Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1263287
25.06.2020 4 INTERVIEW Notwithstanding these challenging times, eCabs keeps investing in its resources with BERNHARDT ENGERER as the latest addition to its in-house team of data analysts. "I knew eCabs was a tech- oriented company, but I never expected the level of human- machine interaction driving this company towards the future of mobility", he says What is your background and why did you go into data analysis? Although I started my career in soft- ware development, I transitioned into the field of data analysis quite early in my career and have been perfecting my skills for the past 6 years. When I origi- nally started digging my teeth into data analysis, it consisted mainly in devel- oping visualisation tools, such as trend graphs and charts, analysing historical time-sensitive data in order to gain a clear understanding of any seasonal trends. Eventually, as I started delving into more complex machine learning and A.I. techniques, I got more intrigued by the insight that data could provide and the way businesses are making strategic decisions based on insight. Rather than just reporting results of past actions, I started focusing on understanding the outcomes and making inferences from these outcomes. One of my biggest mo- tivations in pursuing my career in data analytics is being able to aggregate data from multiple sources, create interac- tive visuals to interpret it and then cre- ate or apply algorithms that learn from that data to solve real-life problems. What was your perception of eCabs before you joined and what attracted you? I always associated eCabs with mo- bility technology and industry disrup- tion. As a person with a fascination for big data, I aspired to work for a com- pany that appreciates the value of data and invests in it. Working at eCabs as a Data Analyst is a unique opportunity for me to work closely with like-minded individuals to extract trends and usage patterns from the wealth of information that is available to us. We use a variety of data augmentation techniques and develop tools that help us reveal inter- esting insight, which in turn helps the company to make more informed deci- sions. What was your induction like? I joined at a very particular time. It was the second week of March. On my first day, I found myself in an empty office as all the tech team had already moved out of the office to work from home. Despite the new reality and the challenges of remote working I imme- diately felt part of a young and dynam- ic team. anks to the communication tools and the support I received from management, my integration within the team was efficient and effective. I was warmly welcomed by everyone and have quickly developed great pro- fessional and personal relationships. I swiftly realized how important my role was and the value that I could bring to the company. What were your technology expectations about eCabs?? As a client interacting with their app, I always knew that technology lay at the heart of its customer-centric men- tality. What I perhaps did not appreci- ate before joining was the level of hu- man-machine interaction that pervades the organisation. Behind the multiple booking channels there is an intricate mosaic of technologies interacting seamlessly, designed to provide an un- paralleled customer experience end to end. e question remains: how can eCabs harness the industry knowledge and experience garnered over a decade and translate that into an even better customer experience? at is where AI will come in and that, I believe, will be part of my role moving forward. Tech- nology will continue to play a key part in helping the company make sense of the large volume of data in a fast and automated way. What impressed you mostly at eCabs? I am mostly impressed by the sheer dedication of all my colleagues and the involvement of everybody on the team to ensure that we deliver a top-quality product, together with the genuine ex- citement when I can provide new vis- ibility into a trend or KPI which may have been previously less visible. I was also very impressed with the hands-on approach that management brings to the table, taking such an active role in the day-to-day running of the business. Having amassed the vast experience over the years in this industry, it real- ly is a big asset we gladly leverage and learn from. How do you usually approach a new project? I first make sure to have a thorough un- derstanding of the requirements, sug- gesting improvements where possible. I then execute the project with an iter- ative approach, asking stakeholders for feedback along the way to fine-tune the requirements where necessary. I seek the stakeholders' direct involvement to instil a sense of ownership, since the ul- timate goal is to develop a tool to help them perform their role better or more efficiently, rather than just developing a tool to be used sporadically. In what ways do you see data analysis determining the future of this industry? e keyword is efficiency, specifically with on-demand mobility, but also with pre-scheduled trips. Data analysis alone will not provide this increased efficien- cy but harnessing our data and using the power of AI will lead to the indus- try being able to have mobility options in the right place, at the right time. is increased efficiency will undoubtedly serve to improve the customer expe- rience by passing on the cost-savings whilst also keeping waiting times low, thereby increasing the convenience of our service. Data analysis and what it brings to a modern, growing business