Alexey Kocherev, a Ukrainian businessman and public figure, tells the IT Business Week magazine how to succeed in business, implement your own ideas in the IT field, and be useful for the country
EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
- Since 2013, you have held the position of Director of the Department of International Relations and Information Technologies at the Ministry of Social Policy. What did you manage to achieve in this position?
- For me, this was an interesting experience, albeit rather unusual. The main project I worked on was the "Social Card of Ukraine" - the creation of a unified information space in the social sphere. This is a large-scale project that would have allowed many processes to be brought into line with 21st century technologies. The idea was to automate all the processes taking place in the Ministry of Social Policy and the organizations that are part of its structure. And also to build interfaces for information exchange with other government agencies.
The "Social Card of Ukraine" was being implemented in conjunction with the National Bank of Ukraine, whose task was to ensure the processes of all payments. In a year, our team was able to fully complete the theoretical part, sign the relevant resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and prepare the project for implementation. And this is a colossal work.
- Tell us more about the project - what is its goal, what problems is it designed to solve?
- The goal and objective of this project was to make the life of every person easier, optimize the processes of interaction with the state for all segments of the population. If we managed to implement the planned, the process would be built like this. People receive a social card combined with a payment card. This document would contain the most complete information about the owner, and would allow solving any issue without involving other documents. Identification of the person, place of residence, employment status and experience, availability of unpaid bills, benefits, driver's license - everything on one card. This would allow eliminating the need to obtain all types of paper certificates, simplifying the payment procedure. The advantages for society and the state are obvious.
- The project really makes an impression of being important and necessary for society. Why hasn't it been implemented yet?
- By a coincidence, I left the civil service during the period of signing the final documents on the social card. As far as I know, the further development of our team's initiatives did not happen, the new leadership froze the project. I consider this a big mistake and I am sure that in one way or another, our project will be implemented as the first step towards e-government. I will be glad to continue my participation in its implementation.
- In your opinion, when can a system of e-government really start working in Ukraine? What results will this give?
- I hope this will happen very soon. Today, Ukraine has all the technologies, algorithms and opportunities to implement the project. It only needs a decisive decision of the government. Even now, there are various systems built in a similar way in the public sector. But if we talk globally about the whole country, the transition to open technologies would allow making software products completely transparent and save huge sums that are spent annually on the field of information technology.
- You studied the experience of European countries in the field of electronic technology implementation. What examples made a particularly strong impression? And what projects are applicable for implementation in Ukraine?
- I was interested in the experience of other countries. I spent some time in Austria and Estonia, studying their e-government models. I was impressed by the examples of Singapore and Estonia. But it would be a mistake to transfer their algorithms and schemes to Ukraine exactly. It is necessary to take into account the differences between countries: mentality, territory, population and availability of infrastructure. It would be right to extract the best from the experience of other countries, add our own characteristics to it and use the most modern technologies. Then the result will be one of the best in the world and will remain relevant for many years.
As for other projects, I was impressed by the healthcare system in Europe. A single register of patients, medical records and common access to the database of medical and other necessary institutions. This is the software package that is so necessary for hospitals and ambulance stations, rescuers and the police. Access to such a system will allow eradicating the possibility of corruption and fraud in this area, and will save many lives.
Today, Ukraine has all the technologies, algorithms and opportunities to implement e-government. It only needs a decisive decision of the government.
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
- Most of our readers know you as a successful businessman. You demonstrate impressive results not only in a government position, but also in the entrepreneurial field. How do you manage to do this?
- I believe that the main thing is to do what you love. When a person likes what he does, he goes to work with pleasure, performs it wholeheartedly, hence the positive result, dynamics and success. It is important to fill work with life, and not life with work. Otherwise, there will be no benefit. I was lucky in this, I am definitely in the right place, I do what gives meaning to life, and at the same time it benefits others.
- Steve Jobs' business strategy was to constantly experiment, challenge himself, and offer the client a comprehensive solution. What is your approach to work, projects, and clients?
- I am convinced that the approach to work should be exclusively creative. Each client for me is unique, and each project differs from standard approaches. When a client sees an individual approach to solving his problem and a sincere interest in solving it as efficiently as possible, it is much more pleasant for him to deal with you. Accordingly, the result will be impressive.
