"People management is very important in my job"
Ola is a Test Manager in the Transportation Platform team at ALDI SOUTH. In this interview, he tells us about his daily work and reveals the importance of communication in the testing process when it comes to successfully creating customer-centred solutions.
Before you take us through a day in your job, could you introduce yourself briefly and tell us how long you’ve been at ALDI SOUTH?
Ola: Hi, my name is Ola and I’ve been working at ALDI SOUTH for two years as a Test Manager in the Transportation Platform team. I currently live in the Pempelfort district of Düsseldorf.
What does a typical work day look like for you as a Test Manager – if there is such a thing as a typical day?
Ola: My work day is very varied, depending on whether or not a major release is pending. My team is currently working on an Enterprise Release 3.0. This is equivalent to a major release that affects the company’s entire software architecture and can include several new features, updates and demands at the same time.
My day starts between 7.30am and 8am with a call in which we discuss the status of the project. We talk about the testing progress and any defects. Together we try to find a solution so that any problems arising can be resolved quickly and avoided in the future. The contacts from our service provider also take part in the meeting. They give us a daily update on whether we achieved our goals from the day before or why we didn’t manage to meet them. They also help us to create new demands for the test process. I then have another important daily appointment: the SAP Transportation Management meeting, which is followed by a discussion of the Confluence report. This is the single point of truth for the various departments in the supply chain area when it comes to discussing the next steps.
As I’m currently working on three projects, there is also an exchange between the domains and platform teams every Monday. The domain liaises with the National IT teams in the ALDI SOUTH countries and the business to improve the business process. The platform teams are responsible for the technical implementation of any updates and new features. During the call, the current project status is shared with all platform leads. The focus of these meetings for me is always on working with the relevant stakeholders and technical teams to find solutions to current problems in the testing process.
Generally speaking, my work day involves a lot of stakeholder management, taking part in calls and coordinating our testing activities.
What would you say defines your role as a Test Manager?
Ola: As a Test Manager, it’s very important that I have an overview of the project progress. We must always keep “on track” to make sure that we don’t get left behind. When problems arise, I have to be aware of the right moment to escalate things and how to deal with the service providers in such situations. “People management” is very important in my job. Building good relationships with my colleagues is crucial to me.
What do you want to achieve at ALDI SOUTH? What drives you – what gets you out of bed in the morning?
Ola: Getting up in the morning is easy for me becauseI love my job and it gives me a great deal of enjoyment. I also love my team and the company. Everyone here is really friendly and always willing to help.
Can you tell us about a specific project you’re working on right now? What has been your most exciting project so far?
Ola: My most exciting project at the moment is the SAP upgrade for our Enterprise Release 3.0.Due to a system update from SAP, we are getting a new software version in the area of transportation management.Our task is to check whether the software meets our requirements and ensure that it doesn’t have any negative impact on our existing processes. For this purpose, our external service provider performs a system integration test and we conduct an internal user application test. People who use the application in the company should have the opportunity to try out the new version to see if it meets their expectations. Only after they have approved it can the update be rolled out for all other ALDI SOUTH countries.
What would you say makes ALDI SOUTH IT unique as an employer? Try and tell us in just five words.
Ola: Friendly, caring, open. You feel at home straight away and there is always someone there if you need help.
What challenges do you face as part of your everyday work?
Ola: It’s important to get crucial feedback in time, so good time management is essential in my job. My personal trick is to establish strong connections with my colleagues. Communication is much easier if you have a good relationship with your contacts.
What should anyone looking to start a career as a Test Manager at ALDI SOUTH IT bring to the table? Are there any candidates for whom ALDI SOUTH IT might not be the best fit?
Ola: People who want to work as a Test Manager at ALDI SOUTH IT should have good conflict management skills and generally find it easy to work with different people. It is also an advantage if they are comfortable managing resources and are able to think “outside of the box”.
What do you associate with ”Reprogram retail”?
Ola: For me, ”Reprogram retail” means that we are always looking for new ways to optimise our retail strategy, so that we can become an even better food retailer for our customers.
Thanks for talking to us, Ola!
Help us shape the future of retail together: take a look at our job openings and apply now!