25 Years of Experience Meets Future Technology!
Standing out with over 25 years of experience in technology and corporate communications NovatelToday, we are not only a company that offers communication solutions; we are also a strong technology solution center that drives the digital transformation of various industries. The company's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Bilal YildizAnswering our questions after the IT Summit – Security event, he shared with us both his past field experiences and Novatel's future solution-oriented vision, especially in critical technology areas such as IoT and OT Cyber Security.
A Journey Shaped by Experience from the Field
Bilal Yıldız's career begins with the extensive experience he gained in critical areas that formed the foundation of his solution-focused technology vision. Early in his professional career, Yıldız took an active role in airport projects, mastering not only the installation of technical infrastructure but also the most minute details of operational operations. In projects where he served as a subcontractor and solution partner, he assumed a wide range of responsibilities, from end-to-end system integration and field testing to the seamless commissioning of critical technologies and daily operational management. This provided him with the opportunity to go beyond simply developing technology and experience firsthand the challenges and dynamics of operating it in real-world conditions.
This experience, acquired during the installation and commissioning phases, provided Yıldız with both technical depth and operational perspective. Working in environments like airports, which require high security, uninterrupted communication, and maximum efficiency, was one of the most important steps that prepared him for his current role.
Today, Yıldız, in his role as CTO responsible for Technology and Business Development at Novatel, brings the experience he gained to his keen eye for solutions to the needs of various industries as they navigate their digital transformation journey. Bringing together Novatel's over 25 years of corporate technology and communications experience, a robust customer base, and his expertise in the field, Yıldız emphasizes that this knowledge and experience creates a valuable opportunity:
Novatel already has a strong customer base with a clear understanding of field needs. This combined experience with my previous expertise creates a significant opportunity to develop solutions for diverse industries, including energy, transportation, and facility management.
Thus, Yıldız's story is not only an individual career development; The transformation of field experience into new generation solutions by combining with corporate vision stands out as a powerful example.
25 years of experience meets future technology!
A Solution-Focused Approach, Not a Product
Bilal Yıldız emphasizes that today's corporate expectations have changed significantly. Rather than meeting their needs by purchasing a single product, businesses now prefer integrated solutions that combine different technologies. He explains the fundamental reason for this transformation as follows:
"No one wants to buy just one product anymore. Businesses are turning to solution partners who can bring together multiple technologies."
This approach emerges as a result of changes in business methods and cost pressures. Rising energy costs, in particular, have made efficiency a top priority across all sectors. Yıldız clearly demonstrates that products alone are not enough, and that organizations expect real benefits from solutions:
“Products no longer solve problems and businesses no longer need products, they need a solution.”
Another point Yıldız emphasizes is that the key to correctly positioning technology is domain knowledge. He emphasizes that products purchased without domain knowledge, experience, and expertise alone cannot solve a company's problems:
“When domain know-how, technology and product do not meet, you can buy the product and install it internally, but this does not solve your problems.”
This is precisely where Novatel's added value is defined. Combining field experience with products and solutions, Novatel creates holistic solutions that meet customers' needs not only today but also their future needs:
"This will be the biggest added value we'll bring here. Beyond simply solving which problem with which product in the field, we'll be able to offer a proactive overview of which products can be combined to offer different solutions and what benefits these solutions will bring to businesses, companies, and institutions."
These words also summarize Novatel's strengths: By bringing together different products and technologies under one roof, we can offer solutions that create real added value for customers and increase efficiency.
Cybersecurity Solutions in IoT and OT
Novatel is integrating the communications infrastructure and products it has developed to date into its IoT and OT Cybersecurity solutions with a new perspective. Yıldız stated that Novatel's current solutions already embody the cornerstones of this transformation. With its future vision, these solutions will be designed to provide infrastructure and products that will provide precise services for businesses requiring diverse technological solutions by analytically processing data on new platforms.
This approach encompasses a broad framework, from defining the type of IoT infrastructure organizations need to operating and securing it. Yıldız emphasizes the importance of security in particular:
"How does an IoT infrastructure operate? What type of IoT infrastructure does each organization need? How can security be ensured while doing this? We will begin offering solutions on how to manage existing infrastructures, existing OT automation infrastructures, and industrial infrastructures, as well as how to extract different added value and efficiencies."
All these steps go beyond simply collecting data from the field; they also enable this data to be meaningful, used in decision-making processes, and, most importantly, operated securely. As Yıldız emphasizes, when we talk about a smart city, a smart building, or a smart factory, we are now in a world where systems communicate with each other. This directly points to the convergence of OT and IT:
"Whether we're talking about a smart factory, a smart city, or an energy distribution company, we're in a world where systems are talking to each other. This means the convergence of OT and IT. Therefore, security is becoming critical not just for data but for the sustainability of the entire infrastructure."
