that there is always the opportunity to learn something new and grow as a professional. In the world of technology there are many things to learn. “We cannot allow fear of the unknown to paralyze us. We must face new challenges with optimism and a good attitude.”

Although there is still a long way to go when it comes to gender equality, it is comforting to know that both in Smartmatic and other companies today there are female leaders who send powerful messages with their actions. For Alaba, the future still holds challenges, but being part of a tech company has helped her “get her voice, a strong and representative voice.” We hope that by listening to Alaba, Tanisha and Iveth, many other young women will find inspiration to continue breaking down barriers.

Let's all celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

Towards a hybrid model combining remote and in-person work

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 14:12:00 +0000

"The world has changed drastically and with it our vision of work and what is possible." With these words, Cristina Rondon, Compensation & Benefits Manager at Smartmatic, described the transformation that is sweeping across Smartmatic months after a Work-from-Home model replaced traditional office-based work for most Smartmatic employees worldwide.

The company is currently migrating to a hybrid model that will combine remote and office work. Smartmatic thus joins many other companies that are rethinking the future of office work in the wake of the pandemic.

“There were many factors in the decision to implement a hybrid model, chief among them are employee feedback and the drive for better efficiency. The feedback from our people made it clear that our talent values the many benefits of teleworking. They report greater satisfaction and productivity working from home and having the option of checking in at the office whenever necessary. Thus, there is less need to maintain large office spaces to accommodate all employees every day,” explained Cristina.

A series of surveys conducted in the last six months showed that Smartmatic employees are comfortable combining office work with telecommuting. More than 70% value the flexibility of working remotely and going to the office one or two days per week. Less that 15% of employees preferred the option of working only from the office, while 22% wanted to work 100% remotely.

As a global company with offices in 12 countries and projects on five continents, remote work was already necessary for many employees at Smartmatic. However, the COVID-19 crisis and the need for social distancing accelerated this transformation process for the majority of employees. Only the offices in Taiwan and Singapore have been able to continue working in-office as their primary process. For the rest of the company, teleworking was the model health experts recommended, and in some countries the only option available.

Beyond the obvious benefits of remote working, this modality does pose significant challenges. One of them is keeping employees engaged and preserving the company culture. “We are fortunate to have a flexible workforce, with employees engaged with the organization who know how to focus their energies on ensuring the highest possible productivity. The great challenge is to maintain this commitment and a sense of belonging, but under completely different dynamics,” Cristina noted.

Another challenge Cristina sees on the horizon is creating opportunities for authentic and spontaneous interactions. “It is crucial that, despite the distance, meaningful interactions still occur. Not only do they have great value for the company, but they also enrich our lives. We have to think creatively to create new habits and behaviors."

Yuval Noah Harari, one of the most influential thinkers of our time, when the pandemic was just starting, wrote, “Many short-term emergency measures will become a fixture of life. That is the nature of emergencies. They fast-forward historical processes. Decisions that in normal times could take years of deliberation are passed in a matter of hours.” Remote working, something that seemed to be part of a distant future, is now a reality and many are welcoming it.

Our UX approach: key to the fastest elections results in Argentina

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 01:27:00 +0000

Argentina’s general election in October ended with a provisional vote count that was hailed as “the quickest, most precise and transparent in the history of Argentinian democracy” by Rogelio Frigerio, Minister of the Interior, Public Works and Housing.

Undoubtedly, this feat is the result of the combined effort of Smartmatic, Argentine authorities, election operators, volunteers and many others. Nonetheless, our UX/UI team also deserves some special credit. As a survey suggests, the approach to product development used to develop the solution used in Argentina proved crucial in the delivery of fast and accurate results which were validated by all stakeholders.

A survey conducted by trusted Argentine pollster MFG Consultores revealed that:

· 97.9% of election operatives described the software’s operability as “simple” or “very simple.”

· 89% of these operatives considered the transmission process from the polling centers to have been “speedy” or “very speedy”.

· 92.3% had no problems in carrying out the tasks assigned to them.

Fabiola Arrivillaga, Smartmatic’s UX/UI manager, tells us that, “the levels of acceptance shown in the survey are a direct result of Smartmatic’s work developing empathy, questioning every decision we made, and making sure we took into consideration the end user’s experience. For months we studied which elements of our solution would improve the user’s experience. With this in mind, we selected our content strategy, adjusted screen flows, and created clear instructions, always avoiding the use of confusing technical jargon. We are very pleased with the results.”

In Argentina, 11,830 election operators were tasked with capturing and transmitting the tallying reports (called “telegrams” in Argentina) coming from 10,009 polling centres and 1,130 digital hubs. Those operators interacted directly with Smartmatic technology and showed how pleased they were with it in the survey. “The fact that election operators are expressing such level of satisfaction with our technologies fills us with pride,” added Fabiola.

Smartmatic has a team of five UX experts, who pass along the basic principles of this practice to the rest of the organization. Fabiola defines her team’s work as a passion for exploring, learning, creating, and developing technology always with the end user in mind. “We strive to offer products and services that are really user-centered. We work as hard as we can to solve the challenges that thousands of nameless heroes deal with during an election.”

Focusing on UX is not exclusive to Smartmatic. Leaders in other industries, such as Google and Amazon, also employ this practice. However, Smartmatic deals with elections, where user-friendliness takes on an even bigger role. “Elections are key for the stability and democracy of any country. The responsibility of having results processed efficiently and transparently is an enormous challenge. To deliver success, we have to understand the depth of the processes these election operatives are executing, and the legal framework that rules the election. We also need to keep in mind at all times two key elements: security and transparency.”

Our UX team is already thinking about their next challenge. They are finding ways to apply what they learned in Argentina to future projects. As Fabiola states, “Learning never stops. We need to learn from every comment and suggestion. There is no such thing as negative feedback. Despite our success, we need to put away all the praise in a drawer, so we don’t develop a ‘know-it-all’ attitude. We have to keep working together and learn from every experience.”

