Meet our experts: Michael Latta // Information Management Consultant

Michael, you have now been working as an information management consultant at Delvag for over a year. What led you to Delvag and what were your expectations beforehand?

After my previous job as a software developer, where the focus was heavily on implementation details, I wanted to take on a role that broadened my horizons and also encompassed organizational and strategic aspects of software projects. I found this combination of hands-on work and management tasks in Delvag's job advertisement. The initial interviews convinced me completely, and now I'm part of the team.

What tasks do you typically have on your desk during a typical workday?

My responsibilities are very diverse and depend heavily on which projects or topics are currently prioritized. Basically, it's about ensuring that our software projects deliver the greatest possible benefit to the specialist departments. It is therefore crucial that the technical framework conditions are right and that the infrastructure works. We achieve this by coordinating external service providers and designing new software projects with a view to a modern tech stack and smooth integration into our existing IT landscape. It's challenging, but I really enjoy it. Across all projects, the modernization of our tech stack towards containerization and the cloud is another part of my daily tasks, as is the development of our cloud infrastructure. These are all topics that I have been involved in from the very beginning and that I have been able to actively promote, which I greatly appreciate.

Let's talk about your first year at the company: What challenges have you already encountered?

There are minor and major challenges every day. That's just part and parcel of complex software projects. The extensive IT landscape with its different areas, responsibilities, and technological conditions has already demanded a lot from me. Open communication within the team and throughout the company has helped me a lot in this regard. To this day, I see the biggest challenge as being the internal processes, which do not always keep pace with our modernization and innovation projects. As a result, they often become more of an obstacle than a supportive framework. We are working across departments to find solutions together to make these processes fit for the future.

What highlights have stayed with you to this day?

A particular highlight for me is the internal DialoQ format, in which management engages in open dialogue with employees. I really appreciate this transparency. This open and proactive style of communication permeates the entire company and has appealed to me from the very beginning. I feel that ideas and feedback are genuinely welcome. Another highlight was our team offsite, where I conducted my first WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) workshop.  

How does cooperation with other departments work—are there any successful examples or particular challenges in working together?

Overall, I find working with other departments to be a very positive experience. Communication is open and constructive. Successful examples include close collaboration with our data department and operations in setting up the cloud infrastructure. Without the interaction of different skills, nothing would work here. The same applies to cooperation with the marketing department in introducing a new design tool, where we were able to overcome the initial hurdles together. Of course, there are also challenges, especially when different priorities or processes collide. In these cases, it helps to create transparency early on, find solutions together, and stay on the ball.

What makes teamwork successful for you?

For me, at the heart of any successful teamwork is communication based on openness and mutual respect. An environment that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute according to their own abilities and interests is also essential. Successful teams create a space where asking questions is not a weakness, but a strength.

Which (web) applications are you currently working on, and for whom are these solutions particularly relevant?

One of the most exciting applications at the moment is the new insurance certificate management system, which I am supporting as technical lead. It is the final building block in the renewal of the Albatros application landscape and will make renewal significantly easier, especially in the specialist departments. There is also a lot of activity in our portal project at the moment. This includes not only the delvag.de and albatros.de websites, but also important tools for ADx, such as for email campaigns and marketing activities. This will enable us to create a modern platform that offers real added value for both internal teams and our customers.

What technologies do you anticipate in the coming years, and how are you preparing yourself and your team for them?

The two major topics for us in the coming years will certainly be cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). The cloud allows us to focus more on areas that create real added value while outsourcing tasks that are merely a means to an end. The same applies to AI: by sensibly integrating AI tools and functionalities, we can automate and simplify processes. This gives us more space to focus on the things that really matter.

Finally, what does the Delvag spirit mean to you?

For me, the Delvag spirit means above all team spirit, characterized by open communication and mutual support. It is the willingness to move forward together into the future, to actively embrace change, and to always treat each other with respect. At the same time, for me, it also means critically questioning existing structures. Old, slow processes must not slow us down. The spirit is evident in the fact that we work together to find ways to overcome these hurdles and make innovation possible.

Thank you very much for the interview!

About Jörg Kerschberger
Michael Latta is a trained bookseller who switched to IT in 2016. Since then, he has gained valuable experience as a full-stack software developer in various industries and projects, continuously deepening his expertise. Since the end of 2024, he has been working as an information management consultant with a focus on sales support at Delvag. Together with his colleagues, he supports the specialist departments in successfully implementing their goals through modern IT solutions and future-proof technologies.

From Nicholas Gorny
Corporate Communications Delvag
kommunikation@delvag.de