Ian Showell

BA MSc

Technical Solutions Consultant

Over 15 years experience in technology projects
Experienced SQL developer
Qualified Agile BA and Agile PM Practitioner
Specialist in technical analysis, integration projects, business system design, process automation
Certified user experience professional

Ian on Linkedin

ian@2aardvarks.co.uk

2 Aardvarks uses technology to make businesses work better. I'm really good at understanding the problems and challenges faced by companies. I'm also really good at designing, building and implementing technical solutions to solve those problems. I started my career in business and management roles in tour operators, but my natural passion for improving and automating led me into business systems projects that delivered efficiency. From there I became a qualified Agile Business Analyst, Agile Project Manager and UX professional and over the years I have delivered many system projects from incremental functionality improvements to greenfield developments and integration pieces.

Nowadays I mostly focus on technical delivery. My wide understanding of how businesses work and how IT projects work are the foundations that allow me to deliver well-designed, effective technical solutions for our clients. On some projects I carry out technical analysis, for example getting into the specifics of how two systems will integrate through detailed API request flows and mapping. On others I will write SQL for use in reporting or bespoke applications. I create automated workflows that carry out a series of tasks like reading and updating data, sending requests to other systems and outputting emails, in order to remove the need for human input completely in a particular task.

2 Aardvarks also helps some of our clients to look after their own systems and we run a system support desk for those clients. As well as analysing and fixing bugs, I take a product owner role with these clients to collect requirements for new functionality, work with stakeholders on prioritisation and then oversee delivery of the solutions. I work with other developers to create and implement new functionality, as well as collaborating with those in many other business and project roles.

My key skill is that I can understand the detail and the bigger picture. I can understand the business and the technical. I am incredibly focussed on providing solutions that really make a difference, and doing so efficiently and accurately. Our clients really appreciate the ease of working with 2 Aardvarks. They tell us the problem, and we solve it. No fuss.

If this sounds good and you want us to help solve your problems, please get in touch.

Key Achievements

Full implementation of new Tour Operator System in a travel business – from supplier sourcing and gap analysis, to briefing developments, managing data migration, managing stakeholder buy-in and expectations, process realignment, and training in all aspects of the system.
Specification of green field FIT quoting engine, including system behaviour and logic, user interface design, connectivity with other travel systems via APIs and associated requirements gathering, stakeholder management, implementation and training.
Specification of transactional website booking flows for 2 tour operators, including process design to maximise conversions and preparing back office processes to support automated 24-hour booking.
Integration of an acquired business into the existing systems and processes of a travel company. Includes full process review and redesign, data migration, system reconfiguration, document automation, reporting and training.
Creation of intranet featuring both reporting and business-critical functionality including rooming lists and release, flight manifests and release, production of client documentation and despatch management etc.
Involvement in 2 travel websites, including input into design and user experience, technical analysis, guidance on the presentation of date, price and availablity information, and I created staging data for both using SQL stored procedures.
Design and implementation of a customer loyalty scheme, including marketing involvement and SQL coding to accrue and use points based on holiday expenditure.
Creation and management of ‘The Walking Partnership’ club affiliation scheme, including marketing, documentation and SQL coding.
Specification of tour leaders’ website, accessing bespoke dynamic reports from main tour operator system in a secure environment.
Knowledge and experience of Travelink (Comtec), Travel Studio (Open Destinations), Tiger Bay and Peakworksoftware at a UI and database level.
Design of a complex dynamic document builder for an environmental charity, project management of the development and implementation phases
Management of a major tour operator software version upgrade, including management of business testing, supplier management, issue resolution, training etc
Product Owner/Scrum Master for a bespoke tour operator system in the educational division of a major tour operator
Deployment Project Manager for a large business change project involving complete systems replacement
Technical analysis for a travel technology dynamic packaging software provider
Management of IT provision for B2B finance company, including management and incremental development of bespoke software solution

“Covering a broad range of projects small and more complex, Ian’s ability to understand and assimilate the technical, commercial and managerial aspects of the tasks has been exemplary.”
Toby Lanyon – CIO, TradeRiver Finance

“We found that Ian was very quick to learn our unique systems and his management (and resolution) of complex issues was appreciated by our users. Ian’s years of experience are very clear in his work”
Axel Brand – Director – Key Account Management, Peakwork

“After a very short session on each occasion, Ian understood our requirements and provided exactly what was needed.”
Haydn Marshall – IT Manager, Beachcomber Tours