I began my internship at Nove, a coffee machine and vending systems leasing startup based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During my time at Nove, I learned about the various vending solutions and products offered and was introduced to the different commercial models and how leads are acquired and converted into customers utilizing their state of the art CRM system. I also had the opportunity to understand the history of the company and its growth.
The majority of my internship was spent at the Nove showroom, located in City Walk in Dubai, however on certain occasions in order to further my understanding of the brand, I visited the office Nove shares with Secure Parking, another Al Shirawi company in Business Bay. I was given access to the Televend system, which provides a centralized management system for vending machines placed across the Dubai Metro network, allowing me to understand how the machines are maintained and refilled.
I was given the opportunity to interact with Al Shirawi’s HR team who took me through the annual performance appraisal process and explained how based on this, the payroll process is carried out including the addition of bonuses. I was given the opportunity to explore the unique recruitment process employed by Nove, due to its geographical location.
I gained insights into the procurement process and how coffee is sourced from various countries across the globe including India, Brazil and Ecuador, to name a few. I learned about the stock management system for Nove’s machines and how spare parts are stored and ordered from suppliers based out of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. I was able to go through the maintenance checklist for the various machines offered by Nove alongside a maintenance technician.
My time at Nove provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the operations within a technology leasing startup. I gained practical experience with state-of-the-art CRM systems, vending solutions, and the Televend system. Additionally, I developed insights into HR processes, procurement, stock management, and maintenance. This experience has equipped me with valuable knowledge and skills that will be instrumental in my future endeavors.
