Key Takeaways
- Interest in “business operating systems” increased by 148% from 2021 to 2024 (from a search index of 27 to 67), while interest in “labor efficiency” grew by 82% (from a search index of 34 to 62) during the same period.
- With soaring labor costs and the challenge of managing remote and hybrid workers, many business leaders are turning to operating systems to improve visibility, accountability, and labor productivity.
- The top 10 states include Alabama, Wyoming, and South Carolina, with the highest interest levels (100/100).
Growing Interest in Business Operating Systems
Based on our analysis, we’ve identified a notable trend in the growing interest in business operating systems across the United States. The data reveals an increase in search interest for the keyword “business operating systems,” with the search interest index rising from 27 in 2021 to 76 in 2024. This indicates a growing recognition of their importance in the business landscape.
Which U.S. States are Most Interested in Business Operating Systems?
Eight states have shown a maximum interest level of 100: Alabama, Wyoming, Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Indiana, Georgia, and South Carolina. These states demonstrate a particularly high interest in business operating systems. Following closely behind are Texas and West Virginia, both with an interest level of 75, rounding out the top 10.
| Region | Interest |
| Alabama | 100 |
| South Carolina | 100 |
| Wyoming | 100 |
| Arkansas | 100 |
| North Carolina | 100 |
| Oklahoma | 100 |
| Indiana | 100 |
| Georgia | 100 |
| Kentucky | 75 |
| Nebraska | 75 |
| North Dakota | 75 |
| Virginia | 75 |
| South Dakota | 75 |
| Maryland | 75 |
| Kansas | 75 |
| Florida | 75 |
| Mississippi | 75 |
| Region | Interest |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | 75 |
| New Mexico | 75 |
| Iowa | 75 |
| West Virginia | 75 |
| Arizona | 75 |
| Delaware | 75 |
| Texas | 75 |
| Missouri | 75 |
| Tennessee | 75 |
| New Hampshire | 75 |
| Michigan | 75 |
| Ohio | 50 |
| Utah | 50 |
| Idaho | 50 |
| Connecticut | 50 |
| Colorado | 50 |
| Montana | 50 |
| Region | Interest |
| New Jersey | 50 |
| Wisconsin | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | 50 |
| Alaska | 50 |
| Rhode Island | 50 |
| Minnesota | 50 |
| Illinois | 50 |
| Nevada | 50 |
| Washington | 50 |
| New York | 50 |
| Massachusetts | 50 |
| District of Columbia | 50 |
| California | 50 |
| Hawaii | 50 |
| Oregon | 50 |
| Maine | 50 |
| Vermont | 25 |
What’s Driving Growing Interest?
In today’s corporate world, operational efficiency is top of mind for virtually all companies. Bradley Hajart, EVP & Partner at Next Level Catapult, explains that with soaring labor costs and the challenge of managing remote and hybrid workers, many business leaders have realized that they must evolve their operating structure to improve visibility and accountability. Leaders are seeking ways to identify and keep their best talent and ensure the company has a clear understanding of the actions and investments that are most impacting the bottom line. Companies find that business operating systems allow them to build the operating structure they need to address the challenges they see.
There are many operating systems out there including broadly used and generalized frameworks like EOS and Scaling Up as well as many custom business operating systems like Business Operating System & Strategy (BOSS) from Next Level Catapult tailored to specific industries or organizational structures. The common link between these is that they allow companies to plan goals together, have a consistent process for reviewing progress, and have the visibility and accountability to successfully track those goals. By doing this, leaders are finding it easier to identify their top talent, flag areas of risk before it’s too late, and manage their labor costs to protect their bottom line.
Methodology
This study analyzed U.S. search trends for “business operating systems” and “labor efficiency” using Google Trends data from 2004 to 2023, focusing on changes post-pandemic and after the introduction of AI technologies like ChatGPT. We performed a Pearson correlation analysis to explore the relationship between the two search terms, along with a time series analysis to identify shifts in interest from 2021 to 2024. Geographic trends were examined to highlight state-level variations and qualitative insights from industry reports and expert commentary supplemented the quantitative data to assess the impact of business operating systems on labor productivity.