- Today, the business environment in the country is not easy. What advice can you give to young entrepreneurs? Share the experience you have gained over the years.
- Life is such that stability is just an illusion. There is never a guarantee that nothing will happen in the country. In any economy, there are ups and downs, world history proves it. But if you are observant, it will become obvious - even in the most difficult times, there are people who find themselves at the peak of success. I have a couple of such examples that always motivate me to move forward. My advice to young entrepreneurs is simple: if you have a really good and necessary idea - this is success. Boldly implement it despite any obstacles. Believe in yourself, immerse yourself in work with your head and everything will work out.
I am convinced that the approach to work should be exclusively creative. Each client for me is unique, and each project differs from standard solutions and approaches.
IT PROJECTS AND PLANS
- Let's talk about the IT business. This is an interesting and very relevant topic today. You have been working in the IT field for many years. You have collaborated with foreign companies and developed many unique products. It would be interesting to know which projects you are most proud of? Why?
- Indeed, I have had a lot of interesting experience in the field of IT. But I would call the Social Card of Ukraine and the Distributed Secure Storage the most prominent projects. Both are quite large and unique - they are useful for people, companies, and states at the same time. The first one should cover the whole of Ukraine and become the largest IT project in our country. The second will become one of the most secure data storages in the world.
- As an expert in the field, can you assess the level of development of the IT industry in Ukraine? What is the potential of the Ukrainian IT market as a whole?
- Ukrainian developers are rightly considered among the best in the world. Even now, our IT specialists are actively working for large foreign companies, developing unique projects, and the main profit remains abroad. Later, we ourselves buy these products for a lot of money. Paradoxically, but it's a fact. I believe that the potential in this area for the country is colossal. And if the state creates a favorable environment for the development of the IT business in Ukraine, we can easily create competition for the largest global companies.
- I'm interested to know your opinion on the "Kyiv Smart City" project. Do you consider it promising?
- Undoubtedly, I consider all such initiatives promising. But I am puzzled by the fact that there is no unified strategy for the development of the state in this direction. We are creating many disparate projects, issuing various cards at the regional level, spending money on all this, but there is still no result. I am convinced that there should be a global concept at the state level. Otherwise, when it is finally adopted, these small developments will simply become unnecessary. And that means that money, effort and time will be wasted in vain.
- What are you working on now? What are you going to surprise the public with in the near future?
- Now I am developing a project to create a distributed secure storage. This is a complex high-tech product, which is built on the following principle. The information you store is first encrypted, then broken into small pieces and scattered in a thousand places. This system provides 24/7 access to your information from anywhere in the world. At the same time, it is not physically stored in one place. It cannot be stolen or destroyed. Large global companies have already shown interest in the storage. Soon everyone will be talking about the project.
The most prominent of my projects are the Social Card of Ukraine and the Distributed Secure Storage. The first one should cover the whole of Ukraine and become the largest IT project in our country. The second will become one of the most secure data storages in the world.
STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS
- As a person who has succeeded in more than one field, can you name a few basic principles that allow you to achieve your goals and implement difficult tasks?
- Over the course of my life, I have drawn many conclusions, and today I can single out quite a few such principles. But I will name the most basic ones - fundamental. Among them are: unconventional approach, good idea and definitely luck.
- How do you plan your working time to get everything done?
- It's simple. I get up early, exercise daily. These are mandatory unchanging components of my day. Then - work. With this schedule, I feel comfortable and things are going well.
- It's interesting, do you have free time with such a workload? How do you spend it?
Free time can and should be found by everyone always - this is my conviction. I personally cannot imagine life without sports and travel. I love to spend my free time with my family. Such rest allows you to switch, recharge with positive emotions and gain strength for active and fruitful work.
And finally, can you give a definition of what success is for you, and what defines a successful person?
- I think that a truly successful and established person is not the one who has more money or other material goods. This is a person who is satisfied with what he has. When he feels comfortable with the way he lives; when in the morning he wants to go to work, and in the evening - home. When a person falls asleep and wakes up happy, you can safely say - he has achieved success!
The basic principles that allow me to achieve my goals and implement difficult tasks: an unconventional approach, a good idea and certainly luck.