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From a Software Engineer Working in the Logistics Industry

Developer ux research

Having a penchant for problem-solving through code, I have been searching for complex domains with challenging problems. These problems, although everywhere, have been approached and tackled by a lot of brilliant minds around the world. As such, coming to Forto and discovering the mammoth that is the logistics industry was a humbling experience.

Entry into logistics

Logistics always seemed like an alien industry to a software engineer like me, primarily because of the sector’s immensity and background. I grew up in a river port city and have been around people making scores of phone calls and writing invoices for goods they procured from other countries. Despite being a person who loves solving complex problems and being a computer nerd, it never occurred to me that I could use my coding and problem-solving skills in an industry that is almost entirely pen and paper-based.

When I arrived at Forto, I was onboarded and I began to understand the scope of improvements that were possible in the logistics sector. It was an industry that was ready for digitalization but there were huge challenges ahead before this could happen. That’s when I fully appreciated that this problem-loving computer nerd was in the right place at the right time. Can you imagine how I felt when I realized I had the opportunity to transform the entire industry by developing and introducing industry-leading digital solutions? I knew Forto was the right place for me.

My first challenge

My first weeks at Forto focussed on trying to understand the various terms, ideas, and processes in this industry. Simultaneously, I was also onboarded to our applications, which aim to provide an experience of moving goods that is as simple as sending emails. It wasn’t until my first actual software feature that I realized the complexity of the system and the enormity of the challenge. It became clear that I had found the complex code-based challenge that I’d been looking for.

It appeared to be a simple problem, based on how the industry works, to get the weight of a cargo transported via air that can be chargeable. It seemed to me that this would be the actual weight of the shipment. However, I was severely mistaken when I realized that it depended on the airplane carriers, time of the year, and a “chargeable rate” set by that carrier that was often not transparent.

A tiny field in this massive software that could require relatively complex logic was something I had not foreseen. My first logistics problem showcased that the industry is way more complicated than I imagined, and more significant issues would be even more challenging. This excited me since I realized the nature of problems would be diverse and unpredictable.

Further down the line

Having had a few months of experience in this domain and working on projects that ranged from finance to partner management, I have had a roller coaster ride understanding this industry. Solutions require multiple iterations, making you think fast but with scalability in mind. Decision making is critical when there are numerous solutions to the same problem.

During my first few months, we also grew from mostly managing shipments imported to Europe to a more global team with offices in China and Vietnam. This has introduced additional challenges because every country has its own rules and regulations regarding the transportation of goods from one country to another.

A massive industry with immense potential to solve complex problems.

Issues also arise due to real-world situations like differences in currencies between these countries, the ongoing pandemic, container shortages, or the Suez Canal crisis. Such conditions make for an ever-changing and ever-evolving business environment that has the potential to transform technical strategies every few months.

Future of working in this industry

Despite all of these challenges, it has been fascinating to develop solutions in a culturally rich environment. We have had to think outside the box in many circumstances, sometimes to ensure long term solutions and other times to gain quick wins. It has made me aware of the pitfalls of software development, and as a result, it has made me a better engineer.

I also take professional pride in being a pioneer of sorts when I realize that I am working on problems with my colleagues that hardly anyone has fully solved. Even today, it excites me to think that I have been part of a team that has grown to become a unicorn, fostered by a strong and diverse engineering environment. I look forward to the next set of challenges that come my way, to use what I’ve learned in this fascinating and complex industry, and to create more ingenious solutions for our customers.