As a technology generalist, I've cultivated a diverse toolkit.

## Hardware

**Google Pixel 7.** My Pixel 7 has become my primary device. It's my go-to for everything from jotting down ideas in a note-taking app to capturing quick photos for social media. It's amazing how much I can accomplish with this little powerhouse before even reaching for my laptop.

**MacBook Air M1 (2020, 16GB).** This is my workhorse. With its impressive performance and all-day battery life, it's perfect for my mobile workflow. I embrace the one-screen constraint; it keeps me focused and helps me prioritize tasks. Whether I'm at the kitchen table, my makeshift standing desk, or relaxing on the couch (with my trusty paper box and book prop for ergonomics!), my MacBook is always within reach.

**Google Homepod.** This smart speaker doubles as my kitchen radio. While I'm generally wary of always-on microphones, the Homepod is ideal for hands-free music and podcasts while I'm cooking. I only plug it in when needed, keeping those privacy concerns at bay.

**Fritzbox Router.** Routers often get overlooked, but mine is the unsung hero of my home network. It reliably keeps me connected and comes with features I truly appreciate. I love the customizable blocklists that help me avoid distractions from social media, news sites, and ads. Plus, the easy guest network setup gives me peace of mind when friends and family visit.

## Personal Software

**AI Assistants (Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude).** I've embraced AI assistants as my first point of contact for nearly every task. Instead of immediately turning to a code editor, note-taking app, whiteboard or search engine, I start with an AI. This helps me understand the strengths and weaknesses of different models and uncover new ways to leverage their capabilities. I particularly enjoy the back-and-forth conversations to refine ideas and explore topics from fresh perspectives. I'll typically copy and paste useful snippets into a specialized app for further refinement. While Apple's upcoming "Intelligence" feature has piqued my interest due to its promised personalization and integration, I'm still primarily utilizing these three AI assistants for now.

**Midjourney** and **Leonardo.ai** are my image generation tool of choice. I use them to create images for presentations, discovery and hobbies (D&D).

**Google One.** This is my digital hub. I leverage the full suite of tools, including Meet, Gmail, Drive, Passwords, and Photos. Google App Script is a standout feature, enabling me to automate repetitive tasks within my cloud environment. Additionally, Google Forms and Sheets are indispensable for event planning and personal finance tracking. My one gripe with Google One is the inability to add a custom domain name for Gmail, which is a tempting reason to consider switching to Apple's cloud ecosystem.

**GitHub & GitHub Desktop.** I use GitHub for version control and project organization. While I appreciate the command-line prowess of Git, GitHub Desktop's intuitive interface makes it a breeze to manage branches and review commits.

**Cloud Code Editors (GitHub Codespaces, vscode.dev, Google Colabs).** I've embraced cloud-based code editors for their convenience and flexibility. They allow me to experiment with new projects and tools without cluttering my local machine.

**YouTube Music.** This is my go-to for music and podcasts. Its cross-platform compatibility is excellent, and it boasts a vast library of content. The voice-controlled integration with Google Home devices is a plus in the kitchen, and the incognito mode access is convenient for work breaks.

**Google Books.** I prefer Google Books for audiobooks due to its seamless integration with my existing Google ecosystem. Family sharing is a nice bonus for enjoying books together with my wife.

**Chrome.** Chrome is my browser of choice. Its integration with my Google tools enhances productivity. My essential extensions include Volume Master (for fine-grained audio control), Adblock Plus (for a cleaner browsing experience), and Distraction-Free YouTube (to minimize distractions while watching videos).

## Frameworks

**Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN).** BPMN and I have a bit of an on-again, off-again relationship. Introduced during my Industrial Engineering studies, it initially slipped from my memory. Years later, when I found myself constantly visualizing customer journeys and automation flows using my own ad-hoc visual language, I rediscovered BPMN and kicked myself for forgetting it. It's a widely recognized standard, compatible with numerous tools, and incredibly versatile. The ability to model processes from various stakeholder perspectives and at different levels of detail is invaluable.

