The Amazing Adventures of GOJEK’s Real Data Scientists

Written by Dewanti A. Wardhani & Alverta Shani

GOJEK’s data scientists solve some of the company’s most difficult and crucial problems. The job is definitely not all fun and games, but one thing is for sure: From matching drivers and customers to personalizing your GO-FOOD search, each project they do impact millions of lives!

So what’s it like to solve problems and impact the lives of millions of people? Here’s what our data scientists have to say about GOJEK:

Gibran Erlangga — Data Scientist, Jakarta

Prior to GOJEK, Gibran was studying applied physics for his undergraduate degree and built his own startup right after his graduation. However, the startup didn’t work out even though he pivoted multiple times. Then he looked for another job and found a company that still operated in a small house. That company was GOJEK.

He started off as a business guy in the first year of his career in GOJEK, and became a data guy until today. He considers himself lucky to be able to witness how his work affects the lives of millions of people.

Gibran says GOJEK is an exciting place to work as a data scientist because he is surrounded by tough and intellectually-challenging problems that need to be solved every day. He never imagined that all those complex mathematical formula he learned in college can be applied to tackle real-world problems. And to tackle them, he is surrounded by a team of smart and like-minded peers who possess a growth mindset.

Pallavi Shinde — Data Scientist, Jakarta

GOJEK is the first company where Pallavi Shinde gets to experiment with a Data Scientist role. Long before she could craft an algorithmic model with her superpower, Pallavi started her career as a multimedia designer in the UK. Then she slowly got hooked into web development and decided to pivot her career to the software engineering industry.

After studying Computer Science for her master’s degree in the University of Warwick, Pallavi came back to Jakarta and took on freelance jobs as a software developer. This was also the time she fell in love with Data Science. She realized the power that can be created through a single model and she aspired to be a Data Scientist one day.

However, she realized she didn’t have a strong Math background, so she quit her day job, went travel while studying data science by herself. She took online courses and did projects on her own while building a strong portfolio.

Pallavi is now living her dream, as a Data Scientist in GOJEK. She has helped solve various problems across different streams, such as supply and fraud, using her analytical and Machine Learning skills. Although these problems might be difficult, Pallavi feels that the collaborative environment between her and her teammates has provided her with a rich and fast-moving learning experience.

Peter Richens — Data Scientist, Singapore

At GOJEK, Peter has worked on a number of big impact projects. One memorable experience for him was developing a new machine learning model to allocate drivers. The system was built to serve predictions but the team had not yet tested the model in production. Recent changes to the driver bonus payout system had backfired, leading to a large spike in canceled orders.

Desperate to improve our conversion rate, the business team took a gamble to try out the new allocation model. They rushed to deploy before the evening peak hours — Peter remembers finalizing the configuration before a flight at the Jakarta airport, hoping the WiFi connection would hold out. When they landed in Singapore, they found the model had had a huge impact. By reducing cancellations — they were adding millions of additional trips every week. You can read more about the system here.

Ishita Mathur — Data Scientist, Bangalore

Ishita studied physics for her undergraduate degree and proceeded to study high-performance computing for her masters. Prior to joining the company 2017, she had no idea what GOJEK was! She decided to join GOJEK after experiencing what she called a fun recruitment process, which for her felt more like a discussion rather than an interview.

As a data scientist in GOJEK, Ishita has worked on 3 projects. First was driver ranking with the Allocation team, then the transport team pickup experience. She last worked on the frequented point of interest (FPOI). Ishita is currently working on GO-FOOD search personalization and relevance, where she gets to learn some Indonesian words (like “ayam” and “goreng”, for example).

Have we stunned you with our #infiniteopportunities? Now, it’s time for you to join this amazing #adventure. We need REAL Data Scientist who can solve a lot of problems that are coming our way. Find out if you’re the right fit to join GOJEK’s #DataAvengers by taking this amazeballs QUIZ ;)