JOSÉ MAÑAS, WIRELESS DNA
Doctor TIC interviews José Mañas, CEO of the Wireless DNA company, located at ParcBit. He began his university studies at the UIB, studying telematics engineering; a decision that opened him the doors to Siemens in various international projects (Portugal, China, USA, Israel …), deploying and optimizing mobile telephone networks. With the experience acquired he continued his training in the management area with a postgraduate in Telecommunication Economics and accessing the PMP certification in 2007. Before founding WDNA, he was leading the team for Telecommunication projects from the Mediterranean for Nokia during 4 years. Finally, since 2014, he is CEO at WDNA whichi became a leading R & D & I company based in Mallorca and operating on a global scale, generating an ecosystem of creativity, innovation in a great work environment.
1. You have recently participated in the Smart Islands World Congress. Do you think that society and companies in the Balearic Islands are prepared to be “smart”? It is clear that the technology is there, but perhaps companies are not yet interested in the multiple applications that they can have in the IOT, for example.
In my opinion, it is not an option not to be prepared to be SMART, in fact it is almost an obligation if we want to be at the forefront and that other territories take advantage of this opportunity. The public administration has the responsibility to lead this transformation and be an example of efficiency and sustainability, establishing the appropriate framework of coexistence with new technologies.
2. Smart also implies sustainability, circular economy … more necessary than ever in an island territory with as much tourist pressure as ours, how do you incorporate these approaches in your company?
We incorporate these concepts as a core point of intelligence and logic to the solutions we propose. The ALMA (soul in spanish) project synthesizes precisely these approaches: a circular economy by detecting the needs of people, companies and organizations in order to offer them the relevant solutions through technology. We work with many practical applications that allow us to better understand, manage and use the resources, needs and abilities of different interest groups.
3. The public administrations should also invest more on the “smart” changes, and we are not only talking about digital administration, but being able to become a destination of sun and data, as presented in the Congress. What does it take to attract talent in the ICT sector, where there is such a demand for professionals in our community?
The public administration has to give the necessary example; First, using everyone’s resources efficiently and sustainably, ensuring that citizens have the right tools and infrastructure.
There is a deficit of investment in fiber optic in many sectors of the metropolitan area, and radio coverage does not allow working from home in many cases. Without good networks that work well and without interruptions, it is not possible to offer quality services, telecommuting or setting up an IoT network with guarantees. At Wireless DNA, we are developing systems to ensure that this service is offered with the highest possible quality.
4. You were one of the few Balearic companies with their own stand at the Mobile World Congress, what does it represent for you, at the level of economic investment and return?
It is a bet on the future. Concerning the investment, it represents a total cost of approximately € 8,000 and we expect to see the return on investment in the coming months. In fact, WDNA wished to be able to make itself known locally, since we worked abroad since our inception and it was an opportunity to value what we achieved and to be taken into account for local projects that motivate us especially.
5. You are one of the most internationalized companies in Parc Bit. How have you got such clients of this scope?
Based on personal contacts that give you an opportunity and the reputation achieved after taking advantage of each of these opportunities with results and achieving small successes each trip and congress. They already say that the world, in the end, is small and ends up recognizing the work that is done through commitment, experience, professionalism and honesty.
6. You are located in the Parc BIT and you are part of GSBIT, what advantages do you have for a company like yours? Have you found other companies here with which to collaborate / share synergies?
Definitely, it is an advantage to be part of GSBIT and belong to the Parc Bit ecosystem. I think the most important thing is that it promotes communication and networking between companies and little by little, we are managing to change the individualist mentality and work as a sector, supporting and reinforcing each other.
7. Why is it important to collaborate with other companies? For example, with MeteoClim on the subject of weather forecasts, what is your role? And with 2GN, what is your joint task?
The common denominator of the companies in the group is that they are companies that are committed to making a difference in their sector. Meteoclim is a pioneer in the meteorological sector, which, combining the knowledge of WirelessDNA in telecommunications, allows us to develop an R & D project with an enormous potential and that has already aroused international interest. Shortly, we will give you more details.
Regarding 2GN, we value the social innovation that it entails; a subject that concerns us, since we seek the harmonious balance between the technological and social part. We work in an empathic technology at the service of people.
8. Could you explain us how works your monitoring project for the cold chain, for food in refrigerators and its utility hospitality business?
We are proposing a solution / service that allows to control the cold chain in the facilities where it is required. Especially in a place like this island, where there is a food risk due to high temperatures in summer; also managing energy resources in the most efficient way possible. We are working on a solution based on these important pillars: energy saving, reducing the risk in food and efficiency.
9. It is always said that the challenge in Big Data is to use is properly and to help the decision-making process and predictions at the business level. What services do you offer with Big Data?
BIG DATA services must be led by the people who can apply them. Our philosophy is to form a multidisciplinary team of people (physicists, mathematicians, telecommunications engineers, IT, management, etc.) that can solve problems that can be identified through data correlation. In most cases, we work on demand to specific needs, such as anti-fraud, security, telecommunications infrastructure design, network optimization, etc.
10. You won the 2017 prize for CEPYME technological innovation. What does obtaining this award represent for your company? With so many awards and recognitions to Innovation, what are your procedures that allow you to maintain this level of innovation? It is not easy to keep innovating year after year…
We are very grateful and we have been very excited about each one of the acknowledgments we have received; for us it is an extra motivation boost. Actually, from WDNA, we intend to create really different things, with a special essence. We work on what we are passionate about and with very creative and fun people; and yes, I say fun, because for us humor is also fundamental to keep on creating and innovating year after year; and fortunately, we have independence to create our own culture and work objectives.
11. What technological knowledge do you consider essential for a person who wants to work in your sector? And to be up-dated?
In fact, in WDNA, people with very different abilities have a place. In general, we are growing in the areas of information technology, meteorology, electronics, telecommunications and social services.
Currently, we are looking for programming specialists (Python). I think it is a structural obstacle in the islands and the lack of IT specialists is becoming an obstacle in the ICT sector. GSBIT is mobilizing in this regard for a few years now to try to reverse this situation.
12. We have recently heard about the Internet of Things Architect, it seems that every day a new profil is coming up and a university must program a tailored Master, do you really need so many categories and professional nomenclatures within the technological world of work ?
Absolutely. Specialization in such complex subjects requires time and a previous base of years of study and experience.
13. Any book and films that have influenced your work?
Having 4 children, what influences me the most is watching them growing up and all the “Avengers” movies. I would also recommend that I can´t wait to read: “The Music of the Spheres” by Luis Francisco Simón.
