From Systems of Record to Systems of Work

28 May 2025 | Dolium, Technology

Transitioning from Systems of Record to Systems of Work

Discover how DOLIUM transforms traditional systems of record into systems of work using contemporary architecture and AI. DOLIUM is an Intelligent Business Support System that uses contemporary architecture and artificial intelligence to streamline operations and optimise decision-making.

As a ‘System of Work’, DOLIUM links management and decision-making activity to your systems of records, other transactional applications and data repositories.

For decades, enterprise software was built around Systems of Record: authoritative databases where structured information lived. Think ERPs, CRMs, or EHRs.

These systems were valuable because they democratised access to critical information. They became the default axis of influence in every organisation: inflexible, centralised, and (mostly) passive.

At KB Technology we believe contemporary solutions are breaking this model.

We’re entering the age of the System of Work.

What is a System of Work?

A System of Work is a platform that doesn’t just manage data, it guides the performance of work and assists decision-making. These AI-native systems collapse the distance between insight and action.

This isn’t a UX upgrade. It’s a paradigm shift in how work happens.

This is operations at the speed of thought.

A System of Work will inform and guide productive tasks and decision-making. It’s not a place you go to see what needs doing; it’s the system where work happens.

Where legacy tools require human intervention to interpret and act, Systems of Work incorporate agentic behaviour, the performance of tasks with guardrails.

They represent a new kind of software stack: data, technology, people and processes, all in one loop.

These systems are defined by a few key traits:

• Agentic behaviour: They assist actions with or without a human-in-the-loop.
• Embedded actions: They suggest what to do and they can complete the task within the system.
• Workflow ownership: They become the go-to place where work is created, reviewed, and shipped.
• Outcome-based value: They are priced and evaluated based on the results they deliver, not just on features or access.

DOLIUM: A System of Work

DOLIUM exemplifies the System of Work paradigm by not only managing data but actively participating in the execution of tasks. It integrates AI capabilities to guide complex processes and provide actionable insights, thereby transforming how organisations operate.

Agentic Behaviour
DOLIUM's built-in AI agent, AiDA doesn't just understand what you do; she understands why. She creates clarity at the point of decision-making, where productivity, compliance, and value collide. Old platforms bolt on AI. AiDA was built in because it wasn’t designed for yesterday; it was built for what’s next.

Embedded Actions
DOLIUM doesn't merely suggest actions; it performs tasks directly within the System of Work. By integrating a quality first approach into every, function, activity and task, DOLIUM brings an organisation's data to the forefront, enhancing overall operations. DOLIUM enables the use of best-in-class applications as needed, without the need for brittle customisation or clunky expensive integration projects, reducing reliance on costly consultants, supporting in-house operations, and preserving institutional knowledge.

Workflow Ownership
DOLIUM serves as the central platform where work happens, keeping everything connected and streamlined. By leveraging a contemporary open-architecture framework to integrate multiple technologies, DOLIUM enables smooth communication across systems, eliminating siloed activities.

Outcome-Based Value
DOLIUM’s value is measured by the results it delivers. A central platform for where work happens, using data driven decisioning. Every function, activity and task, tied to the organisations mission, the golden thread for Governance, Risk and Compliance, the preservation of Institutional Knowledge and the ability to operate at the speed of thought, driving productivity and incubating innovation.

Why the ‘Record’ to ‘Work’ Shift Matters

In a world of Systems of Work, the traditional axis of influence in software is beginning to lose relevance. The classic “source of truth” may still exist somewhere in the stack. However, the source of productivity, the system where outcomes are created, will shift.

Once a system starts producing core business outputs, it becomes exponentially more valuable and much harder to displace.

This creates a new kind of competitive advantage.

Systems of Work do not only benefit from access to data; they generate new, proprietary data through use. They encode human expertise, automate repeatable decisions and improve over time. These effects compound and become self-reinforcing advantages that deepen with every interaction.

How Vertical AI is Powering This Shift

This transition is most visible in Vertical AI: AI centric solutions, built specifically for the needs of an industry. These aren’t generic LLM wrappers. They embed into frontline workflows and solve the hard, boring, expensive problems commonly found in highly matrixed organisations with unique to sectors requirements.

The most advanced Vertical AI systems:

• Combine deep domain knowledge with powerful models
• Build proprietary data moats by capturing interaction-specific context
• Deliver real-world value through actionable outputs, not just dashboards

And crucially, they don’t just make software smarter; they replace entire layers of human effort.

Final Thought

The System of Record defined the last era of enterprise software. The System of Work will define the next. We don’t know what that means for Systems of Record but listening to Satya Nadella, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft gives great insight to its flagging utility.

This is why we are focused on supporting organisations willing to tackle ‘work’ problems and complexity. The pathways to unlocking the value of System of Work solutions, resides in ‘Contemporary Operations Frameworks, that adds DATA to the legacy triangle of People, Process, Technology.

DOLIUM:
Potential Unlocked.