**Decision Model and Notation (DMN).** In my experience, successful companies often share a common trait: decision-making that is logical, data-driven, compliant, and efficient throughout the entire organization. DMN provides a framework for empowering individuals to make informed decisions independently, without the need to constantly escalate to higher levels of management. For me, DMN has become essential for simplifying complex BPMN processes by extracting intricate decision logic into clear, concise tables.

**Scrum.** With its focus on iterative development, frequent feedback, and empowered teams, aligns perfectly with my approach to work. I've found that the Scrum framework fosters a sense of shared ownership, encourages creativity, and ultimately leads to better outcomes. Whether it's a software development project or a broader business initiative, I value the transparency, flexibility, and customer-centricity that Scrum promotes. It's not just a methodology; it's a mindset that resonates with my values and how I approach challenges. I learned Scrum on the job, but later did a Scrum certification to really learn the theory behind it.

**Search Engine Optimization (SEO).** I view Technical SEO as the essential foundation for any successful online presence. It's about ensuring that search engines can easily discover, crawl, and index your website's content. I'm well-versed in the intricacies of technical SEO, from optimizing site structure and navigation to improving page load speed and mobile responsiveness. I understand the importance of clean code, structured data (schema.org), and proper redirects. By addressing technical issues, I help websites achieve better rankings in search results, leading to increased organic traffic and visibility. It's a continuous process of monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing to stay ahead of the ever-evolving search landscape.

## Programing Languages

**HTML, CSS & JS.** Web development is a dynamic field, constantly evolving with new frameworks and languages. To stay current, I prioritize mastering the fundamental languages of the web—HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. While I'm always open to exploring new technologies, I carefully evaluate the effort-to-value ratio before diving in. This allows me to create really clean and efficient website code. Lately I focused a lot on learning native web components.

**Node & Deno.** Every developer has a preferred general-purpose language for everyday tasks. For me, that's Node. It's a natural extension of my JavaScript expertise, enabling me to build servers, APIs, and even tackle data science and visualization projects. Over the last years, I've begun migrating to Deno, an evolution of Node created by Ryan Dahl. Deno addresses some of Node's design flaws and offers an improved developer experience (DX), making it an attractive alternative.

**Golang (Go).** I utilize Golang for its efficiency, scalability, and suitability for building high-performance scripts. Its simplicity, strong typing, and built-in concurrency features make it a powerful tool for a variety of projects. Unfortunately I did not find many opportunities where the performance and resilience of Go was justified over the flexibility of JavaScript.

**Python.** At Machines Like Me, Python is our tool of choice for tackling data-intensive challenges. Its extensive collection of libraries and frameworks makes it incredibly versatile, whether we're building machine learning models, conducting in-depth data analysis, or automating repetitive tasks. To stay sharp, I recently completed an extensive Python course on DataCamp, and I've been particularly enjoying the interactive experience of crafting Python scripts with the assistance of AI.

## Professional Software

**Robotic Process Automation (RPA).** I leverage RPA solutions to automate a wide variety of business processes, enhancing efficiency and reducing manual effort. My experience spans both desktop and cloud automation platforms, including Microsoft Power Automate, Azure Logic Apps, Apple Automator & AppleScript, Make, and Retool Workflows.

**Customer Data Platforms (CDPs).** I've had the privilege of working with CDPs since their early days in Europe. As a Solutions Consultant at Commanders Act, a pioneer in the CDP space, I gained extensive experience in planning, implementing, and utilizing these platforms to automate, optimize, and personalize customer journeys for organizations. Beyond Commanders Act, I've also worked with leading CDPs like Adobe Experience Cloud, Tealium, and Twilio Segment.

**Tag Management Systems (TMS).** I've installed, maintained, and optimized TMS solutions like Google Tag Manager, TagCommander, Tealium, and Adobe Tag Management for numerous businesses. I'm particularly proud of the custom JavaScript extensions I've developed, which continue to power data-driven marketing pipelines for high-traffic websites.

