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The reframing of Innovecs Games as a sub-brand is aligned with the significant growth and transformation taking place within the Innovecs gaming practice. Along with the brand identity update, it embodies the energy and enthusiasm of the entire team and demonstrates the dynamism of Innovecs gaming studio. Innovecs undertook this launch to officially position its Games Studio’s services and expertise in the global Game Development market. For the past seven years, the team has been steadily developing to eventually mark a major milestone in its evolution as a sub-brand of Innovecs.

On August 25th, Innovecs hosted “Rock your Supply Chain,” featuring Michele Pelino, Principal Analyst at Forrester Research; Ron Richardson, Chief Revenue Officer at Turvo; Ryan Schreiber, Vice President, Industry & Growth at Metafora; and moderator Michael Beelar, VP of Supply Chain & Logistics at Innovecs. We had a fascinating talk with leading supply chain experts who shared their perspectives on the following: The future of FreightTech TMS evolutions tips Data analytics (both prescriptive and predictive) Supply chain visibility is the critical success factor in logistics Digital twins and other tech trends We reviewed some of the key points that were discussed. Let’s go!

An automated inventory management system contributes greatly to business digitalization, leading to increased system accuracy, the tuning of real-time tracking, early problem detection, and increased efficiency. Obviously, an automated inventory system is able to grant new possibilities to your business. Either you are an e-commerce executive, small, medium, or perhaps a fortune-level supply chain business owner. You might even have deep roots in logistics. If so, that’s great news! Going digital and optimizing and streamlining your inventory management will increase bottom-line ROI. Moreover, it will free up cash flow to invest in the latest and greatest emerging tech. We can help support those efforts, but first, let’s take a look at an automated inventory management system works Inventory management software is transforming modern industry tremendously. This statement is reflected in the iGeeks Blog, which defines stock management as “one of the primary aspects” of modern business trends. Meili Robots proves this fact with a substantial 22% growth rate in the e-commerce global robotics market in 2023. A lot of digital transformation companies provide a variety of automated inventory management systems to optimize business scalability, address human error issues, save time, and, as a result, gain cost-effective company operations.

Managing an investment portfolio demands deep expertise, good skill, and risk-taking, especially at the initial stage of investing. It is a familiar point for startup founders, entrepreneurs, IT directors, and those who investigate the initial investing options or consider increasing financial prosperity. However, to simplify and make it easier to start investing, it is pivotal to follow the advice of financial experts who have overcome a similar path and can share their experiences. A brilliant opportunity to meet such experts was given due to organizing Investment For Techies in 2022: Innovecs Conference held on 30 June on the interactive platform Party.Space. Over 100 participants, 6 speakers, and almost 4 hours to gain useful information. How to manage an investment portfolio, is it efficient to invest in art, what do angel investments literally mean, and which are the prospects of crypto investing and investing in global stock markets? These are just some of the issues that were discussed during the event. If you would like to receive a video recording of the conference, fill out a form: https://bit.ly/3nx9Vyo.

In the Hackernoon article Cheslav Novytskyi, Engineering Manager at Innovecs, shared his experience which may be useful for software developers in advancing their careers vertically.

The company strengthens its engineering capabilities with new site launch in response to significant customer demand both regionally and internationally

We continue to tell stories about our brave and fearless Innovecsers, who make every effort to fight evil and protect their homeland. Today we dedicate this blog post to Michael Beelar, VP Supply Chain & Logistics at Innovecs, who chose to make a change and get engaged in volunteering activity in Poland. Besides being a high-class pro, Michael is a compassionate, supportive and caring person that Innovecs is lucky to have on board. Here is his own wartime experience.

Developers often look for ways to be more efficient. Thankfully, JavaScript frameworks don’t restrict them in building their system and provide much freedom. However, with great power comes great responsibility. So, how to cope with problems encountered on your way? And what can help in optimizing performance? We discussed with Dmytro Hryshchenko, Full-Stack Software Engineer, and Grigor Oganesyan, an Advanced Software Engineer at Innovecs, during the React and Node.js: Level Up online meet-up on June 16. We have prepared a summary of the event covering the key points.

