Out with the old, in with the new
The opportunity to do something few others have done was the main reason Mathilde chose to join Cegal. The company is not afraid to make unconventional choices.
Cegal has grown to become a large company, and with that comes many complex business processes. This is especially true when it comes to the development and operation of the company's main product - the Cetegra cloud platform. For a long time, the company relied on an older version of a ticketing and automation platform to keep track. The system allowed a great deal of individual customization, which was a great advantage, but also had a downside.
What many companies experience is that several adaptations have been made to their platforms, which results in an unclear collection of solutions with poor documentation," says Mathilde. "If these customizations were made by people who have since left, it becomes difficult to manage. It also happens that such adaptations mean that you're unable to benefit from new functionality when new versions are released.
Many companies let this slide, but what got Mathilde interested in Cegal was the company's choice to look ahead and their willingness to think in new ways.
Cegal decided to scrap the old instance of the ticketing and automation platform and instead build a an entirely new platform called Cetegra Care based on ServiceNow. I have played a crucial role in the migration from the old to the new solution.
Although many people are probably thinking about doing the same, not many companies in Norway have been brave enough to take the plunge.
It's especially exciting to be able to influence a system from the start rather than trying to untangle historical customizations.
Even though the task of migrating from an old to a new instance is large, both Mathilde and Cegal have great confidence that it is the right choice.
In the long run, it will cost more money to manage the old system than the start-up costs for the new one. In addition, the new system provides several new opportunities that both we and our customers will benefit from. Development going forward will be simpler, and far more streamlined.
There is a reason why Cegalians call themselves “fuss-fighters.” Making things simpler and tackling problems is an important part of the company's culture.
There's always a lot that's new, and on top of that, my role is brand new - so there are a lot of questions that come up all the time.
A good place to be new
When we talk to Mathilde, she is one day away from finishing her trial period. Being new at Cegal has gone smoothly.
There's always a lot that's new, and on top of that, my role is completely new - so there are a lot of questions that come up all the time.
The fact that Mathilde has had a lot of questions hasn't been a problem.
I feel that there is a very low threshold for saying that you don't understand something or are unsure of how to solve things. People make themselves very accessible - either when you walk over and tap them on the shoulder or over Teams when I need to talk to colleagues in other offices. It has made my everyday life much easier.
Mathilde has colleagues in both Oslo and Sandnes, as well as in the US, UK, and Malaysia. Since starting in the fall of 2023, she has had close follow-up from the department head.
I've had structured follow-up all the way, which has enabled me to get to know Cegal, familiarize myself with work tasks and be introduced to colleagues. It's been a great support.
You Matter
At Cegal, they have an employee promise called You Matter, but the question is whether it is possible to have an impact on a company after just six months. Mathilde has no doubt.
I feel that I matter, for example when I help colleagues with all sorts of questions about the platform I am responsible for. Recently, I was informed that a colleague had reached out to ten different people for assistance but found my answer to be the most helpful, and that was nice feedback to receive. But also in a more general sense, Mathilde feels that she matters.I notice that the ideas and suggestions I come up with are listened to and taken into consideration. In the further development of the platform and how we should use the system, I have a hand on the wheel. Mathilde believes that being well taken care of has a lot to do with the culture and colleagues.
Most people who work here are genuinely nice. Even though Cegal has become a large and international company, we have maintained the feeling of being a smaller business where people care about each other. Everyone remembers your birthday, for example. These little things may be trivial, but they are very pleasant.
