David Clavey – SCN Member of the Month August 2013.
I never thought I would do a video conference at 7:30am one morning (I’m not the early bird type), and record it on top of that! But I did, and it was fun. David Clavey is the Member of the Month for August 2013, and this time I did a video interview for a change, asking the regular questions that you have come to know. David is a nice guy, he shared his collection of hats with me – and the community. He’s done a lot in his life and doesn’t seem to want to stop any time soon 😉 We talked a lot about mobility – well, he did the talking, he’s the expert – and he was kind enough to share about his hardware hobbies.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tVsvMxVQqDE
David, can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you live, who you work for, and other things you would like to share with the community (hobbies, fun facts)?
I live in Dunstable, a small town 30 miles north of London. The town goes back to Roman times and is the intersection of a Roman paved road and an ancient Briton road which runs along the Chiltern hills. There were two monasteries and a Royal palace 500 years ago, frequently visited by mediaeval Kings and Queens. Today it has two theaters, a zoo, hill top walks/runs, a glider club and me 🙂
From age 14 onwards I have lived in Dunstable, but previously I lived in Cumbria (English lake district). Julie my wife and I have 5 children, but only one still at home. I am an active Christian and a member of Christ Church Dunstable, and also a member of Dunstable downs radio club which coincides with my hobbies of electronics, embedded commuting, radio and HAB – High altitude Balloon experiments. I love most gadgets.
Being a Cumbrian I have always enjoyed walking, sailing and canoeing. I am an ex-marathon runner and ex-fitness instructor. For example I completed the London marathon in 2004.
I work for Capgemini in Holborn, London. Although most days I am not in the office but either working from home or visiting a customer. My role is “Mobility Lead” within the SAP business group of Capgemini, but I also currently support Europe as a Technical architect for Managed Mobility for 50% of my time. I also have strong links with Mobility guys in other parts of the business in the UK, Europe, USA and India. So a strong mobility team but scattered too many locations.
Before you joined Capgemini you were with Sybase. You stayed there for a few of years and then you left a few months after SAP acquired Sybase. Any thoughts you want to share about that time – the pre-SAP days? And how was it becoming suddenly part of a big company like SAP?
I was 5 years with Sybase, the company flew me to Toronto to interview me – that impressed me. I was a professional services consultant at Sybase – consulting and supporting most of their mobility products – Onebridge, SQL Anywhere/Mobilink/Ultralite, SUP, Afaria. The job involved many mobile worker customer solutions such as home visit nursing, fire engine/bus maintenance, telecom engineer systems. I was a year in the company when SAP bought Sybase, it did not really effect me much at the time as I was still delivering a major field service project in Dubai.
You’ve been a mobility consultant for years now, is there an industry that you like working with? And one that you find particularly challenging?
I enjoy all aspects of Mobility, from the start 27 years ago when it was about bar code scanning a docking stations to do comms. At Symbol I was involved in some pre-WiFi radio communications for communicating on-the-fly. This then changed to Mobile Worker type applications (e.g. Field Service and Delivery) based on GSM and WiFi and later 3G. I love working with mobile worker type applications; usually the end users love what you are doing because you are providing them with up-to-date information and cutting the paperwork.
I don’t find any industry area challenging other than when you start talking App’s the customer thinks they only cost $1 each ! Bespoke development is still expensive, even using hybrid technology.
Eventually there will be no such think as mobility as all computer interaction devices will be mobile. Who wants to sit at a desk anyway, even a portable PC is still a largely desk tethered device, it’s just portable between desks! I look forward to the day I can go for a hill walk and still be “at work”.
Your LinkedIn profile mentions that you know Morse. How did that happen? 😉
As with most people I have changed career many times. I initially trained to be a Merchant Navy Radio Officer, i.e. the guy who operates the Radio on ship, and fixes the Radar and any other hi-tech electronics equipment on the ship, even the toaster! Oh and the last one off the ship when it sinks SOS…
After that I worked for Marconi again in electronics, then McDonnell Douglas but this time testing and repairing wardrobe-sized computers. Then I moved into CIM – computer integrated manufacturing which I setup within an electronics factory – Robots / CAD / CAE / Chip place machine / ATE Automatic test equipment.
Since moving into software, electronics and Radio have remained my hobby. And you never quite forget Morse, very useful for long distance communications. Recently I have passed my Amateur Radio exams so again I can legally transmit.