While Innovecs expands its presence to new markets, our culture becomes richer and more vibrant with the arrival of new specialists. Today we would like to introduce Juan Arango, who joined our company in June and embraced the position of Talent Acquisition Manager. Juan Arango is a pro with vast transformational leadership experience who perceives the team as a strategic ally for organizational success. He has been engaged in developing high-performance teams in various companies across Colombia. Juan is passionate about building strategic and business partnerships transversally with all employees. We believe his expertise will enhance Innovecs capabilities and facilitate a corporate course toward global leadership. Besides growing from Junior Consultant to Talent Acquisition Business Partner and Manager, Juan is a bilingual psychologist and labor law specialist, who understands and strengthens the human side of organizations through coaching, employer branding, career development, and training programs that contribute significantly to a greater sense of belonging inside a company. As our journey begins, we decided to set off with a brief interview. Juan kindly provided his expert opinion and views on the Colombian Labor Market. — Juan, in the context of the global tech arena, what are the main labor market features of Colombia and the LATAM region in general? What are the specifics of the hiring process? — LATAM region, especially Colombia, is characterized by having tech professionals that can work in a nearshore model for the North American market within a slight difference of 2-3 hours only, which gives a competitive advantage in regard to direct communication with client stakeholders and tech teams. The aim of a successful hiring process in Colombia is to make it agile and efficient. Once we have identified a good candidate, our goal is to ‘put the pedal to the metal’ and work as a team with the clients to orient them in the decision-making process to select the best candidates that suit their needs. Сandidates in Colombia read Glassdoor webpage reviews when they want to check the reputation of the company. Referral programs work really well in conditions where they can get paid $1.000 to 2.000 USD and also they look into how many followers and the type of projects/technologies/clients the company offers. — What are the advantages and disadvantages of this job market? — Among the major advantages, I would highlight the following: Similar time zone within North American and Latin American countries. Due to the high demand for IT professionals, governments, communities, non-profit organizations, and schools are promoting and motivating students to learn and get immersed in the technology industry to have well-paid jobs and opportunities for them and their families. Lots of Junior talent with great potential and attitude to work and be part of international companies. Increasing rates of candidates studying English as they know how important it is today to know the English language to land great jobs. As far as the disadvantages are concerned, I believe they are as follows: Lots of international competitors from other countries are chasing talent, hence increasing salaries, paying attractive/high sign-on bonuses, and offering relocation programs are the most relevant strategies to catch their interest. Due to inflation rates (Colombia has one of the highest inflation rates in Latin America), employees from all industries including IT, are looking for jobs where they can earn more to counteract inflation, which is something employers should understand and consider. Despite many people being conscious of the importance of learning English, there is still a gap among developers who do not yet have an advanced/fluent English level, most times necessary to be part of international projects. This is an ongoing process and in a couple of years, we will have more bilingual professionals on the list. — What features make the Colombian market attractive to our clients? — Colombian people. First, they have a good attitude and a willingness to cooperate and learn fast. And second, Colombians can adapt easily to the fast and rapidly evolving environments of tech companies. — Colombia has a steadily growing population of young, highly educated, and motivated individuals specializing in software engineering and other tech-related fields. Could you please tell us the reasons and main factors for such a progression? — In my opinion, the key underlying reasons for the growing tech talent market include: The high demand for jobs and new opportunities arriving in the past years. An opportunity to grow personally and professionally by learning how to code. Having good compensation and benefits compared to the other jobs in different industries. Technology for companies and businesses is not a plus but a competitive advantage and a need new specialists can fulfill. — Are there some tech hubs in the country? — Medellin is considered the best hub for tech talent in Colombia. Bogota, Cali and Barranquilla will follow the lead. — And the last question, Juan. What are Innovecs’ plans for Colombia? — The plan is pretty clear. First, we have an objective to hire local talent for North American clients. Second, we aspire to be the pioneers of the global Innovecs expansion in the LATAM region. Third, we aim to leverage the difficulty of hiring talent in Ukraine. And last but not least, Colombia seeks to become a country that can increase the size and revenue of the company. That indeed sounds like a solid plan. We welcome Juan aboard and pin high hopes on our joint experience at Innovecs.

Throughout the year, Innovecs intends to hire 50 specialists in the LATAM region. As part of its expansion strategy, the company hires specialists in areas such as cloud technology, web development, automation QA and data processing. The opening of the hub for work and team meetings in Medellin (Colombia) should help implement the company’s ambitious plans. According to Alex Lutskiy, Founder and CEO of Innovecs, entering the LATAM market is an important milestone in the further development of the company. “We are starting to actively search for new team members in the Latin American region and in Colombia in particular. Innovecs has every opportunity not only to enter this new market but also to attract talent, promote our corporate culture, and share best practices with professionals from different cultures. We plan to develop throughout the LATAM region and strive to ensure that the hiring process is smooth and efficient”, — commented Alex Lutskiy.

