So says Partha Guha Roy, Customer Solutions Architect at Cefalo. He plays a central role in the collaboration with the Norwegian news agency NTB, and has been with us since 2012.
Partha’s story is not just about technology and architecture. It is also about trust, relationships, and long-term development, both professionally and personally.
– Several of the people who started Cefalo were former colleagues of mine, so joining felt natural. I knew what kind of people they were. Back then, it was all about relationships, and it still is.
That is how Partha describes his decision to join Cefalo. More than a decade later, he is still motivated and clear on why.
– I like that what we build actually matters. Not just internally, but for our clients. And I like that Cefalo challenges both us and our clients to find the best solution, not just the easiest one.
A culture of technical discussions and real customer value defines the workday, according to Partha.
– Sometimes we have to say to the client: «Here is a better alternative than what you asked for.» That is not just allowed at Cefalo, it is expected. It leads to better solutions for the client and gives more meaning to our work as developers.
Partha describes the daily work at Cefalo as efficient and low on bureaucracy.
– I spend almost no time on internal meetings or reporting. We trust each other and work closely with the client. That gives us room to really dive deep.
He also highlights the technical environment as a key factor for job satisfaction.
The partnership with NTB is the project Partha remembers best. Not just because it has lasted eight years, but because of the journey it has been from the beginning.
– When we started, NTB was primarily a news organization with a small development team. Now, they’re a full-fledged software provider. Being part of that transformation has been very rewarding.
He also appreciates the Norwegian mindset:
Norwegian clients have realistic goals. They take the time to consider our suggestions. That creates a healthy development environment. No one expects us to build the next Facebook over a weekend.
One key point for Partha is how the Norwegian and Bangladeshi teams work as a single unit.
– We’re not treated as an external vendor team. We take part in planning, further development, infrastructure – everything. That gives us ownership and involvement on a completely different level.
But trust does not happen automatically:
– You have to be open and clear. It doesn’t help to have the best solutions if you can’t explain and anchor them. To succeed, communication is just as important as code.