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 already knew eCabs as 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 software development, I transitioned into the field of data analysis quite early on in my career, and have been perfecting my skills in this area for the past 6 years.  When I originally started digging my teeth into data analysis, it consisted mainly in developing 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 motivations in pursuing my career in data analytics is being able to aggregate data from multiple sources, create interactive visuals to interpret it and then create 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 mobility technology and industry disruption. 

As a person with a fascination for big data, I aspired to work for a company 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 interesting insight, which in turn helps the company to make more informed decisions.

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 immediately felt part of a young and dynamic team. Thanks 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 professional 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, by simply interacting with the app I always knew that technology lay at the heart of its customer-centric mentality.  What I perhaps did not appreciate before joining was the level of human-machine interaction that pervades the organisation. Behind the multiple booking channels there is an intricate mosaic of technologies that interact with each other seamlessly, designed to achieve one common goal: that of providing an unparalleled customer experience end to end.  The question remains: how can eCabs harness the industry knowledge and experience garnered over a decade and translate that into an even better customer experience? That is where AI will come in and that, I believe, will be part of my role moving forward. Technology 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 excitement when I can provide new visibility 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 really 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 understanding of the requirements, suggesting improvements where possible. I then execute the project with an iterative approach, such that stakeholders are asked for feedback along the way in order to fine-tune the requirements where necessary. I like to seek the stakeholders’ direct involvement to instill a sense of ownership, since the ultimate 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?

I believe the keyword is efficiency, specifically with on-demand mobility, but also with pre-scheduled trips. Data analysis alone will not provide this increased efficiency, but harnessing the data at our disposal and using the power of AI will lead to the industry being able to have mobility options in the right place, at the right time.  This increased efficiency will undoubtedly serve to improve the customer experience by passing on the cost-savings whilst also keeping waiting times low, thereby increasing the convenience of our service.

 

Read more:

https://www.businesstoday.com.mt/bernhardt_engerer_data_analysis

Technology has been a seed in the eCabs culture since the day it moved its first passenger from point to point. That seed today became a thriving branch: a fully-fledged transport technology division, composed of an exceptional team of technologists who are driving the engines for the internationalisation vision of eCabs. Kerstin Rizzo, who joined eCabs’ technology team as Head of Programmes a year and a half ago, explains how fundamental technology has been in the growth achieved by eCabs in the past years and her role as a professional in a tech company.

“I wanted to become a chemist and had focused most of my studies on research. However, I was always interested in tech and I recall myself patiently typing code from various games’ magazines onto our ZX Spectrum a few moons ago”, she smiles.

“Eventually I read Chemistry and Computer Studies at University only to realise there were many tech opportunities available. By then, my choice was an obvious one which I never regretted.”

After 15 years as a systems’ analyst and a software developer, Kerstin spent another 10 years in management, leading several high-profile projects.  She then joined eCabs to realise she had just walked into an immensely disruptive and innovative culture.

“I must admit that I had my reservations and wondered what my interactions would be like in a company which I thought would have a relatively heavier male presence, only to find out that the workplace is also highly populated by fellow ladies. I had joined a company whose priorities are focused on innovation and a relentless pursuit for excellence. The vision is an ambitious one and it’s what makes the environment so inspiring to work in.”

Technology remains fundamental in eCabs’ growth journey and as the organisation keeps investing heavily in this area, it bids to consistently improve its efficiencies in operations, ensuring a seamless service delivery to its clients, whilst bringing about the ability to quickly adapt to unpredictable scenarios such Covid-19.

“Our technology also takes into consideration our growing driver base. Coordination of all the trips, tracking and timely pick-ups all depend on a robust technology infrastructure, also enabling us to lay out our long-term vision for the organisation. eCabs’ primary strategic goal is to internationalise its product portfolio and is in the process of transforming its current technology to a cloud-based solution.

“One of the aspects that makes working at eCabs a unique proposition is the fact that we are a company intent on bringing a drastic shift in the country’s mobility patterns. Mobility remains a big challenge for Malta with a very particular and complex infrastructure, so I am thrilled to be working on such challenges at a company with a vision of bringing a positive change in this aspect.

Being the only mobility company in Malta adopting an all-inclusive multi-booking channel model through the app, phone, web, social media and email, eCabs has made its service accessible to all to ensure mobility for everyone.”  

In a world driven by data, new exciting challenges emerge to harness that power and make good use of it. “As our service grows, our models are increasingly helping us predict traffic patterns and trends. This allows us to keep offering a reliable service within the shortest time possible and at competitive prices. With aspirations of product development into the ‘Last Mile’ delivery segment my role becomes more fun and challenging as I help to translate these innovative business requirements into IT deliverables, which will essentially see customers and their parcels reaching their destinations in a quicker, smoother and more efficient manner.”

Agility in adapting is also an essential attribute as external factors can very quickly change the priorities. Covid-19 is a perfect case in point as Kerstin points out “The surreal scenario that hit us in March 2020 had instantly shifted the priorities. But we are an amazing team and we managed to pull this through together, matching the speed and change in direction”.

Turning back to the topic of women and IT, Kerstin is proud as a woman not only in an IT environment but also at a tech mobility company. But she also quickly admits that STEM subjects remain male dominated and augurs that the future will see more women choosing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. 

“The fact that I made it means that change is indeed possible.” she quipped enthusiastically. “But this change needs to start from the very bottom, tackled from as early as kindergarten. There are plenty of innovative educational programs and science challenges that school children should be introduced and exposed to. It would help encourage a larger cohort of young women to take up tech-related jobs by also promoting women in these fields to serve as role models”. 

Kerstin admits that being interested and fascinated by astronomy, her first inspiration as a young girl was Katherine Johnson, the famed mathematician who was instrumental in Nasa’s first manned space flights. Famed by the recent Hollywood movie Hidden Figures, Katherine Johnson carved her place in the history books. Kerstin says that there is no reason not to dream big and go for the achievement. “We’re only scratching the surface of possibilities here and that is what I love about this subject and this company. The future is bright – even in the face of the battles we face today.”

 

Read more:

https://www.businesstoday.com.mt/kerstin_rizzo