Now let’s talk about SAP and the community. When did you become a member of SCN and what brought you to this community?
I became a member of SCN when I joined Capgemini two years ago, but initially only looked things up but did not contribute. Then last year at TechEd Las Vegas I attended InnoJam and the penny dropped that it was a community not just of SAP employees but of everyone involved in SAP. I had lots to say about mobility so I joined in….
How do you find the time to contribute to SCN?
During my working day I am often browsing SCN and the Web for answers to questions.
I set aside 15 minutes every morning before work starts for blogging on SCN or answering questions on SCN. I find that answering people’s questions keeps me sharp as a consultant.
What do you like most about the community in general?
The extended support that having a community brings. You feel that here are people genuinely trying to help each other even though in real life they are in competing companies. Interesting – but it works.
If a new member came to you and asked for your advice on how to be an active and respected member of SCN, what would you say?
Look though all the different places and decide which places you want to be at. If you search for an answer and find it in a space, that’s where you need to be.
If you have something to say then write a blog, I like small blogs rather than large wordy blogs. I like pictures too, say it with pictures rather than words.
If you have a question, go ahead ask it even if it feels dumb! Everyone is willing to help and nobody will judge.
If you have a random thought, put it on the Coffee Corner.
Is there an SCN member you admire (OK… you can name a few)?
If the mobility places I like most of the guys who appear on the top 10.
Jitendra Kumar Kansal, Midhun VP, Daniel van Leeuwen, Carolyn Coad , Joe Granda , Milja Gillespie Tahir Öz, Joanna Chan.
Of these Daniel gives the best technical answers, he goes into a level of detail that I can never achieve. Impressive.
You attended an SAP Code Jam in London in May this year. How was the event ?
Brilliant, the only gripe I have is the food at other events appears to be better when you look at what people shared on the Facebook page. The event is a mix of technology (HANA for instance) and socializing (meeting people that you chatted with on SCN).
What technology recently had you most enthusiastic about?
The whole UI5 and Fiori area, there is a lot of interest in this among Capgemini’s customers. I am patiently waiting to see what SMP 3.0 brings to mobility and the offline Fiori apps (presumably hybrid)
Hana is also quite exciting, but for me only for connecting to from mobility.
What do you think about the introduction of game mechanics on SCN one month ago? I saw you’ve earned a couple of badges already.
Yes it was fun when it first came out, but the badges are harder to earn now. They are good because they make you try areas of SCN that you may not have used before, and they encourage people in those areas. I definitely see a lot more activity now that gamification is on SCN.
Easy question: Mac/iOS or Windows? Or Android?
All of them 🙂 – My main computer is a MacBook, but duel boots also into Windows 8 for development reasons.
I loved the Windows 8 RT when it first came out, could have taken over the world if it had been cheaper. (See my blog)
Android is OK, works as well as Windows Mobile did. But I find some of its features annoying and non user friendly.
I love the iPad. The ultimate in user friendly, the only computer my wife can use.
Are you on Twitter?
Yep, @dclavey, but I mainly tweet my or other interesting SCN blogs. Same goes for LinkedIn and Facebook.
Every month, a member of the SAP Community Network is recognized for exemplary behavior: sharing knowledge with peers, being helpful and taking on additional tasks to support community engagement. See the list of previous SCN Members of the Month.
Congratulations David Clavey for becoming SCN member of Month 🙂
you deserved it.
have been following your blogs, documents for a long time. really impressive and helpful 🙂
Rgrds,
Jitendra
Hey ditto, keep up the blogging. I feel I want to share this honor with all the mobile guys 🙂
Congratulations David,
Looks like it's a well deserved recognition! Nice to learn more about you.
And both of you: thanks for the interview! Great effort Laure at 7.30 AM 🙂 .
Cheers, Fred
Thanks Fred, I am always ready to talk about mobility 🙂
Congrats David, You really deserve it.
- Midhun VP
Thanks, keep up the blogging 🙂
Congratulations David,
It is good to know about you. Thanks for sharing your expreince with blogs, documents etc. are really helpfull. well deserved recognition!
I always enjoy reading the background story of community members. Thank you Laure Cetin
Regards
Tahir
Thanks 🙂
30 minutes of video, wow a marathon of a viewing !
