Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Marc Batalla and I am based in Barcelona, Spain. 

I have been part of the ALTEN team since 2009, when ALTEN acquired my previous company, BBR.  

What is your expertise and how did you acquire it? 

My main areas of expertise are the development of management applications and database design. 

I started with Delphi, developing client-server applications, and from there I migrated to web technologies and PL/SQL, with Oracle Forms&Reports and Oracle APEX. I’m also well-versed in relational database architecture development (mainly Oracle, but I have also worked with SQLServer, MySQL, Access and PostgreSQL). 

Throughout my career, I’ve acquired knowledge in scripting languages to provide custom solutions to clients: Windows batch scripting, Unix Shell scripting, Visual Basic for Applications and Python. 

For the most part, I have mastered these skills on my own, by reading manuals and code, but I have also taken training courses provided by ALTEN.  

What does a typical day look like in your position? 

I have a slightly different profile than most technical consultants, who usually dedicate 100% of their time to one project, two at most. I am usually involved in 8 or 9 projects at a time, dealing with different clients and technologies, because I collaborate more with architecture and design.  

This makes my daily work very dynamic and stimulating, balancing between developing remotely for clients and hopping into calls and meetings. 

Can you tell us about one specific project in which you were able to highlight this expertise? 

Migration projects for consolidating technologies require the most skill in target technology, to provide the most optimal and creative solution. 

In 2011, I was involved in a specific project that called for the migration of the logistics software from C technology to Oracle Forms&Reports, for a company with over 600 supermarkets, most of which are in Catalonia. 

The application developed in C had, in addition to management screens in character format, database processes linked to interfaces with other systems. 

I developed a PL/SQL programme that read the C source code and automatically generated most of the new code, which was in turn used in the development of the new screens, lists, and processes. 

What is the most challenging aspect of your job/area, and how do you approach overcoming it?

The most challenging part of my job is dealing with stress and knowing how to organise my work according to priorities. Working on numerous projects at a time, I must prioritise tasks according to various factors and deal with possible delays with clients.  

There are times where I have to negotiate with the client to extend a deadline or carry out another change. However, as I work to maintain a positive relationship with them, demonstrating responsibility and effectiveness, there has never been any major problem. 

In what ways do you continuously seek to improve your skills and stay updated with industry trends? 

To stay updated, I have subscribed to different newsletters from the Oracle community, which is the main technology I use. I also periodically take courses, especially technical ones. I try to stay aware of emerging technologies, often discussing them with colleagues or within projects themselves, and have friends in the sector who share their feedback and knowledge with me. 

What aspects of our company culture do you find most motivating or inspiring?  

One thing that really motivates me is the good atmosphere among colleagues and managers. My colleagues have always been there to support me in any way they can. 

Managers are friendly, grant us autonomy, have great human qualities, all of which generate a good atmosphere and greater productivity.