Question 1

What is Gidens?

Accepted Answer

Gidens is a **Workflow Intelligence Platform** founded in Hawaii that helps growing businesses **across the United States** automate administrative tasks so owners can focus on what matters most: **serving their community**. We give small business owners their time back by automating the repetitive workflows that slow them down.

Question 2

What does 'Workflow Intelligence' mean?

Accepted Answer

Workflow Intelligence goes beyond simple automation. It means our platform doesn't just follow rules — it **understands your processes**, connects your existing tools, and **intelligently manages the flow of work** across your business. Key capabilities include:

- Connecting tools like **CRM, QuickBooks, Google Drive**, and more
- **Adapting to your specific workflows** rather than forcing templates
- Making **smarter decisions** about how work flows through your organization

Question 3

Who is Gidget?

Accepted Answer

Gidget is the **AI behind Gidens** — your personal guide to understanding the platform. Gidget powers the **conversational experience** on our website and serves as the **intelligent command center** within the platform itself, helping you manage workflows, track progress, and make smarter decisions.

Question 4

Why is your website a conversation?

Accepted Answer

At Gidens, we believe every interaction should feel **personal — not templated**. We built this site as a conversation because we wanted to support your curiosity about who we are and why we exist, rather than force you through a one-size-fits-all brochure. Tell Gidget what brings you here, and you'll see **exactly what's relevant to you**.

Question 5

Who's behind Gidens?

Accepted Answer

Gidens was founded by **Vincent Brathwaite**, a visionary design executive and educator who experienced administrative overload firsthand while running a design consultancy. The core team includes:

- **Kent Salcedo** (CTO) — 10+ years of full-stack development across startups and Fortune 500 companies, played a key role in scaling a SaaS company through a **$74M Series C raise**
- **Tiffany Vurek Lee** (Product & Strategy Advisor) — Two decades of **digital product design** and enterprise transformation experience across global markets
- **Kawika Naweli** (Development Intern) — Studying Computer Science at **UH Manoa**, contributing to critical R&D efforts in AI-driven tools and automation

Together, the team is purpose-built to solve a deeply human problem with **world-class design, technology, and empathy**.

Question 6

What are the core features of Gidens?

Accepted Answer

Gidens offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed for **business owners, not engineers**:

- **Fluid Dynamic Dashboard** — Everything you need at your fingertips
- **WAVES Assessment Framework** — Evaluate your automation maturity
- **Seamless Integrations** — Connects with CRM, QuickBooks, Google Drive, and more
- **Automated Permit & Compliance Submissions** — Strong track record of successful filings
- **AI-Powered Workflow Management** — Intelligent automation through Gidget
- **Data Triage Room** (Enterprise) — A security layer between your sensitive data and third-party AI models

Question 7

Do I need a technical team to use Gidens?

Accepted Answer

**No.** Gidens is designed for business owners, not engineers. The small business plan (**$40/month**) includes **guided setup**, and our platform is built to be intuitive. For enterprise clients, we handle implementation through a **2-4 week sprint** with your team.

Question 8

What integrations does Gidens support?

Accepted Answer

Gidens connects to the tools you already use, including:

- **CRM platforms**
- **Accounting software** like QuickBooks
- **Google Drive** and document management tools
- **Email platforms**
- And more

Our platform acts as an **intelligent command center** that bridges your existing systems into one unified workflow.

Question 9

How does AI-powered process discovery work?

Accepted Answer

During setup, Gidget **learns your specific business processes** and configures automation to match how your business actually operates. Rather than forcing you into a template, we **adapt to your workflows** — so the automation feels natural, not disruptive.

Question 10

Can Gidens handle complex, multi-step workflows?

Accepted Answer

**Yes.** Gidens automates entire multi-step workflows, including:

- **Document processing**
- **Invoice and payment workflows**
- **Scheduling and calendar management**
- **Inventory forecasting**
- **Compliance reporting**

The platform follows the **80/20 automation principle**: we automate the **80% of operations** that follow predictable patterns while protecting the **20%** where human expertise and relationships are irreplaceable.

Question 11

What industries does Gidens serve?

