Digital Team Profile: Meet Volkan Algin

In the eleventh of our series profiling our Digital Marketing Solutions’ Team meet Volkan Algin.

Volkan is the Digital Platform Tools Manager.

He is responsible for administering digital platform tools and managing development efforts for new tools and technologies.

Q: What are your educational background and professional experience in digital?
A: I studied Business Management and Finance at CUNY Brooklyn College. However, I never pursued a career in Finance; perhaps, it was because of financial turmoil. Although I studied finance, I always had an interest in web development and creativity. So I learned how to develop and design websites, which soon became my profession and passion.

Q: How did your personal journey take you to AIG?
A: I started my career at AIG as a consultant in 2014 after having spent many years in Project Management for Web Development. I was brought on-board by Ping-Hao Lu to help execute content on the Tridion SDR Content Management System. Shortly thereafter, I joined the DMP Project to manage the very platform for which I helped to set the foundation.

Q: What is the role of the Platform Team in AIG’s Digital World? Can you tell us little bit more about the responsibilities of the Platform Team?
A: The Platform Team is an intermediary between the AIG Businesses and the IT Team. We observe and process the needs of stakeholders that we turn it into requirements for enhancements. We then prioritize the enhancements and add it to the IT development work stream. Once a new tool/feature is ready for use, we provide the customer support for our marketing managers. Ultimately, the Platform Team bridges the gap by acting as both intermediary and translator across divisions by gathering requirements, communicating changes/enhancements and providing support.

Q: What are your personal favorite, new, AIG digital marketing tools and what do you like about them?
A: Definitely my favorite tool is Adobe Experience Manager: The AEM interface is very friendly and easy to use. A content manager can build a page using a variety of components in just a matter of a few minutes after proper training. Having worked with many other content management systems like Tridion SDR, AEM is, far and away, the best content management system and is just one of the many aspects I love about this tool.

Q: How do new digital marketing tools enrich AIG websites worldwide?
A: I think we can clearly observe the monumental changes, both internally and externally, that the new tools have had on our websites. For example, AEM allows non-technical marketers to update their websites with a greater speed to market, while staying within compliance, and simultaneously delivering responsive and cutting edge content. The integration of Adobe Analytics and SessionCam allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of our content and helps us better understand our site visitors’ engagements during their journey. The addition of Adobe Target and Optimost provides us with the opportunity to test out new strategies before making untested and potentially damaging changes to our site. AIG has caught up with the trends of the digital world and our customers have taken note. We have seen increases in traffic in all the ways we had hoped and decreases in all the right places as well. This, I believe, is due to all the tools we have brought on and putting the power of content updates to the people who know their markets best.

Q: What do you want stakeholders to understand about your work in support of their digital user experience through new tools?
A: Enhancement requests are probably one of the hottest topics. Some stakeholders may like to have some functionality different than the others. But we want them to understand that the Enhancement Committee puts a lot thought into all inquiries and make decisions based on the global impact. We want every component and template to be standardized for ease of use and to keep the AIG website experience synchronized. This process often requires difficult decisions on what is best for the site as a whole. Often, we can achieve the requested, desired results with existing tools and functionality.

Let’s Get Personal:
Q: How do you build the quality of your life outside AIG?
A: I try to live a happy and healthy life outside of work. I try to exercise as much as I can during my free time. I believe moderate exercise not only just helps physical strength but also creates mental stamina. Working long hours behind the desk, makes me really appreciate fitness.

Q: What inspires you?
A: Almost everything I observe inspires me. I like to look at the world as I would through a camera lens where I can appreciate every scene and the world that surrounds me.

Q: Where are your favorite travel destinations?
A: In most recent years my favorite travel destination definitely was San Diego, California. Perhaps, after harsh winter in New York, the warm and sunny weather in San Diego really felt like heaven.

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