To succeed, work hard, seize the day, and communicate

Meet Yury, information systems development manager at Beeline Russia. In this interview, he tells us about the potential of bots, ways to find solutions, how research can stimulate innovation, and more.

On his honeymoon, Yury traveled to Santorini. There he encountered a magical landscape. Naturally, Yury took out his camera for pictures.

While traveling, photography is how Yury captures the beauty in front of him. When he’s back in the digital department at Beeline Russia, those images are a helpful reminder to never let the moment pass you by.

That’s a solid nugget of wisdom. In this interview, we get to hear more about Yury’s work at Beeline, as well as some insights on how to succeed in today’s dynamic world.

What current projects are you working on at Beeline?

The main project I’m working on now is called Bots for HR. We are creating an electronic assistant for HR so that employees can find information faster. It’s still in pilot mode. But it’s already reducing bureaucracy and unnecessary manual tasks.

Cool. Can you give us an example of how this bot works?

We are using Skype bot APIs. For example, if an employee wants to take a holiday, he or she can write to the bot. Then, the bot will give information on how to submit the vacation request. It speeds everything up.

What other projects are you working on?

Now, we are creating a smartboard for our call center. We hope to change the first line by using bots. For this project, I am handling product management, collecting insights from research.

What do you think about the potential of chat UIs and how can they be improved?

The potential is incredible. Bots can talk with customers and identify problems. I believe it will help us at Beeline optimize our business operations.

To improve chat UIs, we need to be thinking a conversational design approach. This requires building architecture that can map all the different paths a conversation can take. Much groundwork has already been done. But we need to keep working to increase accuracy and sophistication.

How do you do your research?

We use different methods. But, the overall process is similar for any project. It’s like design thinking, which has five phases (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test). We start out by experiencing the pain points of our employees and customers, then we brainstorm, create, and test. Communication is crucial throughout. This is the best way to innovate successfully.

What have you found out about Beeline’s employees and customers during your research?

I’ve been to the call center in Nizhny Novgorod to spend the day observing our employees work. I’ve found they really have to multi-task. They have to watch information about clients in different IT systems. Constantly switching among systems gets difficult. We need one integrated system. This would simplify everything.

Also, from observing our client’s problems, I’ve come to the realization that there is no one solution for everything. From headquarters, some problems may seem easy to solve. But every situation is different and there are always unique details. We need to be listening more and creating tailored solutions.

Why did you come to Beeline?

I choose Beeline because it’s a modern, innovative tech company that is a leader in Russian telecom. I previously worked at a construction company, which is a lot different from telecom. But both are centered around infrastructure and product creation, so the transition wasn’t so crazy. For me, the telecom industry is new and exciting.

What would your advice be to Beeline candidates?

Be open to new experiences and ideas. Be a great communicator, because that’s how we collaborate and create great things here. You also need tech skills. But communication is vital.

What do you do outside work (music, hobbies, etc.)?

I listen to all sorts of music, like hip-hop, jazz, soul, and rock. When I was young, I was big into Metallica and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Each summer, I always go to concerts. It’s a great way to get away from work. Discover more below….

My main hobby is probably collecting coins. I have a collection of about 1,000 Russian coins. It all started when I was 5 years old, when my father gave me some coins. Other than collecting coins, I love traveling and taking pictures of the places I visit.

What is your favorite place in Moscow?

Sometimes I just need some nature. Which is why I often go to MGU Botanic Garden. Out of all the botanic gardens in Moscow, this is the most beautiful. It’s quite peaceful. I recommend this green space to anyone visiting the city.

What advice would you give your childhood self?

Weigh everything before making decisions. Preparation is essential. And hard work is the key to success. Always be ready to work hard, and be ready to learn new things, like other languages.

That wraps up our interview with Yury. There is much to learn from his work with bots, insights on research methods, and emphasis on communication.

After all, if we are to have success, we need an approach like Yury’s. We must be open to working with new technology. We should research vigorously, and we must communicate. If we can do that, and if we are willing to work hard, the impossible can be achieved.