Celebrating diversity and inclusion

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 20:33:00 +0000

June is Pride Month, a wonderful time for citizens around the world to celebrate diversity and inclusion, and recognize the impact Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people have in the world.

The word "Pride" was chosen to reinforce the notion that individuals who identify as LGBTQ should embrace their unique identity as members of equal standing in the global community. It is a stance against discrimination and in favor of self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights of LGBTQ people.

June was established as Pride Month mainly because on 28 June, 1969, members of the LGBTQ community and supporting activists in the US stood up to New York City police officers who raided the Stonewall Inn and other bars in Greenwich Village that catered to openly LGBTQ patrons.

At Smartmatic, we celebrate inclusion and diversity. We are proud that our registration devices have given an equal opportunity to citizens from all walks of life to participate freely in elections. Our voting machines have enfranchised millions without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity sexual orientation, or disability.

Building more inclusive and diverse communities is a mission that we carry out both externally and internally. In addition to the work we do around the world, Smartmatic is fully committed to maintaining a diverse, inclusive, safe, and accepting workplace.

As Victor Ramirez, our Vice President of Human Resources, explains, inclusion and diversity are two pillars of our corporate culture.

“As head of HR at Smartmatic, I am proud to be able to say that we have an open and inclusive culture where everyone can feel part of a united family. People are at their best when they can be themselves and be authentic, and that is what we strive for.”

Smartmatic is global company with employees in 15 offices across the world. While many of us look, think and feel differently, we unite around the principle of equality. “We are fortunate that diversity, more than a challenge, is an advantage. The more diverse our team is, the richer the ideas it generates and the more innovative we are. Being inclusive is not only right, it is smart business,” added Ramirez.

As millions around the world celebrate Pride Month, we want to take this opportunity to raise awareness. There’s still a lot of work to be done in the fight for greater diversity and inclusion. Take a look at the calendar below and help us spread the message.

Desire Rosendo on Smartmatic’s UX design: “We are creating better user experiences.”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:29:00 +0000

User-centered design (UCD) has revolutionized how businesses are developing products and services. The election technology industry is no different. At Smartmatic, we are proudly embracing UX design across all our processes, projects, and most importantly, across all our departments and solutions.

Desire Rosendo, one of our UX/UI design lead, shared with us her insights into what UX design is all about and how our organization is starting to live by it. “UX design is based on user-centered design (UCD). As the name suggests, the entire methodology focuses on the experiences of end users. Our goal as UX designers is to provide users with a seamless and pleasant experience when they interact with our products.”

Research, interaction, and iteration

According to Desire, the key to designing and creating a good user experience is to get involved with users; to know them and feel empathy with them. “An important part of the UX designer process is to know in depth the users, their unique needs and problems. All with the objective of having integral products.”

The beauty of UX design lies in that “it is a never-ending process based on constant research, interaction, and iteration. We make decisions and make progress, but research and improvement continue nonstop.

UX, a holistic approach to design

To create user-centered products and services, designers must combine a wide range of disciplines:

Market research. Designers must research the market, the user and their preferences. Only then can they deliver a product that is needed and welcomed.

User interface design (UI). The different elements shown on the screen must offer an optimal interface that is easy to understand and navigate.

Graphic Design. Interfaces should combine colors, fonts and other elements to produce a design that is both attractive and consistent with the brand.

Content strategy. In the age of information, content is king. Designers must implement a content strategy to make sure the content presented is appropriate, relevant and engaging.

Steve Jobs, Apple’s founder and former CEO, is quoted for saying “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” With this same holistic approach, our UX team is always relying on the other teams of the company such as solutions, programs, or engineering to achieve better results.

We are getting there!

At Smartmatic -confirms Desire with pride-, we are increasingly involved with the user experience approach. “It is not only a maxim for the UX department; it has spread to all levels in the company. Our goal is that everyone in the organization keeps the users in mind when devising a solution to a problem.”

Achieving this ideal goal is easier said than done. “We have traveled many paths. Sometimes learning painfully -she chuckles-. But ultimately, we have grown a lot.” Desire believes that “Smartmatic is achieving the UX design process stability that will let it thrive. I truly feel we are accomplishing our goal.”

When asked how the company is embracing the UX transformation, Desire is confident that the company is on the right track. “Everyone at Smartmatic is working to build the most satisfying experiences for the users of our solutions.”

It is a natural outcome of working as team players and lining up the whole company with a user-centered methodology. “I feel that we are consistently working more united and aligned. This is key to be successful in our goal. A goal that should always be unique across the company in order to make and offer the world’s best election technology.”

5 reasons to celebrate 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 12:45:00 +0000

Often times, we get so caught up in our daily routines that we forget to celebrate our achievements. Fortunately, 2018 gave us lots of reasons to celebrate.
From Los Angeles to London or Finnmark in Norway, we managed to partner with highly respected election commissions, we helped conduct elections, we developed new voting equipment, and much more.

Let’s revisit some of our most important achievements of 2018:

1. Los Angeles County (the US). We signed a contract to help the Registrar-Recorder County Clerk of Los Angeles to manufacture and implement a new voting system for 2020. The innovative project aims to offer a more human-centered and accessible voting experienced. We will assist with systems integration, engineering, and manufacturing of the components of the solution.

2. Flanders, Brussels-Capital, and the German-speaking Community of Belgium Since 2012, communes in these three Belgian regions have used our technology in their elections. However, during the last local elections in October, the election authorities and the voters welcomed new models of voting machines customized for Belgium. The innovative equipment and services will also be deployed in the upcoming Belgian and European (Parliamentary) May elections.

3. Finnmark (Norway) Finnmark, the northernmost county in Norway, held a regional referendum last May. Citizens had the option to cast their vote online or at the polling station on traditional paper ballots. An astonishing 85.5% of all votes cast were done online using TIVI, the Smartmatic-Cybernetica verifiable online voting solution. Trust in a secure, convenient and easy to use technology system showed the enormous potential of online voting in Norway and the region.