Singing praises to yourself is good. Apart from boosting self-esteem, loving yourself is the basis of all lifetime achievements and wins. In the corporate world, things work differently. Instead of speaking about ourselves, Innovecs chooses the language of deeds. Ultimately, it is our actions and accomplishments that win the hearts of our stakeholders — employees, clients, partners, the community, and the tech industry in general. Over a decade of our existence, Innovecs has morphed from an ambitious idea into a global digital transformation tech company. Thanks to our unique culture and high bar, today we have offices in the USA, the UK, Israel, Ukraine, and Australia. Innovecs’ team has expertise in the development of software solutions in the fields of Supply Chain & Logistics, FinTech, Healthtech, AdTech, Software & Hightech Gaming & Entertainment. Our clients, partners, and teammates are scattered all around the world. And so is our recognition. For the fifth time in a row, Innovecs is on the Inc. 5000 list, the list of fastest-growing private companies in America, and for the fourth time on the Top Global Outsourcing companies. In 2018, IAOP listed Innovecs in the 2018 Global Outsourcing 100 list as a Rising Star in the specified category Size & Growth. In 2022, Innovecs is recognized as a Rising Star on The 2022 Global Outsourcing 100® list in three categories: Customer References, Awards and Certifications, and Programs for Innovation. In 2021, Innovecs officially received the status of AWS Select Consulting Partner in the AWS partner network. On October 4, 2021, Innovecs officially became the Platinum Partner of ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board). Obtaining ISTQB Platinum Partner status is a testament to Innovecs’ continued efforts to grow and deliver better services in a competitive testing market. ISTQB is a non-profit organization responsible for the international certification programs: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL), ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level (CTAL), and ISTQB Certified Tester Expert Level (CTEL). Throughout Innovecs’ history, we have maintained the status of a stable employer. We are expanding our global presence: moving further, our next location is Georgia. Driven by the growing demand for digital technologies across the globe, Innovecs is determined to nurture new tech hubs and enrich teams with new talents from different corners of the world. And there’s even more to it: we are also opening new hubs in Poland, Colombia, and two more European countries in the near term.

Article updated on June 24, 2022 Lack of B2B interaction and inventory visibility can become a real challenge, especially under the tight competition between companies striving to achieve “one-day delivery” for more customers’ satisfaction. Custom or ready-made software solutions can boost the ability of the stakeholders to access real-time data relevant to the order process, inventory, delivery, and potential supply chain disruptions. Coca-cola, Best Buy, Walmart, Kraft Heinz, and many more industry giants are using visibility tools. In today’s competitive markets, companies are tasked with being notified of every product movement in their supply chain operations. Whether it’s an ocean container, pallet/skid, truck in transit, or drone delivery there is a growing need to keep track of every shipment in real-time. The end-game is to offer the best service and make sure customers are extremely satisfied with 5-star recommendations. At Innovecs, we have been part of the supply chain and logistics world since 2012. We have helped companies automate their warehouses, integrate with ports and carriers, create online freight marketplaces, and manage their transportation systems. In this article we are going to break down the nuances of real-time visibility to uncover the following: Why achieving visibility in your supply chain is a challenging task The importance of real-time visibility for your business The benefits of having a strategy in place Technologies that can drive visibility across all supply chain stages

