In a strategic move to enhance operational efficiency, Evernote, the renowned note-taking app once hailed as the “king of note-taking apps,” has made significant changes to its organizational structure.
The Redwood City-based company, which underwent various transformations over the past decade, including its acquisition by Italian app maker Bending Spoons last November, has laid off a substantial portion of its workforce in the United States and Chile.
According to a statement from Bending Spoons CEO Luca Ferrari, the majority of Evernote’s operations will now be transitioned to Europe, marking a pivotal shift for the company.
The decision to downsize its staff comes on the heels of Evernote’s recent struggle with profitability, rendering its long-term sustainability uncertain.
Earlier this year, the company eliminated 129 positions, citing its unprofitable status as the primary reason for the cuts. It appears that the need to streamline operations and maximize efficiency prompted Evernote’s leadership to make these tough decisions.
Once a prominent player in the productivity sector, Evernote faced significant challenges in expanding beyond its core note-taking niche. This led to successive rounds of layoffs in 2015 and 2018, with the latter round coinciding with an executive exodus.
The company’s missteps opened the door for emerging competitors like Notion, based in San Francisco, while industry giants Apple and Microsoft bolstered their own note-taking applications.
Bending Spoons, Evernote’s parent company, announced last year that it had surpassed $100 million in annual revenue, indicating a healthy financial standing.
The company secured an impressive $340 million funding round, supported by major Italian banking institutions and Maximum Effort, the company owned by Ryan Reynolds.
However, details about Evernote’s specific financial performance have not been disclosed in Ferrari’s recent statement.
When questioned about the number of affected employees, a spokesperson for Evernote did not provide a response. However, according to LinkedIn posts from affected workers, personnel in the engineering and IT departments were impacted by the layoffs.
Evernote Exits the Bay Area makes Significant Staff Reductions
Ferrari emphasized that Evernote’s ambitious plans remain intact despite the restructuring. A dedicated and expanding team based in Europe will assume ownership of the Evernote product moving forward.
Leveraging the expertise of Bending Spoons’ workforce, consisting of over 400 professionals, many of whom have been dedicated to Evernote since the acquisition, the company aims to revitalize its offerings and position itself for future success.
In an effort to support affected employees during this transition, Evernote has implemented several measures. These include providing 16 weeks of salary, a prorated performance bonus, up to one year of health insurance coverage, and visa support where applicable.
As Evernote executes its relocation and consolidation strategy, the company is poised to emerge as a leaner and more focused organization.
By centralizing operations in Europe, Evernote aims to achieve heightened operational efficiency, while also capitalizing on the expertise and resources available within the broader Bending Spoons network.
The impact of these changes on Evernote’s user experience and future developments remains to be seen, but the company is determined to maintain its position as a leader in the note-taking app market, catering to the evolving needs of its global user base.
The decision by Evernote to lay off most of its staff and shift operations to Europe is expected to have significant implications for the company.
On one hand, the move is aimed at improving operational efficiency by centralizing operations and leveraging the expertise of Bending Spoons, Evernote’s parent company.
By streamlining its workforce and focusing on a dedicated team based in Europe, Evernote hopes to revitalize its product and position itself for future success in the highly competitive note-taking app market.
However, these changes also come with potential risks and uncertainties. The layoffs and relocation may disrupt the company’s internal dynamics and affect morale among the remaining employees.
Additionally, Evernote will need to prove that it can effectively adapt to the European market and address the evolving needs of its user base.
With emerging competitors and established players continuously innovating in the note-taking space, Evernote will face the challenge of regaining its prominence and distinguishing itself in a crowded marketplace.