Accepted Answer

Gidens works across industries because every business has administrative workflows that slow them down. We're built to serve:

- **Professional services firms** drowning in client communication
- **Construction companies** managing permit workflows
- **Creative agencies** stuck in project management overhead
- **Local businesses** juggling compliance and vendor management
- **Food and restaurant businesses** navigating regulatory filings

The common thread? **Too much administrative work** and not enough time for the work that actually grows a business.

Question 12

How does Gidens help small businesses?

Accepted Answer

Our earliest success stories come from **Hawaii**, where Gidens was founded. Small businesses in the **food industry** have used Gidens to **save hours on permit filing** — and still got their permits approved. A **packaged food product business** streamlined their entire permit application process, and a **bakery** used our platform to optimize their workflows.

As one user shared: "The Gidens website makes it so easy and convenient to now apply for my **special event permits online** without the hassle of having to be stuck in traffic or just adding extra time to apply for them in person."

While our roots are in Hawaii, our platform is designed to help small businesses **anywhere in the US** facing the same administrative challenges.

Question 13

How does Gidens help growing companies (50+ employees)?

Accepted Answer

Growing organizations often outgrow off-the-shelf tools but can't afford months of **custom software development**. Gidens delivers:

- **Custom workflow automation** without custom software timelines
- **Unified command center** connecting CRMs, finance tools, and operations platforms
- **Real-time operational visibility** and automated execution
- Conversation to **clear proposal in under 30 days**

Question 14

What makes Gidens different as a Hawaii-founded company?

Accepted Answer

As a **Hawaii-born company** serving businesses **nationwide**, Gidens brings a unique perspective rooted in **community-first values**. Our early success includes Hawaii-specific workflows like:

- **Special event permit applications**
- **Food and restaurant compliance filings**
- **Local regulatory processes**

These experiences shaped a platform that understands **real-world operational challenges** — not just Silicon Valley abstractions. That same approach applies to small businesses **across the US** facing similar administrative burdens.

Question 15

What is the WAVES framework?

Accepted Answer

**WAVES** stands for **Workflow Automation Value & Efficiency Scale**. It's a practical assessment tool Gidens created to evaluate where your organization stands across **six maturity levels**. Through **10 questions**, it evaluates six critical dimensions: how much work is automated, how well systems communicate, how intelligently technology supports decisions, how adaptable processes are, and how effectively team time is utilized.

Question 16

What are the WAVES maturity levels?

Accepted Answer

The six levels of the WAVES framework:

- **Level 0 — Manual/Paper-Based:** Everything runs on paper, notebooks, and filing boxes. Minimal digital tools, high manual data entry.
- **Level 1 — Basic Digitization:** Digital tools are adopted but disconnected from each other. Administrative burden often peaks at this stage.
- **Level 2 — System Integration:** Core systems are connected and communicating. Reports generate without manual compilation.
- **Level 3 — Process Automation:** Routine decisions happen automatically based on defined rules. Your team focuses on exceptions and strategy.
- **Level 4 — Intelligent Automation:** AI assists with decision-making, predictive analytics guide operations, and workflows self-optimize.
- **Level 5 — Autonomous Operations:** AI agents manage complex workflows end-to-end. Systems self-diagnose and operate with minimal human intervention.

Question 17

Why does the WAVES assessment matter?

Accepted Answer

Understanding your automation maturity helps you make **smarter investment decisions**. The data is compelling:

- **54%** of business capacity is trapped in manual administrative tasks
- **$4,600 per employee** lost annually to document inefficiency
- **23 hours per week** spent on admin by small business owners
- **18 minutes** average time to find a single document manually
- **88%** of spreadsheets contain errors

WAVES helps you pinpoint exactly where automation will have the **highest impact** for your specific business.

Question 18

Where does my industry typically fall on the WAVES scale?

Accepted Answer

Industry benchmarks vary widely:

- **Level 0:** Micro food vendors, cash-only services
- **Level 1:** Small retail, independent food service, traditional agriculture
- **Level 2:** Construction, professional services (legal, accounting), healthcare clinics
- **Level 3:** Healthcare systems, logistics, insurance, banking
- **Level 4:** Major financial services, FinTech, SaaS, e-commerce platforms
- **Level 5:** Advanced robotics, algorithmic trading, leading tech companies

Question 19

How does Gidens protect my data?