4. London (the UK). We partnered with CGI, one of the largest independent IT consulting firms, to deliver an electronic system to be used in 2020 to count voter marks on ballot papers. The e-counting solution will manage the accurate scanning of ballot papers, as well as the declaration of results for three London elections.

5. Denmark. Danish election authorities signed a contract with us and our local partner DXC Technology to provide voting solutions and services. We will help with the development, maintenance and operation of the future election system of Denmark. The new solution will be used to register votes, link the results from different polling stations, and forward information to both citizens and Statistics Denmark from 2019 onwards.

These five local projects are only a brief overview of what we are working on. Whatever the scale of the project, the geographic location or the type of election, we will continue focusing on improving security, enhancing the voter experience, and facilitating participation.

Cheers for a better year ahead!

Rachid El Habti: “In the Belgian elections, the whole team is a star”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 17:30:00 +0000

Last October, Belgium held provincial, municipal and city district elections. Since 2012 Smartmatic has been deploying its technology and services in the country.

This time, 3.7 million voters in Flanders, the Brussels Capital Region, and the German-speaking Community of Belgium (DGB) experienced casting their votes with our electronic voting solution.

Rachid El Habti, project manager of the Belgian elections, shared some of the highlights and significant takeaways from the October polls. He also noted how Smartmatic is preparing to face the upcoming May elections in the country (Regional and Federal parliaments, as well as European Parliament vote.)

Election technology innovation

Two original hardware devices were added to Belgium’s existing automated voting platform, a voting machine (A4-517) and a new president machine (VIU-805), both featuring innovative designs and user-friendly interfaces.

“The introduction of the new voting machines represented a big challenge for us during the October elections,” explained El Habti. “It is always exciting to see how the voters and the clients react to the latest voting machines, and how they perform on Election Day.”

Fortunately, the new technology offered a seamless experience for voters and poll workers. “When you introduce new devices, it is critical to make sure that everything performs as expected and that clients and voters feel satisfied.”

Challenges come in daily

Working on election technology can be confronting but also motivating. Rachid and his whole team know it very well from their experience in the field. New requests or unexpected obstacles might come in different forms, models or procedures. “However, we are committed to show our clients they can rely on us. We are there to control and monitor all the technology and services, so they perform as well as expected.”

As a project manager, El Habti is delighted with the October Belgium local elections. “Honestly speaking, we succeeded! The rollout of the machines was seamless.”

Another big success. “Everything went smoothly. It was a zero-penalty project. This is both a reason to be proud and a challenge. We just set the bar even higher for all the upcoming contracts in Europe and the world.”

It is so much easier to say it than to do it. Nevertheless, Rachid does not hesitate to share some pearls of wisdom of what it takes to finish a successful e-voting project. “You need to have a clear structure from the beginning. Coordination and flawless communication with your team, and the client are a priority. Additionally, it is critical to speak the same language as your client. Elections are a sensitive subject, so as technology providers we need to manage not only all the technical requirements but understand the political election language as well. The most important lesson is that we need to be all on the same track.”

My team is the star

Putting together the right team and leading them to commit to the project while enjoying their teamwork was a critical task for the project manager. “In Smartmatic, we usually recruit field staff depending on the project, so one of the biggest challenges we face, is welcoming, training, and relying on new staff,” said Rachid.

“Trusting your team is key. You need to delegate and trust that your staff is ready to follow up the services, processes and act upon incoming requirements.”

Nonetheless, he categorically adds, “the thing I am most proud of in this project is the team. The whole group worked truly hard, and consequently, the client was thrilled with our performance as an election provider.” It is not only Rachid’s words what proves this perception right. “Our clients’ survey evaluations gave us very positive feedback, and that is something it is always encouraging and gratifying.”

Part of the project’s confidence environment could be closely related to one of Rachid’s motto with the staff: “I don’t have stars in my team, the team is a star, and as such we will go for success.” He says it meant he did not promote individual stars, but the whole team as -the one and only- shiny star.

A reference for the rest of Europe

“After we all worked so hard to make the October elections a success story, we now have to be ready and very well prepared to shine again on the 26th of May. We need to continue showing the country, the clients, the voters, and all the election stakeholders in Belgium that they can count on us to plan and run the elections.”

Given that Belgium is a European pioneer in electronic voting (since 1991), Rachid El Habti assures us, “I am more than glad and satisfied to see how Smartmatic has become a key company to support the elections. We are building a good reference for the rest of Europe and the world.”

Rafael Franceschi: “We put our hearts on the field”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 01:22:00 +0000

What if we could time travel at work?

Well, we do not have to be part of a sci-fi series to know how it would be.

At Smartmatic, we already have many colleagues whose jobs require constant travelling across multiple time zones. We secretly call them our time travelers.

Admired by some (mainly young, single and curious collaborators), and sometimes pitied by others (mostly those who had already walked that path for too many years), our time travellers are one of their kind in the corporate world. Luckily, we had the opportunity to catch up with one of them (between airports!). Here is his take on travelling as a Smartmatic team member.

Rafael Franceschi is a Compliance Lead. His more than ten years in the company have taught him the pleasures and downsides of travelling regularly. “What I like the most about moving with the company is the adrenaline that I feel at the field; working to exhaustion with the team to achieve our objectives. To be in the front row testing equipment, producing machines, solving issues. It is an awkward feeling to explain, but in spite of the tension and the pressure, I still enjoy the rush of working in the field.”

On the other hand, the three main challenges I think we continuously face with this globe-trotting work life are: 1. Leaving our families (including kids) for extended periods, without letting it affect our daily performance; 2. Working in multiple languages, with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, on a myriad of technology solutions (with different requirements, tools, and cultural expectations); and 3. The culinary-challenges: rapidly adapting our palates and bodies to all kinds of cuisines, spices, flavours, cooking habits and dining manners.”

