Chapter 3:
Navigating Enterprise Complexities
Kelola Group (Tangerang) - October 2019 to November 2021
My journey as a software engineer took an exciting turn when I joined Kelola Group, an established enterprise with a rich history in the seafood export industry. This experience would prove invaluable, exposing me to the complexities of large-scale operations and the importance of robust, scalable solutions across multiple business units.
At Kelola Group, I wore multiple hats as both a mobile and frontend engineer. One of my key projects was developing an app for field agents to input and monitor product prices in their territories. This wasn't just another app; it was a critical tool for facilitating better decision-making at the highest levels of management in a company with national-scale operations.
But the true test of my skills came with the revamping of the company's HRIS app. Leading the frontend efforts, I faced the challenge of eliminating data mismatches and achieving seamless integration with fingerprint readers. It was a complex puzzle that required me to dive deep into Svelte and Vue, technologies that were relatively new to me at the time.
The stakes were high – we were dealing with payroll and human resource data for a large workforce spread across multiple locations. Any mistakes could have serious consequences. But the technical challenges were just the beginning. As we rolled out the new system, we encountered significant resistance from some employees who were skeptical of the changes.
This is where the project became as much about people as it was about technology. Working closely with my team leader, we developed a comprehensive change management strategy. We organized training sessions, created user-friendly documentation, and held one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders. Our approach was to listen to concerns, address them transparently, and demonstrate the benefits of the new system.
There were moments of frustration and doubt, but our persistence paid off. Gradually, we won over even the most resistant employees. By the end of the implementation, we had not only improved data accuracy but also boosted overall satisfaction among management and employees alike. This experience taught me the invaluable lesson that successful software engineering is as much about managing people and expectations as it is about writing code.
In addition to the HRIS project, I had the opportunity to contribute to another exciting venture within the Kelola Group. I was tasked with developing an e-commerce platform for Kitchen of Indonesia, one of the group's member companies. This project allowed me to expand my skills into the realm of online retail, working on everything from product catalogues to payment integrations.
The Kitchen of Indonesia e-commerce site presented its own unique challenges. We needed to create a user-friendly interface that showcased the company's diverse product range while ensuring smooth backend operations for order processing and inventory management. This project required me to blend my technical skills with a keen understanding of user experience and e-commerce best practices.
As the site took shape, I found myself diving into the intricacies of SEO optimization, performance tuning for fast page loads, and implementing secure payment gateways. The successful launch of the Kitchen of Indonesia online store was a testament to our team's ability to deliver comprehensive, multi-faceted solutions.
This chapter in my career as a software engineer taught me the art of working within established systems while driving innovation. I learned to navigate complex organizational structures, to communicate effectively with various departments, and to always keep the end-user in mind, whether that user was a field agent, an HR manager, a C-level executive, or an online shopper.
The experiences at Kelola Group - from developing mobile apps to revamping critical internal systems and launching e-commerce platforms - significantly broadened my skill set and deepened my understanding of enterprise-scale software engineering. It reinforced my passion for creating solutions that not only meet technical requirements but also drive real business value and user satisfaction.