Interview with Jerzy Biernacki, Head of Research and Development - Miquido

Jerzy Biernacki  

Head of Research and Development, Miquido

How did your journey with Miquido begin?

This journey started almost 6 years ago when my wife and I were still software engineers. She was the first one to join Miquido team, and since then she has loved working here. I couldn’t help but feel a little bit envious. Since I had experience in a totally different tech stack, I applied to become a PM. Then I moved up over the years and at some point, I developed a concept of the R&D department. I got a chance to build it from scratch, and here we are now.

In short, how would you describe your responsibilities at Miquido?

I’m responsible for verifying the potential of emerging technologies and launching new services. Recently I started focusing on AI, chatbots and voice assistants (Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri).


What do you think is the key role that you have to play as the Head of Research and Development?

To help our clients build their products, we need to constantly expand our competencies in new areas. My role is to make sure that Miquido stays up-to-date with the latest advancements in IT, and can offer comprehensive end-to-end solutions.


Tell us about your most valuable achievement in the industry.

I’m most proud of the voice assistants’ team that we’ve built especially how we became experts in the design and development of actions for Google Assistant. We dived deep into this topic, investing a lot of efforts in exploring the technology. We also partnered with Google and finished Google Actions for Agencies program. Then we honed our skills on a few very interesting Actions on Google projects, including some for really big brands. Now we are in the process of obtaining the official Actions on Google certification. We have also made similar progress in the field of Data Science, and are now focused on increasing our AI and Machine Learning expertise.


As a web and mobile app development company, where do you think Miquido needs to pay close attention during the project development phases?

We are focused on every phase of the project. If I needed to pick, I would go with the requirements analysis, design of UX, and creation of the solution's architecture. The reason for this is rather simple -errors made at the initial stages are the most costly.


Which project development methodology do you think is the most effective?

Agile methodologies are definitely the most effective for software development. There is no one methodology that is best for every project, though. For many cases, Scrum does the job just fine, but there are many cases in which other agile methodologies could prove more efficient and practical. At Miquido, we have developed a set of rules and tips for optimal project management based on our experience gathered over the years. It is now functioning internally as a PM guidebook called MAP (Miquido Agile Process).


As Miquido’s Head of Research and Development, what would you advise your peers that would help them effectively improve productivity?

Always have your goals in mind, keep track of every task that brings you closer to them, delegate when possible, and make sure it is clear who is responsible for every assignment.

What, according to you, are the best practices to attain client satisfaction?

I think the most important thing is to be a viable partner for your client - be transparent, earn trust with your expertise, and work with them on every challenge that you encounter. Being proactive, professionalism, and efficiency are probably the key traits to ensure client’s satisfaction.


How do you strategize your business system to be in pace with the technological advancements?

I keep track of emerging technologies by regularly reading tech news, visiting conferences, speaking with our clients. When I find something interesting, we run internal experiments and create proof of concepts to verify if it is worth recommending to our clients.


Which do you think is the most futuristic technology and why?

I would rather focus on futuristic ideas and concepts, as technology is actually just a tool to bring these ideas to life. I would say that a concept defining our nearest future is the assistance of AI-powered solutions in business and our everyday life, especially in transportation, healthcare and finance. Artificial Intelligence is already changing many aspects of our lives, and soon it will be a must-have in every major IT project.


What are your plans for Miquido in 2019?

We are already experts in mobile and web app development, but we don’t want to stop there. 2019 is a year when Miquido is taking big steps forward, focusing on expanding expertise in AI software design and development.


Which are your favorite mobile apps? Tell us at least 5 of them.

My favorite apps are:
1. Google Assistant - It’s a glimpse into the future and already one of the most useful apps out there
2. Evernote - I find it the best tool for taking notes
3. Fotor - It’s a great app for fast photo edition on mobile
4. TickTick - The best application I’ve found for To-Dos management
5. Revolut - It simplifies so many things when travelling and buying online