‘Data is at the centre of everything’

An alumnus of Apeejay School, Saket, Vipul Saini, (24) loves to stay up-to-date with the new data-based trends. When not at work, he likes to socialise and play football. A talented young professional, Saini started his career with the well-known Expedia Group Inc., the American online travel shopping company for consumer and small business travel. In this interview, he talks about his work and career learnings. Read On:

Please tell us about your educational background.  

I finished schooling from Apeejay Saket in 2016. Then, I pursued a degree in B. Tech from Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi. I am currently working as a Data Engineer at Flipkart. And my work involves building data-based pipelines, solving data problems, just to mention a few. It has been about two years for me in the field of data, and I wish to continue in the same line of work.

What interested you about the field of data?

Nowadays, data is at the centre of everything. To solve any business-centric problem such as boosting sales, attracting users, marketing a new product, data is crucial. Then there are related professions such as those of data analysts, data scientists, marketers, etc., who make use of this information to drive a business.

E-commerce platforms have been mushrooming lately. Why so?

The platforms were a success even before Covid-19. However, as the pandemic hit India, the shopping malls, stores were completely shut. This gave e-commerce a massive boost, more than ever. The thing is that these platforms keep consumers in focus and make business strategies around their needs. A buyer’s ease is kept in mind through timely home deliveries, exchanges, returns that are put in place.

The data they gather from the consumers helps them thrive. In my view, e-commerce portals have built trust with the consumers. Due to that, word-of-mouth is spreading and more and more people are moving to buying stuff online. Safety, trust and value for money, are ethics that these platforms are able to deliver.

For those who want to be in your shoes, your advice?

In the field of data, the demand for workforce is increasing by the day. Therefore, learning opportunities are immense. A large number of people are using different kinds of technologies regularly and that data is available for companies, organisations and e-commerce platforms, etc. So, if one is looking to become a Data Engineer, they should be motivated to solve data-based problems and handle data well.

Tips for juniors?

I felt inclined towards the field of Computer Science during school, simply due to my curiosity. And so, my advice is to keep learning and trying. Opt for a course based on data engineering, only if it interests you. Be open to exploring new things.

Any fond memories with Apeejay School, Saket?

I joined the school in class 9. It took me some time to become familiar with the school, the students, teachers and staff. But once I overcame that roadblock, I felt very comfortable. I am still friends with my batchmates and we meet often. The school taught me how to be a life-long learner. This is still helping me in my career. Apeejay Saket has had a very welcoming student-teacher relationship and the teachers have always been there to guide students.