Sustainability: People, Business and Environment
Bilal Yıldız considers sustainability not just as an environmentally focused concept, but from a much broader perspective. He argues that sustainability encompasses many dimensions, from the continuity of institutions to the productivity of human resources:
"When we talk about sustainability, we're not just talking about environmental sustainability anymore. We're talking about the sustainability of institutions, the sustainability of businesses, and most importantly, the sustainability of people."
This perspective reveals that every product and service should be designed not only from a technical or economic perspective, but also with the human factor in mind. Yıldız summarizes the importance of this as follows:
"In an equation where people are not sustainable, energy efficiency or environmental sustainability are of little importance. The solutions we've presented here can be considered a comprehensive solution, rather than a product or service that can be achieved solely through one issue."
Novatel's solutions enable companies to use their resources more effectively by providing energy efficiency and operational efficiencies. This also allows for higher performance from existing infrastructure without requiring additional investments:
"Therefore, when you install a product you've developed, having it do just one thing doesn't allow you to maximize its benefits. The energy efficiency and operational efficiencies that can be achieved in this way not only save energy but also benefit processes requiring companies to make additional investments. You're also increasing the efficiency of your existing structure without requiring additional investment. You're also increasing the efficiency of your human resources."
Another important point emphasized by Yıldız is the direct environmental impact of this holistic approach. Reducing energy consumption not only lowers operating costs but also contributes to reducing carbon emissions:
"And ultimately, when we connect this with environmental sustainability, the cumulative impact of these factors affects carbon emissions. Therefore, optimizing and making efficient a seemingly unrelated process directly or indirectly impacts the process related to carbon emissions. Ultimately, we consume less energy."
This energy savings can stem not only from technical infrastructure but also from human effort. Using fewer vehicles, operating lighting more efficiently, or optimizing automation systems all serve the same overall purpose:
“This energy could be human effort, it could be a vehicle being used less, lighting being used more efficiently, or an automation system being made to work more efficiently.”
Yıldız's statements reveal that Novatel views sustainability in a three-legged equation: people, business and environment.
Global Expansions: The Journey Starting from Azerbaijan
Novatel has undertaken numerous projects in various countries to date. These projects were initially conducted from Turkey, managed directly from there, and successfully completed on a global scale. However, the company's new vision is no longer limited to projects managed solely from Türkiye. Bilal Yıldız describes this strategic transformation as follows:
Novatel has actually implemented projects in many different countries internationally. These were always managed and directly led from Turkey. However, with this new vision and strategy, we will soon be expanding into new areas.
The first concrete step in this expansion is being taken in Azerbaijan. Novatel aims not only to establish a project-based presence here, but also to establish a permanent, local structure. Yıldız shares the details of this process with the following words:
"We can say this to Azerbaijan as a first step. Our preparations for our Azerbaijan office are now complete. Some of our colleagues here have moved there, and we will begin serving Azerbaijan there with a reorganization."
These statements demonstrate that Novatel's global vision extends beyond a solely export-based business model; it embraces a sustainable, on-site structuring strategy. The opening of the Azerbaijan office marks the beginning of a new era in the company's international growth journey.
The Future: Technology Partnerships That Create Solutions
According to Bilal Yıldız, access to technology or information is no longer a barrier in today's world. Thanks to a multitude of tools, from artificial intelligence to analytics platforms, accessing information and products has become quite easy. The real question is how and in which solutions this information and technology will be used. Yıldız summarizes this with these words:
"Technologically, accessing information is now much easier. Accessing the product isn't much of a problem either. It's no longer about accessing information or implementing the technology itself. A solution needs to be developed."
The need to create solutions also reveals the potential for the same product to provide different benefits in different sectors. As Yıldız puts it, a product used in the energy sector may offer a different solution, while the same product may serve a completely different purpose in the aviation sector:
"The same product can be used in the energy distribution sector, but a different solution can be found. It can also be found in the aviation sector. At Novatel, our experience in this regard allows us to identify which product and technology will be effective in which critical area."
The critical point here isn't simply selling or supplying the product; it's building upon it with industry knowledge, field experience, and a solution-focused approach. Yıldız's words clearly outline Novatel's future positioning:
"Different industries need different experiences for different products. As Novatel, we have a platform where we can offer the benefits that can be realized in different industries. The point here is that technology can offer solutions that go beyond selling or marketing a product; in other words, it's a much more value-added issue."
As Bilal Yıldız emphasized, with the advent of next-generation technologies, when it comes to critical field installations and needs, the key is to focus on solutions and solution creation, not products. As a result, Novatel isn't just a product and service provider in corporate communications; it's a technology expert combining 25 years of field experience with future technologies to create solutions in IoT, OT, cybersecurity, and sustainability. This combined experience and approach makes Novatel a reliable business partner, providing critical added value to various sectors both in Türkiye and internationally.
Click to watch the full video interview with Novatel CTO Bilal Yıldız:
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