Finding the Way: A Young App Developer Charts His Own Course

Varun, a young Indian app developer for Naturally Plus Singapore (NPSG), became the winner of UNIVA AWARDS 2023 and won this honor for two consecutive years. His journey, marked by significant and unexpected changes that required more than a little courage and initiative, reflects a blend of technical prowess and an ever-deepening understanding of the importance of human connection to ensure success. This article explores how those experiences and challenges shaped the professional life of a dynamic individual and his aspirations for the future that are already making waves in the world of technology and beyond.

Stepping Into the Unknown

An early step on Varun’s path came in July 2023 when he moved back to Singapore from India. The shift was not simply one of trading one location and culture for another, but it also signaled the beginning of a profound professional transformation. Varun found his past experience gave him a broader-than-expected perspective on his work, and he wanted to find a way to turn his emerging ideas into reality. Varun explains, “I realized after I arrived in Singapore and started working here that I wanted to do more than simply maintain the app. I wanted to try and grow the business more as a whole. I didn’t just want to create a great app. I wanted to bring down costs, lower transaction fees, and reduce paper costs.”

At the same time, he had other ideas brewing in addition to what already felt like a tall order. Varun continues, “I felt like that all was very cool, but I had always wanted to expand the app to different regions. I found myself constantly suggesting to people that we should give this a try. I’m not in a position of power, but I really felt there was untapped potential just waiting for us.”

Varun worked closely with his manager, Tan Han Wei, to begin bringing some of these ideas to life. While the two had different methods and approaches to their shared goals, Varun believed they were making good progress. So, when Tan Han Wei left his position before Varun’s arrival, the young developer suddenly found himself in the lead and a little bit unsure of how to proceed.

“After Han Wei left, I didn’t have a manager to do the asking or the digging for information. I had to do things directly. I had to go and ask for things and get things done. I couldn’t just sit at my desk anymore. That was definitely an experience because I wasn't really mentored on how to do that," says Varun.

Despite these challenges, Varun's vision of the future propelled him forward. He recalls, "I just wanted to do more. I just went for it. Han Wei had always stressed to me that this was a high-impact role, and I took that to heart. After he left, I decided to see what I could do with the skills I have.”

Finding Inspiration and Connection Through the UNIVA AWARDS

It is no wonder then that Varun chose “Change and Initiative” as the theme for his winning UNIVA AWARDS 2023 entry. Judges recognized his initiative and sense of independence to not only see what needed to be done and figure out a solution, but to find a way to bring it to life for the betterment of the whole organization and its consumers.

As a previous winner of the UNIVA AWARDS 2022, Varun knew this was a high accolade. The 2023 UNIVA AWARDS, though, provided something more than financial reward: invaluable opportunities to expand his network and gain new insights. It also opened up a world of experiences and motivation. Among these was the opportunity to speak with people, something this once-upon-a-time keyboard-focused guy would never have dreamed of doing, much less to his advantage.

He shares, "In 2022, I won the award and it was great for so many reasons. But this year was totally different. We got to go to Bali, which was amazing, but I was able to talk to so many new people and make so many new connections. For me, that was the most beneficial part of the UNIVA AWARDS this year. Without that trip and the chance to meet all of those people, so many of the things I wanted to do wouldn't have happened."

Setting Goals and Looking to the Future

That UNIVA AWARDS experience is also part of what fuels Varun's current work, an ambitious project aimed at integrating the NPSG app across multiple regions, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Korea. He describes this endeavor as "three or four projects in one," highlighting the complexity and scale of the task he has set for himself and the organization. Varun acknowledges the challenges, noting that "Indonesia, Korea, and Malaysia all have different requirements and needs," but he remains optimistic about completing the project by September or October.

In addition, Varun is also working on other initiatives, such as the kiosk project and phase two of the delivery project. Even as he recognizes the need for more manpower to achieve these goals efficiently, he believes in continually moving them forward. Part of that belief is his focus on enhancing the company’s internal efficiency. He has developed tools, such as the admin dashboard, to help the team perform their jobs faster and with fewer errors. By significantly streamlining the maintenance process, Varun’s efforts have increased efficiencies by leaps and bounds.

Varun's future goals reflect his ambition to drive both personal and professional growth. In the short term, he aims to successfully complete these ongoing projects and further streamline the operations of the app. In the long term, he envisions expanding the app's reach to even more regions and continuously improving its features to enhance user experience and operational efficiency.

Even as Varun firmly believes the UNIVA AWARDS inspire his work, he also sees his family as a source of his ambition. He admits with a bit of a laugh that he was perhaps not the most ambitious of students in his very early days, he recognizes that he was still influenced by the people around him and their ambition and initiative. He explains, “My entire family works hard - my mom has a PhD, my dad worked two jobs, and my brother worked full-time while also freelancing. They never pressured me, but seeing them, I learned to have ambition and see opportunity subconsciously. But to be honest,” Varun adds with a slight smile, “I also think work is fun.”

A Continuing Journey to Make Things Better for Everyone

Varun's journey is marked by notable achievements. The release of the NP 2.0 Mobile app in November 2023 introduced a variety of new features designed to make customer support easier, less error-prone, and less intensive in terms of data entry. This update led to impressive results, with sales reaching 450,000 SGD in just two months, representing a 45% increase from the same period of the previous year. Additionally, the use of PayNow saved 3,450 SGD in transaction fees.

The kiosk project, aimed at saving customer support time, resulted in saving 57,819 minutes, almost 40 days of working time per year. Varun's promotion to Technical Product Manager further underscores his contributions and potential.

One of the standout projects is the Naturally Plus Korea (NPKR) mobile application, which has made remarkable progress. Varun credits much of this success to the efforts of GM Mr. Hatase, who convinced Korea to allow them to build the app. Initially, Korea was considering an alternative vendor, but within a few months of confirming the project, they were ready to release the mobile application. Varun highlights this achievement to showcase their efficiency in gathering requirements and delivering the product.

Yet, he also understands that none of this would be possible without that move to Singapore, the realization that he would have to reach out to others to understand his vision and make every part of it possible. Varun reflects, “I understand now, that in the end, there are some things I simply can't do by myself. You can't just sit behind a desk and be on your keyboard. You have to meet people; you have to talk to people to get things done. I think without that, it's very hard to actually progress."

Varun's journey as a young app developer is a testament to the power of change, initiative, and human connection. From realizing the importance of collaboration to taking on new challenges and achieving significant milestones, Varun has demonstrated resilience, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring developers and professionals, highlighting the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and the drive to make a positive impact in the world of technology and beyond.