The global IT landscape is vibrant and dynamic. Myriads of tech companies are appearing in the arena and are delivering all kinds of digital solutions. At the same time, not every company has a community around it. From day one, Innovecs’ leadership set the objective of providing equal high-quality experiences to all stakeholders, clients, and employees. For over a decade, the distinguishing feature of Innovecs has been its DNA and values — Innovate, Inspire, Care. The company’s culture revolves around these concepts, creating multiple opportunities for the self-development of our people — both professionally and personally. Driven by the belief, that only happy teammates promote creativity and innovation, Innovecs makes every effort to ensure the well-being of each Innovecser. Today, we would like to share the key benefits of working at Innovecs. Here are the main reasons to join us. 1. Stable Growth and Career Opportunities More than 850 Innovecsers have provided valuable digital transformation experiences to over 100 clients. Innovecs’ portfolio contains more than 60 successfully implemented projects, and the major criterion of our success is our clients coming back for more. Over a decade, Innovecs has managed to achieve significant results, which are reflected in our corporate stats. At the moment, the company has team members on five continents, and our next soon-to-open location will be in Georgia. We are also opening new hubs in Poland, Colombia, and two more European countries soon. “We as a company always start by building bonds of trust with our clients. Whatever the development stage is, we accompany them, guide them and think it is our duty to anticipate their questions and concerns. Innovecs is constantly raising its standards in terms of providing the best services possible. This is why we have a number of loyal clients that enjoy their experience and come for more. That loyalty reflects a crucial thing for us — we are valuable to them”, — Alex Lutskiy, Founder and CEO at Innovecs. For the fifth time in a row, Innovecs is on the Inc. 5000 list, the list of fastest-growing private companies in America, and the Top Global Outsourcing companies. For the fourth time, Innovecs is recognized on The 2022 Global Outsourcing 100® list by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP®). In 2021, Innovecs officially became the Platinum Partner of ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board), and also has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Select Consulting Partner status in the AWS Partner Network (APN). 2. Reinvent Your Career with Us What do we mean by ‘self-fulfillment’? From our point of view, this means having our ambitions met, whatever they are. Just as our people innovate the world, we as a company feel responsible for innovating them in the first place. All Innovecsers are united by a great desire to move forward and grow as personalities and pros. Our teammates can develop both horizontally and vertically, and transform from developers to Delivery Managers and VPs. Apart from advancing a career, each Innovecser can reinvent it. That is, our educational programs, courses, tracks, and workshops allow for changing a project, role, or even domain. “Innovecs is synonymous with growth and development. I am already working in the third position in this company. It’s cool that people without experience can try themselves in new roles, learn by doing and grow professionally. Courses and workshops are constantly held here, and this remains far from universal. A Promotion Plan is developed for each employee for six months, which lists the knowledge and skills you need to gain within this period. The bottom line is that I feel support from Innovecs, and it is invaluable for me”, — Olena Ratova, Project Coordinator at Innovecs. 3. Active Lifestyle The uniqueness of our culture owes to the uniqueness of our people. Every Innovecser is a separate story that enriches our community. Upon coming to Innovecs, each of us brings a set of personal likings, beloved hobbies, activities, interests, and aspirations. We even bring our concerns and learn to deal with them thanks to professional attention. Innovecs fully accepts us the way we are. Whatever the source of inspiration is, you can practice what you love — jogging, yoga, football, tennis; take part in challenges and competitions; receive gifts and acknowledgment, and share your achievements with your teammates. Innovecsers define the variety of communities. Anyone can initiate a club, and become a leader of one. “I was very happy with the availability of the yoga community and immediately joined it. It is good that you can attend classes without leaving the office. It is nice that there is an opportunity to do your favorite things — here it is encouraged and supported. As for the new activities, I joined the Mindfulness community, where we hold discussions and practice meditation”, — Oksana Hubchyk, QA Manual at Innovecs. 4. Well-being: We Are On Your Side A global company has a global mindset. We are comprehensive in our approaches, whether it is services, products, or experiences. The same pertains to the concept of employees’ happiness. It is our belief that apart from professional success, a sound mind in a sound body has a huge impact on quality of life. To us, well-being encompasses the care of physical and mental health, confidence in financial and social stability, as well as a sense of security. “If corporate culture encourages you to combine work with activities that inspire you, your well-being should not be a matter of concern. Another sign of “norm” is balance in all spheres of life. One area cannot develop in the absence of another. Otherwise, you start to feel out of balance. It is crucial to understand your limits and keep yourself balanced — relax, do hobbies and communicate. I must point out that the corporate culture of Innovecs’ well-being is an important component that is reflected in actions, not words”, — Olha Havlytska, Community Relations at InnoClub by Innovecs. 