For Rafael, being away from his family weighs heavily on his balance. “The worst part of travelling is having to see them (wife and kids) on Skype, Facebook or any other platform. It makes you feel helpless, particularly when your children are sick, when emergencies arise, or when the contact across different time zones gets confusing.”

“On my last trip, for instance, my wife sent me a photo of a burnt wall with the message "Our kitchen got on fire"… and nothing else. The most eternal and worrying 15 minutes of my life ensued. She wouldn’t answer the phone. I started expecting the worse. Then, she wrote back telling me that everything was fine. It was just a problem with a defective hose. She closed the gas valve, and voila, problem solved. The kitchen was repaired as soon as I got back, and now it is just another anecdote, but you cannot imagine the anguish I felt!”

Despite the challenges, there are always highlights to brighten the traveller’s journey. Rafa for example shares “I do not think I can pick a favourite trip or place I had worked in. But I can certainly tell you about the most surprising one for me: astonishing Pakistan!”

For Rafael, Pakistan was a an opportunity to go full circle and fall in love again with this other side of his Smartmatic experience, travelling. “Islamabad is a very green city, full of lovely and generous people, with loads of shopping malls and western fast-food franchises. And it is also a very serene place despite the amount of military weaponry that you can see around.

In Pakistan I learned to appreciate cricket. I found many similarities with sports that I love, like baseball or softball. On the other hand, even if the food was sort of an agony at the beginning, after two weeks I got quite used to it. I can even tell you that in Islamabad I had the best fried fish that I have ever eaten,” laughs Rafael.

Three great things we (in Smartmatic) share with Han Solo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 May 2018 16:24:00 +0000

May is Star Wars month, so first things first: May the fourth be with you!

In Smartmatic, we do have a small (but strong) Star Wars fandom. It is not really surprising, is it? We have a bunch of tech-minded folks, engineers, cool geeks, curious souls and ultimately fun, creative people who love films and fiction. (Yes, we also have Star Trek and Marvel and DC -and even Game of Throne’s- fans, but let’s leave that reality at a side (the dark side?) for a while.)

To celebrate this month, we have nothing less than the release of the latest chapter on the characters’ bio series. This time with one of the audience’s favourite: Han Solo. The new film Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives in theatres on May 25^th (We can’t wait!). But meanwhile, what better way to enjoy the time passing that watching trailers and try to discover what do we have in common with Han Solo. We probably have a lot, but let’s narrow it down to the top three.

1. We know we are good at what we do, even if it seems crazily risky for others. In the election technology industry, work is particularly hard, connections and networks are intricate, trust is vital, and we need to be able to serve and offer solutions to a myriad of stakeholders. We need (and fortunately we do) to believe in ourselves and our work to succeed in each project, just being as confident as Han is in Star Wars.

From national top officers and EMBs to small technology partners, they all expect us to show the best possible solutions, taking the plunge, risking it to the end and delivering the best results in unbelievable time frames and circumstances. Sounds familiar? True, we might not work in a galaxy plagued by chaos and uncertainty, as Han Solo did, but we all know that the real world can surpass fiction sometimes!

2. We rely on the best gear and tech tools. And we rock it at managing it. Han Solo would not be the hero he is, and he would not have helped to save the galaxy if he wasn’t the captain of the Millennium Falcon. Though we love the Falcon as it is (a fantastic piece of technology and art -giggles aloud-), it would be just another machine in the history of the Star Wars universe if it wasn’t piloted by Han and Chewbacca. Having the best machines (either if it is voting machines, registration devices, or spaceships!) is only part of the puzzle. The hardware needs to be well designed, user-centred, robust, and durable, but its success rate will always depend on those managing it and using it. In Smartmatic we believe that better solutions come from better R&D, best quality manufacturing, testing, and certification; and first-class integration, implementation, maintenance and support. We are continually designing, creating, managing and piloting our very own Millennium Falcons of the election technology field.

3. We have the best co-pilots ever! Well, let’s face it, Chewbacca might have that reserved seat and title. Nonetheless, in Smartmatic, we are almost as lucky as Han Solo as we embark on every new project with the best team. Our people are not only the best professionals in their areas, but they are also trustable, creative, energetic leaders (Chewie’s fearsome roar, anyone?), loyal and have the greatest of colleagues’ hearts. Right, some of us might have kind of a short temper, particularly under election periods or testing/auditing time, but just as Chewbacca with Han, we have the complete commitment and support of our crew -our Smartmatic clan- in whom we can rely on, and rest assured.

Countless more commonalities can come to our minds. We are persistent, audacious, we love challenges, we are young but experienced, we keep going against all the odds, we believe in democracy and freedom, we commit to our clients, we do not like to seem vulnerable, but we love our sensitive nature, among many others. However, let’s leave it here. We do have to go piloting some terrific election machinery…

Let’s talk about ‘Women in STEM’

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 17:49:00 +0000

To mark the February 11 celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we at Smartmatic want to focus the conversation one particular facet of gender diversity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math): Communication. For instance, how do we talk about women in tech, inside and outside the industry? Are we prone to using gender-biased, belittling language in the field—even if it is done unconsciously? How can we start changing this reality today?

These are issues very close to my heart, as I have developed all my career in Communications, first as a journalist covering technology, and then working for a technology company. Although I will be addressing these ideas on a SXSW panel, titled “Latinas Removing Barriers in Tech”, I give you an advance here.

As Communications Director in Smartmatic, I believe the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, as well as the upcoming International Women's Day (March 8), become excellent opportunities to publicly discuss the state of women in the industry. Both celebrations indeed revive my passion for advocating gender parity and diversity in tech.

However, I would like to take @WomenScienceDay this year’s theme “Equality and Parity in Science for Peace and Development,” to call for action in a particular doable issue: evaluating and improving our discourse on women in tech. We firmly believe that diversity and equality are part of the foundations for achieving sustainable development. However, we have to start seeding first our own backyard. So here I am.

