Welcome to our Employee Spotlight series — a glimpse into the individuals driving 3D Spark forward. In this series, we focus on highlighting the professionals who contribute to making our company an impactful workplace.  

Today, we have Dr. Cagri Üzüm , Head of Business Development and Customer Success at 3D Spark GmbH. In this article, he shares his journey from addressing industry pain points to driving innovation at 3D Spark, all while highlighting the transformative power of AI and his passion for customer success.

1. What is your role on the 3D Spark team?

Cagri- I focus on Business Development and Customer Success. I am searching for new use cases of 3D Spark while ensuring new users are onboarded successfully and the existing users get the most value out of our tool. This is a technical-commercial role that involves understanding the challenges of businesses, translating their needs to software features and modelling their production reality in 3D Spark.  

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2. What drew you to 3D Spark?

Cagri- As a former application engineer at a leading 3D printer manufacturer, I had pain points that 3D Spark solves efficiently. This hooked me in the very first place. After meeting the exceptional 3D Spark team and experiencing the product, I knew 3D Spark was the place to be.

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3. What is a new trend or technology in your field that you are excited about?

Cagri- AI and Large Language Models such as ChatGPT offer incredible efficiency in customer support ranging from responding to support tickets to modelling the production reality of the users. I plan to benefit more from these advances.

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4. A feature of the 3d spark platform which already exists that you are particularly proud of/beneficial for the users?

Cagri- Comparison of different manufacturing options (technology, material, machine, in-house, supplier, etc.) with one-click. I believe this feature is the backbone of 3D Spark’s value to businesses.

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5. A feature for the 3d Spark platform that you look forward to?

Cagri- Supplier Panel! 3D Spark users will be able to get instant manufacturability reports and target prices from their listed suppliers. This would cut time consuming RFQ procedures significantly, both on the buyer and supplier side.  

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6. What is a piece of advice you would give to someone who is new to your field?

Cagri- When it comes to Technical Sales and Customer Success, asking questions and actively listening to customers is crucial. This is easier said than done. Taking the time to understand customers’ needs and concerns sets you apart from the crowd. For the technical part: Begin with high-level concepts and gradually delve into the details. I've found that high-level 'for dummies' videos on YouTube can be just as valuable as detailed textbooks.

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7. What’s your favourite film/band/album/book/TV show?

Cagri-

1. Film: Back to the Future – has been a favourite since my childhood

2. Band: Pink Floyd - had a significant impact in my thinking

3. Album: Dark Side of the Moon – it's a masterpiece

4. Book: I love lots of books but Hermann Hesse’s “The Glass Bead Game” and Yuval Noah Harari’s “Sapiens” made me a smarter and happier person.

5. TV Show: Dark because of the incredible story and casting. And Mad Men because it’s just awesome.