5. Flexible Workplace We are global, but at the very same time, we go local in providing a comfortable working environment. Local and granular. It is common knowledge that working conditions can make or break creativity as well as support or damage our health. We all need what is best for us — attending offices and enjoying conversations; managing tasks and teams from the comfort of our homes in solitude, or juggling the two if necessary. Our offices and hubs offer far more than just a well-equipped and stylish workspace, but a lifestyle space of self-development, mental and physical recreation, access to education, and hands-on experience. Innovecsers choosing to work remotely from any part of the world can and will enjoy a local benefits system and join us at online events, activities, celebrations, conferences, and systematic corporate meetings. Innovecsers are welcome to explore our Relocation Support Program and learn about how we can assist in this matter. “I very quickly found an apartment next to the office. I also had a week to rest, adapt, and work things out in the new place. So when I showed up for work, I was ready. Plus, I immediately found a company where I was very comfortable. Innovecs was also very helpful with the relocation: our Care department provided me with rental options that partly covered the cost of moving”, — Rostyslav Kylymchuk, Java Software Engineer at Innovecs. 6. Professional Growth Experience with Innovecs might start even before a talented person is among our teammates. Thanks to our Juniorship programs by InnoCamp, we take newbies and turn them into specialists who then may want to join us. And after they do, the learning journey then continues with special training for hard and soft skills, English classes, enrollment in a global certification preparation program, mentorship program, and an individual development plan. And there will be more. One of the crucial touchpoints with our people is 24/7 access to the learning process. We are always aware of the needs and ambitions of each Innovecser. We turn systematic feedback into new opportunities. “When a new set of internships was launched, I became interested in turning into a mentor to share my skills and knowledge with someone. And I regard it not only as teaching but also as the development of my own skills. This will definitely come in handy if you want to build a career and develop leadership skills”, — Ihor Pavlenko, Software Engineer at Innovecs. 7. H2H Philosophy The human2human approach is a broad concept that is reflected differently in various companies. At Innovecs, consideration for the talents we have is letting them speak and making sure their feedback turns into solutions. In order to create and generate out-of-the-box approaches, people demand inner freedom and a safe space to offer unique ideas that change the status quo. Everyone in the company has freedom of self-expression. We have an open-door policy and systematic meetings, where Innovecs’ leaders share crucial corporate information so that all the team is on the same page in terms of the current state of affairs. “The CEO of Innovecs is very open, he is constantly in touch with the company. You are always up-to-date with the latest news, and you know about clients. I always follow everything that happens. The atmosphere is open and transparent, and I am happy to be a part of it. I say out loud that I work at Innovecs because I’m proud of it”, — Andriy Bosak, the Technical Support Specialist at Innovecs. 8. Engineering Leadership Platform Engineering Leadership promotes global digital transformation. This is why we have launched InnoHub, an Engineering Leadership Platform. Its core purpose is to empower collaborative growth and build a community of engineering leaders. We believe engineering leaders are not only those who lead the team but everyone who develops innovations through everyday tasks as an expert. “Today we can say that InnoHub is a platform for the development of Engineering Leadership. Our main goal is to expand our capabilities and build a community of technical leaders. InnoHub consists of three components. First, it is a community of passionate engineers who want to initiate technological change and interact as equals. Community members evolve and develop their projects, teams, and skills. Second, InnoHub is a source of inspiration, where meaningful content is broadcast through events and networking. Third, InnoHub is an online space, a platform for meetings, training, and association of engineers from around the globe. Tech magic happens when these three elements merge”, — Alina Shcherbyna, Head of Talent Marketing and Events at Innovecs. 