Believe me; I am thrilled that the global conversation in recent years, online and offline, has taken up and embraced women crusades. Movements such as #MeToo, #WomensMarch, #WomenInSTEM, among others, are empowering many of us to speak our minds, lead the change we want to see and make more female voices be heard and respected. But are those enough? Probably not, if we do not start a joint pledge to improve the way we talk about women in tech, in our daily routines.

Hence, I am sharing five practical ways to start refining right away our narrative on the subject. Inspiration comes from extraordinary colleagues working on equality and parity in tech, along with several thought-provoking articles released on the issue around this time of the year. For instance, please have a look at these recent two pieces, full of interesting references: “The real problem with women in tech efforts is the unhelpful way we talk about the issue,” in Mashable and Data does not lie: tech firms need to hire more women to succeed in Wired.

Needless to say, these actions are not exclusive to women. They are meant to ignite the debate across all stakeholders, functions and hierarchies in our organisations.

1. Be informed

Regardless of whether you are a known speaker at a national conference or an entry-level collaborator talking with some co-workers in a coffee break, always be ready. Read about the topic, discuss it honestly and debunk myths you know only harm diversity and parity. Work on sharing more and better statistics about womens’ productivity, participation and achievements in STEM. Moreover, be aware of how worthy it is for the industry and society that you speak your mind and talk about your own experiences in the field.

2. Show empathy

Getting to know the struggles of women in tech will give you powerful tools to generate awareness, convince colleagues and improve the situation from a more sensitive perspective. It is essential to understand the causes and consequences of problems and how you can deliver solutions. Show you can “wear the other’s shoes,”, and more significantly, listen and learn with the heart. I loved this advice and lessons about supporting and empowering other women in tech, from a personal and emotional perspective.

3. Be committed

Start leading the change. Every battle starts with each of us believing we can transform and advance a way of thinking and a way of doing in our organisations. It is within each woman in the technology fields to propose advancements, outline demands and help her company to commit to a more diverse and balanced gender environment. One exciting route to start the journey could be committing to the SDGs (U.N. Sustainable Development Goals) and showcasing the benefits of gender diversity for Peace and Development. The challenge is a great one, shaping new organisational cultures and challenging gender norms. Not easy for sure, but if you are a woman in tech, I am sure you are already up for the challenge.

4. Empower other women

In a male-dominated field, sorority and support among women becomes vital. When addressing the issue of women in tech, remember to be supportive, share knowledge, give credit, and offer advice to other females. It could be beneficial to share your story, thus encouraging others to take risks. Similarly, mentors can be of significant help and inspiration. Look for a mentor if you are starting your journey, or start a mentorship or volunteer program if you have a longstanding professional career. Choosing female role models in technology when communicating news and developments, could not only create opportunities for women in the industry, but it could also attract and engage more girls and young women into the field.

5. Innovate

We are living in a world in which innovation is paramount for development and sustainability. However, it is time to start focusing innovation with equality and diversity in mind among technology companies and executives. Being innovative, not only from a theoretical and technical perspective, but from an emotional and human behavioural point of view, is critical. After all, this is what technology is all about! The first step might be in recognising that increasing participation of women in STEM will lead to technology solutions that better serve the expectations of more diverse and global societies.

Samira Saba

Communications Director

Reforesting the Philippines: The commencement of our conservation and reconnecting journey

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:16:00 +0000

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and one another.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Mharfel Milanes was one of the Smartmatic’s team leaders in an unusual but memorable teambuilding activity of our colleagues in the Philippines. They had the opportunity to join the Haribon Foundation and plant 200 seedlings; while also reconnecting with nature, making a lasting contribution to Sierra Madre’s sustainability, and enjoy a fun trekking day with stunning views of Rizal, Laguna (100 km south of Manila.)

The idea consolidated after Mharfel started researching potential teambuilding activities for the staff. “It occurred to me to do something for the environment. Given that during the elections project there were millions of paper ballots printed, I thought it would be perfect to pay back to nature.” However, Mharfel’s environmental consciousness was just the first step that ignited a significative response from the team.

18 people attended the event (70% of total EEs in the Philippines), even though it meant jumping very early from the comfort of their beds. The assembling time on Reforestation Day was 4:30 am since the venue was outside Manila.

Nevertheless, Mharfel and other participants assure us that it was worthy, as the activities flowed smoothly during the whole day. “We received an overview of the natural reserve venue chosen for the activity, and the representatives of the Foundation taught us how to do the seedling plantation. We then formed four groups, each one with a leader to support and guide his/her team. After completing ‘the mission,’ we celebrated by climbing to the top of the mountain. We truly enjoyed the beautiful views of the forest and lakes around the area.”

Our partner for this activity -the Haribon Foundation- has been implementing for several years a conservation project in the Sierra Madre, the longest mountain range in the Philippines. According to Birdlife.org “the Sierra Madre supports one of the largest remaining forest blocks and one of the richest wildlife communities known from any forest area in the country. Aside from its rich biodiversity, it also serves as a water catchment for the major urban center of the Philippines – Metro Manila.”

The occasion allowed the Smartmatic volunteers to do much more than planting trees. It provided an unique opportunity to practice solidarity, physical exercise and reconnect with people and the landscape. For Mharfel, the top three highlights of the event were: contributing to the preservation of the ecosystem in the area, working together as a team to achieve one common goal, and creating awareness of the damage done to the environment.

It was the first event of such nature for the Philippines team. However, a seed of commitment for conservation and reforestation initiatives was sown in the volunteers. They learned and shared not only the Haribon Foundation values, but they also reflected upon what actions can we do at a personal level to promote reforestation and preserve the environment.

We cannot wait to hear about similar events in the future!

About Haribon Foundation

The Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc. is a membership organization committed to nature conservation through community empowerment and scientific excellence. Hatched in 1972, it is the pioneer environmental organization in the Philippines. It’s natural and social scientists work with communities and people from all levels governance to promote biodiversity conservation. It is the current convenor of the Rainforest Restoration Initiative (RFRI), a network of 14 national and international organizations that promotes rainforestation. These groups have collectively restored 22,000 hectares of forest cover throughout the country since 2005. The RFRI has conducted hundreds of tree-planting activities in provinces, such as Rizal, Quezon, Zambales, Laguna, and Surigao del Sur.

