In this week's interview, we had the opportunity to speak with Dragan Stamenković, one of the web developers here at GRM Digital.
Dragan helps GRM clients achieve their business goals and requirements by solving their digital challenges through the development of websites and software applications.
Let's learn more about his role and work at the digital marketing agency.
Tell us a little more about yourself and what the DEV team does at GRM?
I have spent my entire career working as a developer. Joining the GRM development team, my daily work includes maintaining existing websites and software applications, as well as developing and implementing new solutions. As a team, we strive to deliver greater value to our clients by considering the end-user experience before building a website.
I am also responsible for evaluating code to ensure it meets industry standards; is it properly structured and compatible with browsers, devices or operating systems. Then, identifying and resolving any technical issues or bottlenecks revealed through client feedback and testing is always on my list.
Additionally, I am involved in business process assessment, demand forecasting and identifying areas for improvement for our clients. The goal is always the same - providing solutions that meet the client's business needs and requirements and improve their business quality.
Moreover, I actively advise our clients on the best tools, hardware, software and other IT elements for their business to streamline their operations with better technology.
Going back a few years, how did you initially enter the world of programming?
I have been passionate about technology since I was a child and have put a lot of effort into learning different programming languages in the hope that it will pay off one day.
It all started during my high school days where I became interested in game development. After high school I became a part of some really interesting projects, including custom scheduling and inventory software for several small local businesses.
These experiences awakened a desire and ambition for bigger morocco phone number data projects and new technologies, so I started looking for a company where I could develop my knowledge and skills and have the opportunity to work with some of the big names. My attempts led me to GRM, where I joined their team as a Junior Developer.
I was trained and guided with the latest web applications and programming practices through education, learning, and participation in conferences, workshops, and groups, which was a very interesting experience.
You hold the Kentico Certified Developer qualification. How has this improved your work and delivery of GRM to clients?
In the last few years, we have seen great advances in content management systems, and Kentico is a good example of a system that uses modern technology and provides great solutions to our clients.
Kentico qualifications have given me a better understanding of the software, and therefore enabled me to build better and more efficient solutions for our clients. Starting from our GRM Digital site, to Keepmoat, RoSPA, Sakura and many others.
The Kentico Expert Award has confirmed my knowledge and expertise in developing and maintaining applications using Kentico technologies. I have gained greater credibility and a competitive advantage over other developers.
How do you successfully overcome challenges in working with clients and their expectations?
The biggest challenges are vaguely defined requirements and clients who don't really know what they want, or who only know exactly what they want when they see the finished product.
To successfully overcome these challenges, we provide them with suggestions and advice for their business based on our many years of experience, and help them understand the importance of well-defined requirements to prevent dissatisfaction after the project is completed.
We do this practically through prototyping and understanding the ultimate goal of the project so that we can offer the best solution to meet that ultimate goal.
Can you walk us through a typical Monday in the DEV team?
We usually start the day with a meeting where we all update each other on the tasks we are currently working on. In this meeting, team members can share if they are having any problems with the project they are working on or if they need any help.
There's always something new to hear and learn, whether it's a team member stuck on a problem or a client looking for a solution to a problem, so we talk about it.
Then, we spend the rest of the day working on our tasks assigned to us by our project manager. However, sometimes we get interrupted by an urgent problem or request from our clients where we jump in to help.