Accepted Answer

For enterprise clients, we offer the **Data Triage Room** — an enterprise-grade security layer that sits between your sensitive business data and third-party AI models. It uses **three layers of protection**:

- **Intelligent Data Filtering** — Only the minimum necessary data passes through; everything else stays locked in your systems
- **Real-Time Anonymization & Sanitization** — PII is stripped, proprietary formulas and trade secrets are redacted, customer data is anonymized
- **Machine-Ready Data Transformation** — Clean standardized formats with full audit trails for compliance

The AI **never sees your full dataset**.

Question 20

What are Gidens' AI governance principles?

Accepted Answer

We operate by **10 principles for ethical AI**:

- **People First** — AI empowers, never replaces
- **Transparency & Honesty** — No hidden decision-making or black boxes
- **Privacy & Data Stewardship** — Data collected minimally, never sold
- **Bias Awareness & Fairness** — Actively designing to reduce bias for underrepresented communities
- **Accountability** — We own our AI's outcomes
- **Human-in-the-Loop by Default** — Critical decisions always have user oversight
- **Cultural Respect** — Respecting local knowledge and community values
- **Sustainability & Long-Term Thinking** — Never compromising trust for short-term gains
- **Continuous Learning & Improvement** — Ongoing monitoring and user feedback loops
- **Amplify Human Good** — Measuring success by whether owners feel more supported and capable

Question 21

Is Gidens compliant with data regulations?

Accepted Answer

Gidens takes data security seriously and builds with **GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA** best practices in mind. We use **end-to-end encryption**, **role-based access controls**, and conduct regular **third-party security assessments**. Our Data Triage Room adds an additional layer of protection for enterprise clients. User data is a privilege, not a right — we collect it **minimally**, store it **securely**, use it only for its given purpose, and users maintain **full ownership and control**.

Question 22

What is the Data Triage Room?

Accepted Answer

Think of it as a **clean room for your data**. Most enterprises unknowingly ship sensitive IP to third-party AI models every time they use AI-powered tools. The Data Triage Room solves this:

- **Without Triage Room:** Your Data → AI → Risk
- **With Triage Room:** Your Data → Triage Room (filters/anonymizes/secures) → AI → Your Results

You get **full AI capabilities** with **zero IP leakage**, complete audit visibility, and **compliance-ready security**.

Question 23

How much does Gidens cost?

Accepted Answer

- **Small Business:** **$40/month** — includes guided setup and full platform access
- **Enterprise:** **Custom pricing** based on your organization's needs, scale, and integration requirements

Contact us at **info@gidens.com** to discuss enterprise solutions.

Question 24

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

The fastest way is to **start a conversation with Gidget** on our homepage. Tell us what brings you here — whether you run a small business, you're exploring solutions for a growing company, or you're just curious — and we'll guide you to **exactly what's relevant**. You can also reach us directly at **info@gidens.com**.

Question 25

How long does implementation take?

Accepted Answer

- **Small businesses:** Guided setup that gets you running quickly
- **Enterprise:** **2-4 week sprint** model with your team

We move from initial conversation to a **clear proposal in under 30 days** because the value speaks for itself.

Question 26

Why is automation critical for businesses right now?

Accepted Answer

The numbers tell the story:

- **54%** of business capacity is trapped in manual administrative tasks
- **23 hours per week** spent on admin by small business owners
- **18 minutes** average time to find a single document manually
- **88%** of spreadsheets contain errors
- **$1.8 trillion** lost annually to poor data quality and manual processing errors
- **67%** of customers lost due to poor processes

The businesses that thrive embrace the **hybrid model** — sophisticated enough to leverage AI and automation, yet grounded enough to preserve **authentic relationships**.

Question 27

What is the 80/20 automation principle?

Accepted Answer

Effective automation targets the **80% of operations** that follow predictable patterns:

- Document processing
- Invoice and payment workflows
- Scheduling
- Inventory forecasting
- Compliance reporting
- Data entry

It protects the **20% of human interactions** where expertise creates irreplaceable value:

- Strategic decisions
- Complex problem solving
- Relationship building
- Creative innovation
- Crisis management
- Leadership

Resource Library

WAVES Benchmark Report 2026

Workflow Tools

WAVES Assessment

Hidden Costs Calculator

Workflow Analyzer

About Gidens

Platform & Features

Use Cases & Industries

WAVES Assessment Framework

Data Security & AI Governance

Pricing & Getting Started

The Automation Crisis