Mike Summers and the future of digital democracies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 14:02:00 +0000

At Smartmatic, we are confident that the future of democracy is digital. Each day more people around the globe are leveraging technology to speak their minds and participate in decision making.

But the road to that future is paved with obstacles. Mike Summers, our online voting ‘evangelist’, is taking a leading role in promoting a healthy debate around the issues preventing digital democracy from becoming a worldwide reality.

Here are five (5) instances in which Mike Summers publically showed us how to take the intersection of technology and democracy one step further:

1. Enlightening us with the idea that voting with a ‘selfie’ it is not a science fiction illusion, but rather a reality with Smartmatic’s authentication technology. Who would that thought that voting with a selfie could be the key to a more politically engaged electorate?

2. Providing food for thought with sharp-witted questions such as “Can too much democracy be a bad thing? Does 'voter fatigue' or 'voter burnout' actually exist and if so, how can we eliminate it without limiting access to the democratic process itself?”… Alternatively, does the postal voting, jeopardize the opportunity for governments to run valid and credible elections?

3. Defying common myths and concerns about the security of electronic elections, with technical arguments and industry expertise.

4. Becoming an advocate for electronic voting transparency (through its verifiability feature), while being critical of governments not doing enough to enhance voter participation and voting accessibility.

5. Sharing his optimism for the future of e-voting and digitaldemocracy, whether in the UK or around the world.

Let’s keep the debate going!

Five reasons why we are celebrating Harry Potter’s 20th anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 18:00:00 +0000

2017 marks 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first published, initiating a global phenomenon. Far from the fact that some of us in Smartmatic call ourselves geeks, the literary series of the wizard boy has touched us in multiple ways. It has captivated us across the globe and across departments, so why not join the world celebrating and sharing our Potter’s love.

1. ‘It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.’ Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Sometimes we approach technology development as if we were wizards. Though, our wizarding world is much more about finding solutions to enhance digital democracy, empowering public participation than to cast spells and fight the dark masters. Everytime our election technology is used to improve the integrity of democratic processes, we feel full of pride of how ‘the magic’ of our effort truly works.

2. ‘Dragons are extremely difficult to slay, owing to the ancient magic that imbues their thick hides, which none but the most powerful spells can penetrate…’ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

We do love magic and dragons. Who doesn’t, right? While Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s motto is “Draco dormiens numquam titillandus” (Latin for “Never tickle a sleeping dragon”), for us, the adventure lays in waking up and riding our dragons. In Smartmatic, we have a long-standing relationship (some might even call it fascination) with dragons. They awe-inspire us and motivate us. And far from what some Game of Throne’s fans could argue, in Smartmatic we all put extra love and effort to be able to ride one of our awards dragons!

3. ‘Books! And Cleverness! There are more important things — friendship and bravery.’ Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Besides avid and obssesed readers, we also have wonderful children literature followers and critics amongst us. Some of our bookworms are now sharing their bibliophile tendencies with second generations. Yes, Harry Potter’s love included. Indeed, we even have laureated writers for children books in the company! In case of doubts, just ask our CEO. Even better, go and enjoy Hookitty-Tookitty-Tah, an awarded tale about a wizard baker boy who uses his cooking magic to rid his town of a bullying dragon.

4. ‘We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.’Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Even if we don’t have internal Quidditch tournaments, we do try to support and delight in “more common muggle’s passions” for team sports, such as football or Ultimate. Yes, we do have sporty developers and many other energetic colleagues getting together on their free-time to play against each other. It may not be as awesome or flamboyant as quidditch, but nevertheless we play and enjoy the team magic of staff integration!

5. ‘Working hard is important. But there is something that matters even more, believing in yourself. Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now, students. If they can do it, why not us? ’ Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

And last but not least, Harry Potter and all his wizarding world has tought us life and professional lessons about resilence, about fighting for our dreams and loved ones, about working hard to achieve success, and about the value of team work. Most importantly, against all odds, it has inspired us to believe that transforming incredible ideas into reality (such as election technology and Internet voting) is possible to build a better electoral world (for muggles and wizards alike).

Pd. According to Bloomsbury Publishing, The British Library will curate and launch a brand new exhibition about the magic of Harry Potter, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s masterpiece, opening 20th October 2017. “This will be the first British Library exhibition inspired by a single series of books by a living author. From medieval descriptions of dragons and griffins, to the origins of the Philosopher’s Stone, the exhibition will take readers on a spellbinding journey to the heart of the Harry Potter stories.” See you there!

What if Westeros from GOT were Electronic Voting Land?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 19:09:00 +0000

As the seventh season of Game of Thrones (GOT) is finally here, we decided to have some fun, fantasising what the most memorable characters would be if The Seven Kingdoms were our own Electronic Voting Land.

Among the Great Houses would most probably be, as the real big players for ruling Westeros: Internet voting, Direct-Recording Electronic voting systems (DRE), Biometric voting systems, Punched cards machines, Optical scan systems and, E-voting apps. Of course, just as the Lannisters, Starks, Tyrells, Greyjoys, Baratheons, Arryns, Tullys and Martells; they could all potentially work together as allies in conjunction with vassal houses, or unconnectedly as adversaries.

