On the path of innovation, surely and boldly

Zoran Milovanović, CEO of Mtel, a company of great ideas and great deeds

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Photo: Mtel
Photo: Mtel
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

We are ready for the challenges brought by technological changes, because we are constantly working on a better, more beautiful and safer future for citizens. We are currently focused on the integration of the 5G network, which represents the basis for the next generation of telecommunications services, we are following technological trends, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and blockchain technology, in order to identify new opportunities for innovation and adequately respond to market demands in the future.

"The MTEL company is a leader in telecommunications, because they are our most important users, we constantly listen to their needs and wishes and implement them, and innovations are part of our everyday life. The number of users, both of cable services and mobile telephony, obliges us not only to follow world trends and keep up with them, but also to design and create products that will justify the trust we have. As a result of constant and creative work, as well as dedication, the MTEL company created innovative solutions, among other things, for young entrepreneurs, tourists, then helped the digital transformation of healthcare and continues to innovate both in the public sector and in offers for individual users," he said. is Zoran Milovanovic, CEO of MTEL.

Zoran Milovanovic
Zoran Milovanovicphoto: Mtel

What strategies do you use to encourage innovation among your employees?

Team work, constant exchange of ideas among employees, constant contact with users, enable us to implement every new solution. Just as we take care of the users of our services, we also take care of our employees, who always have the opportunity to advance within the company, to improve professionally. All their individual successes are directed towards the goal of our company, which is the dominant satisfaction of users.

How do you identify needs and opportunities for innovation in your sector or market?

Continuous market research and analysis, as well as constant contact with users, unequivocally show when it's time for new solutions. A company like ours does not wait for a problem to act, we keep up with the times, follow trends and improve services. Through digital transformation, we bring the entire process of innovation closer to users, enabling them to use our services easily, with high quality and safely. Every user need is an opportunity for innovation.

Can you share a concrete example of a successful innovation from your company?

Every innovation, which enabled users to use our services easier and better, is a successful innovation. Among the many, I would single out the latest one, which is the development of the Move TV platform. Move TV gives users the ability to rewind the program up to seven days, on over 250 channels, wherever they are. The mentioned platform shows that we are keeping up with the times, we have taken into account the needs and challenges of the modern era, as well as the numerous obligations that people face on a daily basis. This resulted in a platform where users don't have to worry about missing their favorite TV content, and most importantly, they can easily access programs wherever they are with, as we already mentioned, rewinding up to a week.

Also, automatic records of payments in post offices and banks made everyday life easier for our users, enabled them to manage financial transactions easily, quickly and, most importantly, safely. One of the innovative solutions is certainly the Smart Home system, which provides the possibility of controlling devices in homes via applications and mobile phones.

What, exactly, is the Digital Factory of MTEL?

The company MTEL with its Digital Factory has shown that it is walking confidently and boldly on the path of innovation, bearing in mind that we are the only operator, not only in Montenegro but also in the region, that has invested in opening a HUB. From 2017, when the Factory was opened, until today, we gathered the startup community, paved the way for young entrepreneurs, held six startup academies, where we trained over 300 entrepreneurs how to turn an idea into a concrete product. Startup academies are the first program of this type in Montenegro, which is another confirmation that we are a company with a vision. We expect this year to be a year of great ideas and great deeds.

We are always ready to innovate, even in extraordinary circumstances, as demonstrated by the corona virus pandemic, when we participated in the creation of the "Uči Doma" platform, printed protective visors for medical staff on 3D printers, and organized online education.

How do you manage the risks associated with the implementation of new ideas and technologies?

The management process requires careful analysis, planning and application of various strategies such as piloting new solutions, testing on smaller samples of users as well as monitoring and evaluating results in order to identify potential risks and minimize negative consequences. All employees are involved in the innovation process, and when the process is viewed from multiple perspectives, the risks are minimal.

Is there a specific budget or resources dedicated to research and development within your organization?

Within our organization, there is a special budget and resources dedicated to research and development. These resources are used to finance innovation projects, hire experts and partners, as well as to purchase the necessary equipment and technology.

How do you encourage collaboration and teamwork to facilitate the innovation process?

MTEL is a company where the ideas and suggestions of every employee are always supported. There is no success without teamwork, and the continuously growing number of users proves that we are one big team, which, I can freely say, pushes the boundaries in telecommunications. Through meetings, workshops, various seminars, a constant exchange of ideas between employees is possible. Each new project is a new chance for our team to show creativity, to choose and implement the one that will please the users the most.

How does your company monitor and measure innovation results?

We monitor and measure the results of innovation through various metrics, such as increasing sales, improving user experience, reducing costs or the time required to execute certain processes. We also use user feedback and internal evaluations to evaluate the success of implemented innovations.

Due to direct communication with users, quick response and quick response, it is easier to monitor the development of digital services and applications/platforms, which allows us to respond to their needs in a timely manner.

How do you deal with the challenges of change and adaptation that innovation brings?

Living in a time when the world changes overnight is a privilege, but also a great challenge. As an innovative company, we strive to respond to modern challenges with quality. Our employees have the opportunity to constantly educate themselves, to learn how to use digital skills and tools in order to follow trends and to respond to the needs of users at any moment. The experience of continuously introducing innovations has contributed to the understanding of the importance of adaptation and agility. These examples provided us with valuable lessons on risk analysis and continuous process improvement to maintain competitiveness and relevance in the marketplace. Considering the number of inhabitants and the status of a tourist destination, Montenegro represents an ideal environment for launching innovations that can later be easily applied to larger markets.

How do you see the future of innovation in your sector, especially in light of technological changes and global trends?

We are ready for the challenges brought by technological changes, because we are constantly working on a better, more beautiful and safer future for citizens. We are currently focused on the integration of the 5G network, which represents the basis for the next generation of telecommunications services. This network enables faster data transfer, lower latencies and higher reliability, which opens the door to new innovations and greater satisfaction for our users. We use optics as a reliable technology for receiving cable services and fixed internet. The optical network enables faster data transmission and stable connection, which is crucial for providing quality telecommunications services in today's digital age. The integration of this technology into our business further strengthens the infrastructure and ability to respond to the demands of the growing market and technological trends.

We also monitor technological trends, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and blockchain technology, in order to identify new opportunities for innovation and adequately respond to market demands in the future.

MTEL is a company that has a vision, we look forward, we keep up with the times, we listen to its needs, we create opportunities.

The company MTEL with its Digital Factory has shown that it is walking confidently and boldly on the path of innovation, bearing in mind that we are the only operator, not only in Montenegro but also in the region, that has invested in opening a HUB. From 2017, when the Factory was opened, until today, we gathered the startup community, paved the way for young entrepreneurs, held six start-up academies, where we trained over 300 entrepreneurs how to turn an idea into a concrete product.

Every innovation, which enabled users to use our services easier and better, is a successful innovation. Among the many, I would single out the latest one, which is the development of the Move TV platform. Move TV gives users the ability to rewind the program up to seven days, on over 250 channels, wherever they are

The management process requires careful analysis, planning and application of various strategies such as piloting new solutions, testing on smaller samples of users, as well as monitoring and evaluating results in order to identify potential risks and minimize negative consequences. All employees are involved in the innovation process, and when the process is viewed from multiple perspectives, the risks are minimal

As a result of constant and creative work, as well as dedication, the MTEL company created innovative solutions, among other things, for young entrepreneurs, tourists, then helped the digital transformation of healthcare and continues to innovate both in the public sector and in offers for individual users