Through the “Conversations with Our Members” series, we have the opportunity to have an enjoyable conversation with one of the members of the Woman in Technology Association family, listen to their experiences, and learn about their relationship with technology. We continue our series with another Corporate Member: Protel. In her interview, İlkiz Özcan, the CFO of Protel talks about her career journey, her introduction to our association, the changing business world with artificial intelligence and data, and the ideal world order to be established with technology.
1. How has your career journey been so far? Can you talk about those who have guided you along the way and the significant turning points in your career?
I started my career in the Audit department at Deloitte and have now completed 23 years in the field. After working in the audit sector, I transitioned to budgeting and finance management roles at international companies like Danone and Ferroli. In 2008, I ventured into the Ready-to-Wear Retail sector with Mavi. Following a partnership in a private equity investment fund, I managed the restructuring and institutionalization processes of the Finance department.
From 2016 to 2022, I served as the CFO at Panço, another private equity investment fund. During this time, we focused on operational efficiency, net working capital management, credit control, strategic planning, international audits, the transfer of operations to a 3PL logistics company, digitization, and executing projects for the sale of the company to new investors.
Since 2022, I have been serving as the CFO at Protel Holding, leading a team of 30 individuals in financial control, audit, procurement and warehouse management, and the company’s digital transformation initiatives.
Our company, with 35 years of experience in the hospitality sector, is a software firm specializing in Oracle Hospitality products as the distributor in Türkiye. Additionally, we offer automation solutions with our own software brand, Simpra, aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies in restaurant management.
In Türkiye, we have five subsidiaries offering a range of hospitality solutions from guest hosting to payment systems, while internationally we have two subsidiaries, keeping us quite busy on the financial front.
2. How did your path cross with Wtech? Could you tell us about your relationship with the association?
While there are some organizations and associations supporting women in the workforce, I don’t believe the situation for women in our country has been made significantly easier. I have observed that especially after having children, there is a significant drop in the number of women advancing to managerial positions and beyond.
Whether attending a CFO conference or participating in training sessions or congresses related to technology and digital transformation, I often notice a relatively low representation of women. Being one of the few female executives in the software and technology sector, I’m passionate about making a difference in our industry within our group of companies. Hence, while researching what we could do, discovering Wtech and its projects, which created significant value, excited me greatly.
Wtech, alongside its members, is dedicated to bringing women into technology, fostering their skills, and creating future leaders. Joining the Woman in Technology Association, which is actively taking solid steps to motivate women to work in the technology sector in Türkiye and support them in their careers, brings me immense joy.
For years, we have been organizing education collaborations and Bootcamps, offering free software training and employment opportunities within the Protel group of companies for young individuals. We firmly believe in the importance of such initiatives and have considerable experience in this field. Although we have recently joined the Wtech family, we have already started brainstorming project ideas with our team. Leveraging our past experiences, I believe we can soon contribute alongside other stakeholders.
3. We are living in a time where artificial intelligence and data stands out. How are financial processes within the company affected during this period? What should we do to turn this transformation into an advantage?
At Protel, we can categorize our solutions into hotel management, restaurant automation, spa and fitness center solutions, retail solutions, payment technologies, internal communication and e-transformation solutions.
This era, where different technologies emerge, is highly dynamic and transformative for both our company and the tourism sector. With our digital transformation solutions, we continue to contribute to the industry, strengthening our leadership position. We provide advantages to our customers through technologies such as cloud products, secure mobile applications, contactless payment, autonomous service robots, and self-service kiosks.
We not only aim to improve business processes but also initiate a digital transformation that personalizes and enriches customer experiences. Among our 2024 objectives are enhancing operational efficiency with artificial intelligence and automation technologies, offering integrated solutions to customers, and making new investments. Additionally, we are currently working on five new projects in our R&D center.
Through projects such as smart image processing techniques, automatic data processing and integration, ensuring product supply based on consumption rates, and developing forecasting technologies for optimal inventory, we support businesses in implementing sustainable business practices. We strive to offer solutions that prevent waste and ensure the efficient use of resources.
In addition to improvements for our customers, we have initiated a Digital Maturity Index measurement project to guide all our business processes towards digitization. We utilize Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for automating manual processes and implement Realtime Dashboards for monitoring business performance through instant data reporting and visualization based on business intelligence.
In summary, regardless of size, organizations need to develop and implement strategies that facilitate their transition into the digital age and contribute to their success.
4. Since 1989, Protel has been providing technological solutions to many businesses in Türkiye. How has your focus shifted with the development of technology since your establishment? What steps are you taking to adapt to rapidly evolving technology transforming the world?
Since our establishment, we have been operating in a dynamic environment where technology evolves rapidly. To meet the needs of our customers, we provide support at every stage of business management.
Today, with our presence in 22 countries, our R&D center, and a large team of over 100 developers, we closely monitor industry trends and dynamics, combining this knowledge with our technological capabilities to lead the industry. With over 5,000 businesses and more than 10,000 terminals in the field, we continuously work towards realizing our vision of shaping the future of the sector.
Together with this large family, we not only contribute to the industry but also actively play a role in its transformation, shaping the future of dining and hospitality experiences today. Beyond basic functions such as payment processing, order management, reservation processes, inventory tracking, and reporting, we offer an integrated range of solutions that support all processes and meet all needs of our customers.
In this regard, we help businesses increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate customer satisfaction by utilizing the latest and innovative technologies. We closely monitor trends in both local and global markets, developing solutions that help businesses remain competitive, facilitate adaptation processes, and set them apart. Especially with our Simpra brand, businesses seize the opportunity to stand out in their sectors by effectively utilizing all the advantages technology offers.
5. In a world where technology is used for the benefit of humanity, what do you think the ideal world order should be like?
Your question takes me back to the days of debating in primary school. Those who believed technology is beneficial defended their ideas against those who believed it’s harmful. Today, we’re discussing the contributions of technology on much broader scales rather than simply debating its advantages and disadvantages. Although our standards regarding artificial intelligence ethics and other technological aspects may not be entirely clear yet, I prefer to focus on the positive aspects. I believe many of the problems humanity faces due to underdevelopment or limited resources could be rapidly resolved. Looking ahead, while it’s possible to imagine even more surreal advancements, I prefer to envision the progress and stabilization of topics that have already begun.
The ideal world order should be one where technology is utilized in the best possible way for the welfare of humanity and social justice. I also envision a world with much greater equality of opportunities in technology distribution and usage, leading to a fairer world order. It’s crucial that we establish a more controlled world sooner rather than later, considering the needs of future generations, utilizing natural resources sustainably, and preserving the environment.
With the use of technology, boundaries gradually lose their meaning, linguistic differences are entirely bridged, a more peaceful world and mutual understanding prevails, and communication between different cultures becomes easier. If genuinely desired, technology’s role as a significant tool in education and knowledge sharing will continue to increase. Then, we can create a system where everyone has access to healthcare and can lead a healthy life. We are still vulnerable to natural disasters and crises like pandemics, but I wholeheartedly believe that technology can help us build a more resilient infrastructure in the future.
