Masaki Ota

MRes Railway Systems Integration, 2015
Senior Value Advisor, SAP Japan

At SAP Japan, as an industry senior advisor, I am working closely with my clients in the Travel & Transportation (T&T) Industry: airlines, airports, passenger transport, hospitality, travel service providers, freight forwarding and 3PL, rail cargo, liner shipping and trucking.

What is the best thing about what you are doing now?

Digital transformation (DX) is one of the critical factors required to secure the traditional business portfolio as well as create new revenue streams. Based on the DX strategy, I am engaging with customers regarding back-office finance transformation; cost optimization regarding indirect cost and procurement; data-driven business and measuring business Key Performance Indicators; leveraging the use of data for maintenance, repair, and overhaul of the infrastructure in order to contribute to the overall financial situation; customer experience improvement while enriching the customer platform; and human resource development in a global context. Among these topics, infrastructure strategy is the best theme for me because I apply my knowledge and experience learned at University and my previous company to innovate the operation process for business success.

What made you interested in your current role?

Through my professional experience as a signalling system engineer, I strongly realized that business structure reform based on operational data analysis is essential for the T&T industry to overcome the severe business environment as a result of Covid-19. Many insights at SAP made me interested to break through this conventional business structure by promoting digital transformation in order to reinvent business processes.

How has your career developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham?

During my stay in the UK, through the connections at university, I had a chance to work at Network Rail and at ATKINS after graduation. In addition, this year, I had a great job offer from SAP Japan as an industry senior advisor in the T&T industry because of my experience and degree. Academic skills in infrastructure maintenance that I learned at university have brought me new opportunities to be involved in exciting projects such as the Japanese Industrial Standard Special Interest Group, the Investigation Specialized Committee of IEEJ (The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan), and the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers in Japan section. Thus, I would say that the university enriched my career so much.

What motivates you?

An ideal environment motivates me to learn. For example, the research environment, resources and facility at the BCRRE at Birmingham made it possible for me to concentrate on my research and modules. Professionals in every field of railway engineering gave me insights and data not only at the university but also in industries where many alumni of the University belong. 

Why did you originally apply to Birmingham?

The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) which is established in the University of Birmingham is well known in the railway industry as a world-wide academic-based group that provides world-class research, education, and innovation. 

 Masaki Ota

 

We Are Birmingham Alumni

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?

Yes, I played golf to take exercise and refresh my mind. 

How did your time at University help you start your career?

My time at University helped me to have a positive mindset to challenge and dive into new environments, thanks in part to a diverse and professional environment among the skilful engineers in the BCRRE. It influenced me to look for and join a research internship in a UK company before returning to Japan to start with my current company.

What advice would you give to current students studying on your degree programme?

I can easily imagine that current students might be concerned about writing their first report as I was (e.g. taking longer than expected, the way to write, afraid of the result, and so on). I would say that anyone around you on the course will be happy to support you, and you will gradually become able write confidently. 

Any final words?

It was my first time living in a foreign country and at first I worried whether I could live comfortably in the new environment. In such a situation, University of Birmingham provided many opportunities to enjoy group activities and events, so I smoothly got accustomed to living in Birmingham. As for my academic life, I did not have enough skills to write academic reports in English but the university provided academic writing lessons and pre-sessional courses to learn basic skills. I realized the importance of the connection with other students and lecturers because they came from all over the world and from various industries. So, these connections made a positive contribution to both my professional career and personal life.