9. Transparency Leadership On a human note, we all tend to gravitate to people who are authentic, genuine, unmasked, and not afraid to be vulnerable. A leader is responsible for establishing a culture of trust, and being consistent in its maintenance. And if one succeeds in doing so, the mindset spreads across the organization and becomes the only way to go for everyone. Transparency leadership is the first step toward meaningful relationships with employees. And this is the fundamental principle Innovecs works and lives by. “A leader’s transparency demands systematic accountability. Whether it’s financial presentation, our quarterly Q&A session, weekly call, or honest talk one-to-one during a coffee break — people need this stability and presence. A real presence when you genuinely care, but not just as a formality. On the other hand, every team member is not only welcome to provide their own feedback on numerous aspects of corporate life but it’s also guaranteed their voice is heard and taken into consideration. Thus, transparency leadership is an ongoing mindful dialogue and drives mutual value for both company and its people”, — Alex Lutskiy, Founder and CEO at Innovecs. 10. Corporate Culture Driven By Values Business for business’ sake has no future. People always seek higher purposes and big ideas behind everything. Since day one, Innovecs has been nurturing an environment where like-minded talents can create together and enjoy the process in each other’s company. Our DNA is SPECIFIC: Innovecsers are Smart, Professional, Engaged, Collaborative, Innovative, Focused, Inspiring, and Caring. Innovecs practices three core values, incorporated into the DNA: INNOVATE, INSPIRE, CARE. Innovecs represents a community-driven ecosystem, that is, our people can create and become leaders of some community or club by interest inside the company, and Innovecs will support them and invest in their passion. “Being caring is first and foremost about creating an atmosphere. You can arrange it with the help of working and non-working team building. Caring is manifested in finding a thin and invisible boundary of social unity and trying to produce it in your team. The kickback of the team is very important because it is not a one-way street. Not only the manager must play his role in uniting the team, but also the employees themselves must collaborate with each other, determine the necessary conditions for the tasks, ask you questions, and more. It’s much cooler to see people solve these issues on their own because the team is evolving. You as a manager are needed for extraordinarily difficult tasks. It’s nice when a team is a whole, both in and out of work”, — Andriy Troianov, Delivery Manager at Innovecs. 11. A Lifestyle, More Than Just a Job Innovecs focuses on each employee’s ambitions and aligns them with our business goals for mutual success. We consider work and leisure as equally important parts of life. Therefore, in addition to the necessary working conditions and continuous learning options, we take good care of the physical and mental health, recreation, and personal development of the team. Every single day at Innovecs brings something new to the lives of our teammates — knowledge, skills, insights, and meaningful connections. “At Innovecs, you are not confined to a desk whatsoever. This is the place for your personal and professional development and to be around an awesome team. There are many opportunities for personal and professional evolution. This is your lifestyle. In the morning you train in the tennis community and then proceed to work. In addition to lunch, you have a workout again, and in the evening when the work is done you play table tennis with teammates. This is your active lifestyle. You are interested, you enjoy the day, you want more, and your work goals are fulfilled in the same rhythm as you do your hobby. Easy and effortless. You don’t force yourself to work; you like it”, — Olha Havlytska, Community Relations at InnoСlub by Innovecs. 12. Benefits and Perks Innovecs operates on the basis of diversity, inclusiveness, development, and equal opportunities for everyone. Innovecsers can evolve professionally via the vibrant InnoCamp program. All teams can access individual development planning and career coaching, educational and professional certificate programs; join a Mentorship Program, and have lifetime access to training materials in our Learning Management System. With the help of the InnoClub initiative, all Innovecs’ people across the globe can maintain their mental and physical health, and draw inspiration from our communities. Whether it is running, mindfulness and meditation practices, online gym and yoga, or other activities — everyone can find something special. Regardless of the offices’ location, all of them are united by the universal benefits system. Each Innovecser — either office-based or remote — is provided with equal motivation frameworks and incentives. Everyone is provided with private healthcare insurance, team-building activities, social events, and occasional gifts to celebrate Innovecs lifestyle. “​​Despite the remote mode, I do not feel separated from the team or company. I constantly receive invitations to corporate parties. Not so long ago there was a rebranding of the project I’m working on. Two hours before the presentation, a courier delivered a parcel containing four small cocktails and a branded glass. Distances are washed away by such lovely initiatives”, — Ihor Kanivets, Advanced DevOps at Innovecs. These are the main reasons to consider Innovecs as a new stage in your life. And there is one more reason to join us — we are fun, passionate, and voracious. If you feel you belong with us, check the available roles and brighten Innovecs with your presence: https://jobs.innovecs.com/vacancies/

