Manifesto

The problem: data is siloed

The modern digital workspace is fragmented. Information is scattered across countless specialized services—emails, documents, tasks, notes, messages—each living in its own silo. This creates friction: data is hard to find, difficult to transfer, and nearly impossible to unify across different tools.

We believe the era of specialized services is behind us. The future of work is not about switching between disconnected apps but about building upon a unified data layer—a foundation that structures and connects all your work into a seamless, intelligent system.

Our core principles

1. A foundational data layer

Instead of locking users into predefined workflows, Routine introduces a universal data layer that ingests and organizes information from third-party services.

This layer becomes the foundation upon which workflows, applications, and automations can be built, eliminating fragmentation and ensuring data is never stuck.

2. Data as a graph, not silos

Information is not linear; it's interconnected.

Routine structures all data as a graph, where entities (tasks, emails, meetings, contacts, tickets, customers, files) relate to one another naturally.

A powerful querying language allows users to retrieve precisely what they need, when they need it—solving problems dynamically instead of searching endlessly across multiple apps.

3. User-defined data model

Every workflow is different!

Instead of being forced into rigid structures defined by software, users should be able to define their own data model, adapting the system to their unique processes.

Routine allows users to create and modify their own schemas. This means that professionals and teams can craft workflows that evolve with their work, rather than being constrained by predefined templates or limited data structures.

4. Strongly typed data

Routine's approach is to act as a data infrastructure for other apps and workflows to be built up: CRM, CMS, ATS etc.

In order to provide a strong foundation, Routine relies on a strongly-typed data layer that ensures structure, integrity and reliability.

This makes it possible to build workflows and applications on top of the data layer with confidence, supporting a broad range of use cases while preventing inconsistencies and data loss.

5. Dissociate data from visualization

The information is yours, and you should be able to choose how to view it.

Routine enforces a clear separation between data and visualization, allowing users to decide both what to display (via queries) and how to display it (via flexible visual components).

This empowers teams to construct dashboards, reports, and workspaces that best suit their workflows—without being constrained by rigid UI structures.

6. Multiplex data across sources

Routine allows for seamless integration and transformation of data from multiple sources, treating them as a single, unified dataset.

Regardless of their original service, objects become first-class entities that can be queried, linked, enriched and acted upon, making workflows more fluid and intelligent.

7. Local-first by design

In a world where cloud services dominate, data sovereignty is often compromised.

Routine takes a local-first approach, ensuring that users retain full control over their information. By prioritizing local storage and computation (e.g AI), Routine minimizes reliance on the cloud, improving performance, privacy, and data availability—even offline.

Sensitive data remains on your device by default, and synchronization with external services happens only when necessary and with user consent. This approach not only enhances security and privacy but also ensures that your workflows remain uninterrupted, even in low-connectivity environments.

8. AI as an amplifier, not a replacement

Automation should empower, not replace human decision-making.

AI in Routine serves to enhance workflows, providing intelligent recommendations, automating mundane tasks, and surfacing critical insights—while keeping users in control.

To make the best decisions, professionals need clear overviews of their information, and AI should act as an enabler rather than an opaque black box making choices on their behalf.

Our Vision: a work infrastructure

Routine is more than a productivity tool—it's a data infrastructure that underpins modern work.

By breaking down barriers between services, it enables individuals and teams to build powerful workflows, customized applications, and adaptable knowledge systems.

We envision a future where:

• All work data is connected, structured, and accessible, eliminating silos and friction.
• Applications are built on top of a unified data layer, enabling true flexibility in workflows.
• Professionals control their information, shaping their own work environments rather than conforming to rigid tools.
• Visualization is flexible and dynamic, giving users complete freedom over how they interact with their data.
• AI serves as a powerful assistant, augmenting human intelligence while keeping users in charge.
• Privacy is prioritized, ensuring users are in full control of their data without unnecessary dependencies on the cloud.

This is not just about productivity—it's about redefining how we interact with work itself.

This is the future of work. This is Routine.