INSIGHTS
Being the architect of the
digital turnaround in construction.
Marc Heinzelmann is a new member of the SEQUELLO team. In his role as our lead software architect, he will lay the foundations for ensuring that our construction logistics platform remains performant and future-proof as it scales. In this interview, he tells us what attracts him to the position and why he finds digitization in the construction industry exciting.
Question: Marc, before we focus on the core questions of the interview, can you start by telling us how you become a software architect*?
Answer: There are basically two ways to become a software architect. You can start out as a junior in a team of experienced software architects right after graduation. However, this rarely happens in practice.
Like many other software architects, I started as a developer after studying computer science. Over time, my area of responsibility has evolved more and more in the direction of software architecture. The advantage of this path is that you get an understanding of how developers work and therefore approach the task quite differently when planning the system architecture.
Q: What tasks fall within the scope of software architects?
A: The software architect is related to the architect from the world of building. Software systems also need an architecture, similar to a floor plan. In the software field, you specify what technologies will be used and what requirements a system must meet to work well now and in the future.
Q: Can you please tell us what attracted you to this position at SEQUELLO and why you chose it?
A: There are of course different aspects that influenced my decision. However, what attracted me most was the opportunity to accompany the development of a software solution at a very early stage. Even during the application process, I realized that everyone here can and wants to make a difference. The role is exciting because here you can try to be an architect of the digital turnaround in construction.
During the application process, I also got the opportunity to speak with members of the product team. The insights into the divisions’ organizational structure and the processes in product development left a very positive impression on me here. These are already ideal prerequisites for being able to scale successfully.
Q: From a technical point of view, what do you see as the charm of a platform solution like the one we want to establish on the market?
A: SEQUELLO is designed as an integration platform. This means that our customers can continue to use their existing MRP or ERP systems. With our platform, we establish communication capability between the construction companies and the suppliers. The advantage for users is that they can simply connect to our system via an API and then use the end-to-end digital process.
Q: Aside from the one-time API connection, are there other aspects that may appeal to IT managers in particular?
A: If SEQUELLO offers new functions in the future, these can be easily used with the existing API connection and no further interfaces need to be created. The one-time API connection has the added benefit of requiring less maintenance, as opposed to having many different interfaces in use.
Q: Thank you very much for the interview! Have fun and success with us on the team. You are very welcome!
A: Thank you! I can’t wait to really get started now.
*For ease of reading, we use only the masculine spelling for the job titles in this article.