We live in a dynamic world that is changing rapidly and sometimes radically. That affects people, performance, and motivation. A coronavirus pandemic, transition to remote work, and war in Ukraine have negatively impacted many people and their careers. Some feel burned out and do not know how to evolve in their profession. Tetiana Rudenko, a QA Manual at Innovecs, faced demotivation for the first time in November 2021, and her teammates felt exactly the same. She started looking for a way to get her motivation back. As a result, she managed to inspire herself as well as her teammates. How? She shared her experience of motivating people, and her colleague, Arnika Hryszko, a Software Tester, shared tips on advancing the profession during Innovate in QA Online Meet-up. We have prepared a brief summary of the event covering the key points. There are two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. The first one is something that sits inside and encourages you to get some feelings (for example, enjoyment, passion, fun, autonomy, self-fulfillment, etc.) Extrinsic or external motivation is about something that comes from outside (pay raise, recognition, perks, bonuses, punishment, benefits, etc.). Intrinsic motivation stimulates people to do complex and creative tasks, according to experts. Tetiana managed to find approaches for intrinsic motivation and inspiration for the team and focused on gamification. It helps the manager find a leader and motivate the team, bringing to work more fun, says Tetiana Rudenko. According to a Talent LMS survey, 89% of employees state gamification makes them feel more productive and happier at work. But different techniques fit different teams. Therefore, Tetiana suggests analyzing your process and colleagues using a human-focused gamification design framework called Octalysis. It lays out the eight core drives for human motivation: Meaning (a need or an urge to be a part of something bigger than yourself. When you add it to a game element, people believe that their actions have a purpose). Accomplishment (people are driven by a sense of growth towards a goal and accomplishment). Creativity (when a team member is engaged in a creative process and repeatedly figures things out and tries different combinations. When you add something to your game element that evokes the will to choose own direction, that gives people more energy). Ownership (if you add something that people will own, like virtual currency or some points, they are more likely to participate or contribute). Social influence (it incorporates all the social elements driving people including mentorship, acceptance, social responses, and companionship. You must include interaction between people, as they should learn from one another, and teach each other). Scarcity (this human drive is often used in marketing to show limited goods or services. If you add it to your work, it can act the same: if something is limited, people want it more). Unpredictability & Curiosity (it is a harmless drive of wanting to know what will happen next. If you do not know what is going to happen, your brain is engaged, and you think about it often. That is why we are so eager to finish a book or a movie). Avoidance (it is about avoiding pain or some negative consequences. If you stress that nothing negative will happen, people will be more engaged due to feeling safe). You can evaluate each drive and include those which will suit your team the best. Afterward, you can assess the results and enhance your game elements. Also, Tetiana shared some gamification techniques to use while working with your QA remote team for making a process more enjoyable: Create your own software if possible (Amazon and Microsoft use it for their employees). Gamify daily meetings. For example, let each team member answer non-tech questions before committing. For example, you can ask: “What would you do when you get $1M?” Prize draw. You can do it on every retrospective, for example. Write team members’ names in one column and a list of prizes in another. The randomizer matches the person’s name with a reward. It can be a cup of coffee, lunch, a day off, etc. Organize a competition. It might be an amazing game element, especially for competitive team members. Create a challenge. For example, if you find out that one of the main demotivators of your remote team is the lack of physical activity, you can suggest teammates set up a minimum number of daily steps for each of them. To start a working day, each teammate will have to show an activity report during a daily meeting. It will help unite and motivate your team. After the issue of motivation is sorted out, you and your team are willing to work. What typical mistakes do you have to avoid on the path to being a good tester and a pro in your field? Arnika Hryszko, a Software Tester with 15 years of experience in QA, has prepared some information regarding the topic. And here is her list of don’ts as a tester: Following a script. Imagine a detective arriving at a crime scene with a script, strictly following it, and ignoring the circumstances. Is it possible to solve the mysterious crime? Hardly. Being a good tester is exploration. You cannot use only one guide or way because it will not give you loads of answers. There are different test data, configurations, systems, etc. Use them as well. Treating requirements as ultimate truth. To have a comprehensive picture and do your best as a tester, you should ask questions, and seek other solutions. Try to find out whether everything is okay, do so-called static testing, and review the requirements. Maybe you will find that something is missed or wrong. Use your experience, brain, and more sources, such as other people, proofs of concepts, and exciting applications. All these things should be your oracle, apart from the requirements. Lack of peer reviews. Let us imagine that you wrote a book, and no one reads, proofreads it, or edits it before printing. How many mistakes will there be? There will definitely be some typos, and some crucial elements might be absent. And the same thing is with your test scripts. Someone should review them in the first place instead of pointing at your mistakes later. It is about learning and seeing another person’s perspective. It goes without saying that you can write a brilliant test case with all the possibilities. However, maybe there is something more or someone else has a different perspective or has used a similar application and might help to review whether everything is fine with the thing you produce. Locking oneself in one’s “silo”. Imagine building a house. Brickwork, windows, and roof are done by different professionals with no or little care for each other’s work. Will the individual elements fit together? Very much unlikely. As a tester, you should work with developers, managers, and architects. You all have the same aim. Relying on assumptions instead of facts. If something is missing, unclear or you are unsure about something, you should discuss it. That is why you have daily meetings, and planning — to be on the same page about what we do. Ignoring the need of having business knowledge. You cannot work properly without knowing a domain. It is essential to dive into an area you work in, to know its jargon, insights, and goals. To sum up, there is no magic pill that will make you a pro and help to motivate you and your team. It is hard work and a combination of numerous factors. However, it is achievable, especially with tips from our experts and your passion for the work you do.