The power struggle for ruling the realm, in this case, might not include magic, dragons or war arsenal, but it definitely includes powerful not-so-secret weapons such as voter verified paper audit trails (VVPAT), verifiable electronic ballots, a strict audit chain of custody, cryptographic systems, and cutting edge hardware and software. So, let the battle for the Iron Throne in Electronic Voting Land begin…

Daenerys Targaryen, as Internet Voting. Some distrust her capacity for great achievements but when given the opportunity she knows how to lead the way to modernity and gaining people’s love and trust. Many believe that "madness" is in her veins- so she still needs to court potential allegiances- but she’s working hard to have her seat on the throne. Besides, she can perform fanciful actions (maybe not with dragons), but with the latest online technology and cryptographic capabilities.
The Starks vs. The Lannisters as electronic voting machines in elections booths. They have worked together in multilevel elections (just as they did work together under Robert Baratheon's ruling), but they have also been crucial and long-standing antagonists. In this case, we visualize the Lannisters as document/paper-based voting systems and the Starks as direct-recording voting machines. The Starks have been working hard preparing for the future. As they know, “there will always be a winter that we must prepare for.
Tywin Lannister as the punched cards system, who saw his house’s splendour a few years back, but is now gone- leaving other Lannisters (marked paper based systems) as rival claimants to the throne.
Cersei Lannister as optical scanning systems that, despite all the controversies and animosity from certain users, has maintained itself as a strategic leader. It not only makes use of traditional and innovative means to gain power and credibility, but also takes advantage of its lineage’s experience.
Eddard "Ned" Stark as lever machines, strong and powerful in the beginning while its leadership lasted- leaving his descendants prepared for battle, for winter, and for working towards the future of the electronic voting field.
Sansa Stark as DRE with no voter verified paper audit trail. Many people value her efforts and her journey but she is lacking the most significant support- power and strategic tool (VVPAT)- which makes her less lovable and enchanting. She might want to sit on the throne, but while missing the basic warranties for trust and reliability, she still needs a long way to go.
Arya Stark as public network DRE voting system, the defiant one (that transmits data from the polling place to another location over a public network.) It might seem as a blind and unruly one, but some believe that the future is closer to her.
Jon Snow as DRE with voter verified paper audit trail. At the beginning, some believed he knew nothing. However he has proven them wrong every time (leaving his mark as an industry’s standard - VVPAT). He has become a valued leader, who offers security, auditability and he’s a good team player. Some believed he was gone, but he has come back to life stronger, with better tools, inspiring trust and ready to engage more and more diverse supporters. He might be among the strongest contestants for the throne.
Tyrion as biometric authentication systems. Forgetting he was born as a Lannister, Tyrion’s battle is more about valuing the most vital and unique characteristics of people, making easy and feasible incredibly large and complex projects. Although he might be underestimated or questioned, Biometric registration and authentication systems –just as Tyrion- can actually work with different systems. He could be a changing-game character in the conquest of the Seven Kingdoms.
The White Walkers as electronic voting’ fraud advocates. Our own GoT also has creatures that are always advocating against e-voting. They might be considered ghosts or legendary creatures by many, but they do exist and you can usually find them on the other side of the wall of modernisation and auditability.

In this Westeros, ultimate power- instead of deriving from a King- would come from conquering effective, auditable, transparent, secure and reliable automated elections. Mastering election technology will leave Election management bodies (EMBs), voters, parties and all other election stakeholders satisfied in our peculiar ‘electoral Iron Age’.

Image by Rob Obsidian

“Our true ‘QA spirit’ brings the light of excellence”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 15:14:00 +0000

What exactly is Smartmatic’s Quality Assurance (QA) spirit?

According to Herlen Rosales, Compliance Manager, the best QA professionals need to fulfill some basic missions:

· To feel passionate about improving the quality of applications and products.

· To combine a perfect dose of both curiosity and wickedness, which motivates them to seek potential bugs in applications before they hit the market.

· To be brave and prepared to challenge problems and shortcomings. Know how to transmit security when communicating.

· To maintain a thirst for knowledge- learning from and with the engineers and developers.

· To stay commited to understanding the whole application in depth before testing starts.

Although Quality Assurance might seem distressing, Rosales is committed to elevating satisfaction by taking the team’s work further than the expectations. “It is not easy, but for us, evaluating and learning from our projects is vital and rewarding. It is our duty to pre-emptively anticipate that applications may have defects. Our job is to always go beyond the expected procedures and tests and guarantee our apps hit the market bugs-free.”

Herlen’s vision for what successful QA is likely comes from more than twelve years of involvement in the area at Smartmatic. “I believe it is a challenge, but also an honor to be a Compliance Manager. One of the reasons for which I decided to take the lead is that I want to help Smartmatic live by the true QA spirit.”

Our efforts go far beyond verifying that we develop good products and that we meet clients’ needs. "We strive to achieve the highest quality standards, focusing on excellence in what we test and how we do it. We also work very hard to innovate and refine the performance testing of all our products, including usability features and the non-functional requirements. And we are not just proud of it, we are loving every bit of the process!”

Herlen is convinced that we are on our way to becoming one of the leading tech multinationals of the world, and that subsequently, “we are both raising the bar for the industry and ourselves. When we are talking about quality, we are really looking at the satisfaction level that our products bring from a point of view of functional and non-functional requirements- particularly during all the stages of a given project. We are fussy; we want better metrics; we want better results; and we want to always improve from what is expected of us in the election technology industry.”

To catalyze change is never easy, but as Herlen puts it: “it is within ourselves not to settle with what is working well, as professionals as much as individuals. We are working on being better coaches; letting people be; giving them more time and space for doing what they think they have to do; and most importantly, allowing them to fail sometimes. It is the only way to be better leaders and better people. Our human side is the only thing we can’t allow to fail.”

Herlen is a vital piece in the success of our products, and consequently, she wants to spread the energy among her team. “I picture all testers and compliance collaborators feeling bonded, confident and proud of their daily job. It is our responsibility to bring the light of quality to our applications. How can we not be proud?,” she sums up, fairly pleased.

Mildred: Proud of my company, proud of my work

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 11 May 2017 18:29:00 +0000

Mildred vividly remembers that day twelve years ago when she started working at Smartmatic as a Documentation Analyst. Like it was yesterday, she can still recall that heady feeling that swept over her at the realization that she was working with a company imbued with a sense of purpose.

