Aman Shergill is chief technology officer at Adventoris, a Yorkshire-based Software as a Service (SaaS) firm.
He teamed up with James Clarkson, CEO of Adventoris, back in 2012 with a shared ambition to create an ‘innovative and competitive’ platform to help businesses increase sales, reduce costs and provide enhanced customer service. After successfully closing a £700,000 seed funding round in 2013, the duo developed SwiftCloud, a B2B mobile application platform.
At the start of Adventoris, Shergill was responsible for everything tech related from building and writing to code to strategic planning, IT support and setting up servers. Now, his role is focused on the future of Adventoris.
Over the last few years, Adventoris has expanded its client portfolio with the likes of Pepsi-Co, Tilda Rice and AG BARR and also moved into its first owned office in Folly Hall Mills, Huddersfield, in January 2024 with a planned investment of around £1m over the next five years. In the past year, Adventoris has hit ‘just under’ £2.5m in turnover.
Here, Shergill reflects back on his life and career and shares some words of advice…
How did you first get into your industry?
After completing my post graduate degree in Scientific and Engineering Technology from the University of Greenwich, I secured my first role as a systems manager at a further education college, where I managed and maintained the institution’s IT systems.
What do you love about your job?
What I love most about being a CTO is the blend of passion, challenge, and impact it offers. Since I was young, I’ve been captivated by technology and its transformative power. This role allows me to immerse myself in that fascination daily, exploring emerging technologies, experimenting with new ideas, and bringing innovative solutions to life.
I also thrive on the strategic aspect of my job. Shaping our company’s technological direction and setting industry trends, rather than just following them, is immensely satisfying. Knowing that our decisions drive the company forward and create significant value for our customers is incredibly rewarding.
I find great joy in the problem-solving nature of the role. Each day presents new challenges, and the process of dissecting complex issues, brainstorming solutions, and ultimately overcoming them is deeply gratifying.
Seeing businesses earn incredible results from using our SwiftCloud solution makes all the hard work worthwhile. It means a lot to know that what we do here at Adventoris is genuinely impactful, helping businesses grow and optimize their offering, and in turn, retain and gain more customers.
My role allows me to delve into software development, IT infrastructure, networking, and a whole raft of technologies. What’s not to love?
Who – or what – has inspired you in your career?
I would say my father was my biggest inspiration to pursue a career in computer science. He is a retired mathematics teacher who sparked my interest in mathematics at a young age. Mathematics provided the foundation that helped me advance in computer science. I developed the ability to think abstractly, model problems, and solve them mathematically. This is crucial for developing efficient algorithms, analyzing data, ensuring security, and creating robust systems.
What are the biggest challenges about your job?
One of the biggest challenges of being a CTO is staying ahead of the rapid pace of technological change. Technology evolves incredibly fast, and it’s crucial to continuously monitor industry trends, evaluate new technologies, and determine which ones will provide the most value to Adventoris as a business, and help deliver results and solve problems for our clients.
Cybersecurity is a constant concern too. Protecting our systems and data from ever-evolving threats requires vigilance, ongoing investment, and a proactive approach. Ensuring the security of our infrastructure while maintaining usability and performance is a delicate balance.
Our SwiftCloud platform handles business-to-business ordering, which is much more complex than business-to-consumer ordering, with varying order volumes, bespoke pricing, and stock management. Having a world-class team certainly helps to navigate those complexities!
Overall, the challenges are multifaceted and require a mix of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and strong leadership skills. These challenges, however, are also what make the role so exciting and fulfilling!
What skills have been the most crucial to you succeeding in your career so far?
Never giving up and being relentless in addressing and solving issues is crucial. I constantly think outside the box and explore unconventional paths. Even when it seems all is lost, persistence often leads to finding a solution.
What education or training would be most useful for someone looking to follow your career path?
The journey to becoming a CTO is not a quick one; it has taken me years to reach this position. I’ve worked in various roles, from hardware engineer to software engineer, and these experiences have shaped my path. My education in mathematics and computer science has been very helpful, though not strictly necessary. At Adventoris, we have numerous developers from diverse backgrounds, all of whom are highly skilled and competent.
What advice would you have for someone looking to follow your path?
I would recommend gaining experience in various roles in the IT sector. Be prepared to face failures and never give up. The journey can be lengthy, but your experience will help you achieve your goals. Stay informed about new and emerging technologies, learn to code, understand networking, and explore databases. There’s a wealth of information available that will help you reach your potential.
