When you think of a buzzword as overused as ‘digitalization’, it can run the risk of losing real meaning. It may sound familiar, but do you know how it will actually impact your life? It’s Alejandro’s job to help convert the term into reality, finding ways for the ever-evolving industry to impact the real world.
As a former Field Service Engineer, Alejandro still calls upon his technical skills in his current position as a Solution Partner Representative, a role that sees him works with industry customers from various sectors including oil, gas, and food.
One of the ways he uses digitalization to make a genuine impact is by finding ways to automate food and drink factories. “Siemens as a German company is very strong in the food and beverage industry,” he says. “The most important topic when it comes to improving efficiency is standardization.”
It’s down to Alejandro and the rest of the team to come up with solutions to help customers ensure their factories follow international standards for equipment, like controllers in bottle lines or electrical drives used within the production process. And, in an increasingly globalized world, it means his work is not necessarily confined to Colombia, with some customers based around 9,000km away in countries like Germany and Belgium.
But it’s not just the food and drink industry, as more and more customers look to Siemens to find innovative ways to help them be as efficient as possible — and that’s where digitalization comes in. Previously, a customer might have a real, concrete idea of the process or the solution they are looking for, but the rate of change now means Alejandro listens to every unique request in order to come back with methods that might not exist yet. “Right now, it’s very important to have a close relationship with our clients and not only make business transactions. We need to hear what their requirements are for the future. How can they improve their processes?”
Of course, a job like this does not allow for Alejandro to become comfortable by continuously using tried-and-tested methods. After all, that’s not real innovation. It’s exactly this emphasis on development that drives him, knowing that tomorrow will not be the same as today. “The market is changing, needs are changing, and our clients are requiring more solutions in the cloud,” he says. “Siemens is leading solutions in those kinds of products and software solutions. Everyone is talking about Industry 4.0, that’s the future.”
Alejandro Tamayo joined Siemens in 2003 after graduating from the National University of Colombia as an electrical engineer. Although he began as a Field Service Engineer, he decided he wanted to develop his business skills by switching roles and has now climbed his way up the ranks to become Solution Partner Representative. Find out more about working at Siemens.
Alejandro is one of the many talented people working with us to make real what matters.
Photography: Franz Grünewald
Video: Mattias Matoq