Thanks Laure for the interview, it was fun 🙂
Good work Dave! 🙂
Thanks Mark 🙂
Congratulations, Dave. And well done Laure organising the video interview 🙂
Steve.
The video interview was nearly abandoned because of technical problems on my Macbook, but we got there. Even captured a senior moment at the beginning ! 🙂 but once Laure got me onto Radio and mobility, I just don't shut up !
Thanks Steve, keep on blogging 🙂
Well deserved, David!
Most often I can count on you when I post a SUP/SMP question on SCN. Your answers always have a solid background knowledge and are very helpful.
Thanks so much,
Mark
Thanks Mark. With SMP 3 its probably just going to be all questions at the start 🙂
Congratulations. I had read some of your posts and felt motivated to learn more about mobility. I also had fun about your humorous photos! Thank you 😀
I like hats, probably something to do with having little hair lol
David Clavey it really suits on your head. 🙂
Congratulations David. 🙂
Thanks, it was fun to make 🙂
not at all David. I really mean it 😛
Thanks 🙂
Excellent choice.. You really deserve the reorganization. Congrats and look forward to see more blogs from you..!
Thanks, it was fun to do actually 🙂
Excellent !! work Dave! 🙂
Chears 🙂
Well done Dave. Congrats!!! mate.
Cheers,
Ravi
Thanks 🙂
Congrats David!
Thanks,
Nishan Dev
Thanks 🙂
Congratulations David Clavey!
🙂
Congratulations, David, on the new badge and welcome to the club! 🙂
Love the badge 🙂
Congratulations David 🙂 .
Cheers
Mahesh 🙂
Thanks Laure for the shiny new badge, didn't know I was getting one of those 🙂
It's not a secret badge, but it's nice when it comes as a surprise 😉
Congratulations David,.... grttt
Thanks 🙂
Congrats David 🙂
Thanks 🙂
congrats David, nice crisp interview 🙂
You watched it ! O my giddy aunt, what all 30 mins of it. Thanks 🙂
Congrats David.. Happy to know about you.!!!!
Raman
Thanks 🙂 just spreading the mobility love ....
Congrats Dave - well deserved. You have gone from posting nothing on SCN to posting lots on SCN.
I did watch the whole video and you recovered well 🙂
One thing I disagree with is when you can write blogs - I see it as part of your job (as long as you've done all the stuff I ask you first 😉 ).
Paul
🙂
Congratulation David..... 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Congratulations David....Well deserved
i feel inspired by reading about you 🙂
regards
vamsi
Thanks and keep on blogging 🙂
Congrats David:)
Thank you for reading 🙂
Congratulation David to become member of month...
Really its a very big achievement.. 🙂
Congrats David 🙂
Congrats David 🙂
Hi David,
Congrats!! well done. good to know about you.
Thanks,
Akhilesh
Hi David,
Many Congratulations, achieving to be a "Member of the Month".
Well done.
Thanks
Amir
Toronto
Thanks its been fun
Inspiring.. Congrats David 🙂
Regards,
Rama
Thanks, keep on blogging
Many Congratulations. Kudos on your outstanding accomplishment.
Best Regards,
Naresh K.
Thanks 🙂
August is over, and I feel the crown of instant fame slip from my head...
Zzzzzzz
Since a new one hasn't been elected, I think you are fine for now. Maybe you will be the last MoM? 😀
Guess not 🙂
http://scn.sap.com/community/about/blog/2013/09/03/ravi-sankar-venna--scn-member-of-the-month-september-2013
Hi Samuli,
I really love your sense of humour 😉 Wonderful question. 😆
Best Regards,
Ravi
Nice move, nicking my crown, and congratulations 🙂
Thanks Dave. 🙂
Loving the idea 🙂
You will always be an SCN MoM like Samuli and many others 🙂
Laure
Thanks 🙂 it was fun. So long, and thanks for all the Fish.
Thanks Dave for sharing very wonderful video. 🙂
Congratulation David Clavey.
With regards,
Starone
Congratulation David Clavey!!!
Kind regards,
Keu
hi Sir,
My name is raghu nath,
i am trying to learn the SAP BASIS .
Is there good openings are there on this module.
Module ?
Try openSAP, free SAP courses online with video leasons.
Why not try the openSAP course http://scn.sap.com/community/mobile/blog/2013/09/13/week-1--sap-mobility-course
Hey Dave
Congrates Bro keep it up
Thank you