Obsidian Systems, Atlassian Rethink the System of Work

Obsidian Systems, an established supplier of open-source solutions, in partnership with Atlassian, brought together leaders from across the financial services industry for an exclusive FinServ Round Table event held at the beginning of the month. The session, led by Markus Meukel, Head of EMEA Channels at Atlassian, provided delegates with a forward-looking perspective on how to reshape productivity and collaboration in a changing digital world.

At the heart of the discussion was Atlassian’s “System of Work” philosophy, a technology-driven framework that unites business and technical teams to accelerate progress, reduce silos, and boost strategic alignment. Meukel unpacked how tools like Jira, Confluence, and Atlassian Access integrate seamlessly into a single platform—underpinned by the Teamwork Graph—to provide visibility, improve decision-making, and unleash collective knowledge.

“Atlassian’s vision is built around how modern teams operate—often distributed, highly dynamic, and under increasing pressure to deliver fast,” said Markus Meukel. “With our System of Work, we’re helping financial institutions overcome tool sprawl, integrate AI effectively, and empower teams with data-driven insights.”

Executives attending the Round Table were treated to real-world insights into how leading financial services companies—from Sun Life to National Australia Bank—are centralising on the Atlassian Cloud platform, driving cost savings, automating workflows, and aligning work directly to organisational goals.

Key stats shared during the event included:

• 77% of customers saved up to five hours per week seeking information.
• 88% reported fewer meetings due to centralised visibility.
• 86% saw a significant reduction in operational silos.

Delegates discussed the rising pressure to reinvent their operating models—with 45% of CEOs (PwC, 2024) believing their businesses would not be viable in a decade without reinvention. The conversation also addressed the practical realities of integrating generative AI, improving team productivity, and tracking performance at scale.

“For Obsidian, this event looked beyond the tools into ways of transformation,” said Muggie van Staden, MD of Obsidian Systems. “We are seeing a shift in how financial services organisations view collaboration. They are looking for platforms that do not just support their teams but actively shape the way work happens.”

Obsidian Systems continues to serve as a strategic Atlassian partner in South Africa, offering local expertise, hands-on training, and solutions tailored for enterprise customers in regulated industries.