Now a Deployment Services Manager, she hasn’t lost any of that pride. Now, more than ever, she is convinced that Smartmatic is a company on a mission. She realizes too that one’s success inside the company comes with deep commitment and an affinity for the values and principles of Smartmatic.

For her, it’s not so much the personality that matters but the everyday attitude what make the difference.

When it comes to promotions, Mildred believes that slow and steady beats a meteoric rise. “I have been growing both personally and professionally in the company. One step at a time,” she says.

As Deployment Services Manager within the Global Services team, Mildred is in charge of human resources related to deployment of logistics and operations in support of requirements set by Project Managers.

“Despite the many challenges faced, I have always given the best of myself,” says Mildred, who swears that the countless ups and downs have helped her to turn her weaknesses into strengths and become a better person.

Mildred recognizes two important traits of team-players in Smartmatic: a service orientation and a helpful attitude towards a co-workers; both critical in fostering an ideal work environment and an exceptional corporate culture.

“While at work, I have cried and laughed. I feel part of a great family, “ Mildred says. “Helping each other has always been our motto.”

As with any other family, achievements start with individual effort and passion.

“In Smartmatic, you need to have LOVE for what you do. And you need to be consistent and to stay committed to your goals, to be more than a fellow worker (become a friend) and always pursue excellence with great humility.”

For some colleagues like Mildred, the beauty of life is not necessarily finding success but also lies in feeling inspired even by the smallest details.

“Nobody said it was going to be easy, but nobody said it is supposed to be too hard either. Whether it goes one way or another depends on us and the love we put into everything we do.”

Barbara: ‘In the Boca office, we work like captains and play like pirates’

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 13:41:00 +0000

Smartmatic has grown exponentially in the last decade. However, most of our offices have remained as personal and embracing as when they first opened. Our Boca office is one of them.

Barbara Leon-McDonald, who has been here for almost a decade working on Global Business Support, gives us a general idea of the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ kind of life that our Boca team is used to. Not really for the craziness, which is still there, but mainly for the incredible mix of energy, fun, peculiar stories and long-lasting influence within the company.

Barbara warn us not to be fooled by first impressions. “The environment here aesthetically is college campus style and, high paced yet relaxed in a make-it-happen attitude kind of way.”

90% of the office contains all high level Smartmatic employees -at any given time-. “We house some of the top executives of the company, thus you have a collaboration of high energy, strong work ethics and the attitude that together we can make it happen. This, without losing the ability to smile, play pranks and make it a very comfortable environment. Very unusual for a high level executive arena.”

This is the reason behind the Boca office’s thrilling energy. “In this atmosphere where all employees are high level, we need to get used to a fast paced environment. However, our high level team members are the easiest going and they always make it a happy and easy going workplace. There is high respect but in a very peaceful almost comedic way.”

Barbara is one of the few women working in the Boca team, but the situation is changing and she is glad about the balance. “I was the only women in the office for a long time amongst all the men colleagues; but I’m happy to report that The Boca Raton office now houses 3 female employees, so for the first time ever the field is fair play.”

Joking apart, Barbara tells us that among the many things she appreciates about Smartmatic is the opportunity to work with people she respects and admires. “I take my job seriously and with high integrity. The highs are the people I work with, the lows are probably the deadlines we are always working on with minimal time - yet we always make it happen.”

For this devoted colleague, in the Boca office the camaraderie they have achieved during all these years, it is like the saying ‘work like a captain and play like a pirate.’ “We are a work family.”

However, the work itself and the organisation mission are also significant reasons to keep going for Barbara. “I enjoy the diversity of projects I work with on a daily basis. The daily phone calls with colleagues all over the world; and the satisfaction of knowing that as a company our main goal is to bring democracy to the world by offering quality services, machines, software and the best people, it is gratifying. I'm from a country where democracy has suffered quite a lot, so, working for a company that strides to ensure that everyone can vote and that everyone's vote counts, fulfills me as an individual.”

Barbara has her purposes clear, as well as many other Smartmatic employees: “This team works hard. Most travel a lot which keeps them away from family and friends for a large portion of time, so when we work together, we try to keep it real and make it happen.”

Paul Chen: “We believe in working hard and united to achieve quality”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 20:37:00 +0000

The Smartmatic Taiwan team have something clear: the light at the end of the tunnel is called “quality”. It does not matter how hard the road present itself. The secret to success, according to Paul Chen (Senior Hardware Branch Manager), it is having a team that work with cohesion and who share common aims to produce the best quality products.

The hardware development team is responsible for an important part of all the magic within Smartmatic’s creation and design of products and devices. Yet, their work is full of challenges.

“Our most pressing challenges include: the increasing workload we are facing although we have been under staff for quite a long time; the need to solve a number of issues in really short time to meet the target schedule and; the responsibility to produce the best machines without any delay for meeting our customers’ deadlines,” ponders Paul.

But for Chen and all the Taiwan team, there is only one way to face challenging times. They announce it with a mixture of calmness and fun -convinced there is no better way- “Work hard! Work Harder! Work Harder and harder, to solve the problems.”

Working hard is te first step, but there is much more into achieving the company’s objective for their team. “We are united” shares Paul, when describing the work environment of over 25 people building the Smartmatic Taiwan HDM group.

That unity comes from learning together how to bring some Smartmatic values to the everyday life of the office. “The top 5 highlights of our jobs here are working with integrity, honesty and candor, trying to be efficient and commited in everything we do as a team.”

It has not being difficult to follow this motto, taking into account that Paul lists among the top strengths his team brings into the company:

1. “Good internal communication and fast react to the tasks

2. We share the passion and commitment to develop the best quality machines, while always meeting the customer’s schedule

3. Smartmatic Taiwan is an ISO certified company. We have very clear and stricts procedures and protocols to follow, ensuring we can develop and produce the best quality machines.”

The Taiwan troop is another example of the way we do things in Smartmatic. We believe working hard to achieve quality goes hand in hand with building a solid and cohesive team.