**Analytics.** Data-driven decision-making is crucial in complex digital environments. I typically initiate automation or optimization projects with thorough measurement and analysis. I'm proficient in implementing and utilizing analytics solutions such as Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Matomo, AT Internet, and MixCommander. To provide context and competitive benchmarks, I also leverage tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Similarweb.

**Online Advertising.** I've installed and optimized various online advertising solutions, often in conjunction with other marketing automation platforms. I had the chance to professionally work with Google Ads, Criteo, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads and many other providers.

**App Stores.** I've managed the Apple and Google App stores for a large industrial company with a portfolio of hundreds of apps. My responsibilities included preparing app executables for upload, managing store listings, and optimizing app performance. I streamlined the upload process by implementing digital forms to standardize information collection and approvals from stakeholders.

**Content Management Systems**. I've developed and managed websites based on WordPress, Typo3, Drupal, Umbraco, NetlifyCMS and many more. With my strong expertise in HTML, CSS and JS I typically can implement custom extensions for CMS systems if necessary.

**Interface Editors.** I've leveraged no-code and low-code interface editors like Retool, Elementor, Webflow, and Power Apps to rapidly develop websites, internal tools and streamline workflows. These platforms empower me to create functional and user-friendly interfaces without extensive coding, allowing for faster turnaround times and greater accessibility for non-technical users. I especially love Retool as it allows me re-use my JavaScript experience.

**Social Media.** While not my primary area of expertise, I've managed social media channels (YouTube, LinkedIn, and Xing) for Rentschler Biopharma on an interim basis. This experience taught me the fundamentals of maintaining an online presence, setting up a publishing schedule and engaging with audiences on these platforms.

**Cloud.** I have professional experience working on both AWS and Azure cloud projects. My expertise lies in planning cloud architectures that meet business requirements, providing accurate cost estimations, and aligning infrastructure choices with organizational goals.

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Wow, putting this list together was a bit of an eye-opener – it's incredible how many tools have played a role in my career so far!

Check out [uses.tech](https://uses.tech/) to learn more about the /uses/ page.

Uses

What I am currently working on:

* I recently renewed the lawn of my small garden. I installed a robotic lawnmower. Currently I am Fine-Tuning automation settings (triggers, schedule and operation times). 🚜

* I am currently re-discovering SQLite database, using it in hobby projects. With litestream it is an incredible DB that can even challenge PosgreSQL for many projects. 🗃️

* Improving an LLM based system to transcribe and summarize D&D session recordings. The current version already works really well, but I am working on improving the quality with the new cheaper GPT-4o-mini model. This model is so cheap that it allows much more features to be included. Should this be a product? 🤔

* I am testing out a low carb / keto diet. It feels amazing. I am always happy to receive easy to cook meal ideas. 🍲

Check out [nownownow.com](https://nownownow.com/) to learn more about the /now/ page.

Automating boring work with digital robots.

Digitalisation Expert

Grade: 1.6 (ECTS Grade A)

Activities and societies: Tutor for electrical and energy engineering, support University fairs, support creation of University advertisement movie.

Bachelor thesis "Audiodesign for Lecture Podcasts".

Grade: 93%

Activities and societies: Tutor Ableton live software.Activities and societies: Tutor Ableton live software.

Practical training in sound engineering and sound design at an evening school.

Consulted with companies to optimize digital marketing using the Commanders Act product suite. Contributed to winning pitches for leading international brands and served as an internal SCRUM product owner to drive platform evolution.

Senior Technology Consultant

Leading the solution engineering team, shaping consulting processes, developing internal products and workflows, and actively implementing automation and AI solutions alongside the team.

Head of Solution Engineering

Enhanced digital marketing for clients by implementing customer-centric strategies and leveraging marketing automation technologies to personalize customer journeys and optimize campaign performance.

Senior Solution Consultant

Implemented websites and marketing automation solutions for small to medium-sized businesses, expanding technical skills and experimenting with cutting-edge technologies.

Led agile digitalization projects, developing POCs, websites, apps, and digital products. Managed a team providing mobile app development and mobile app store operations as a service.

Project Engineer

Managed and optimized digital communication channels, including website, intranet, social media, and search ads.

Tobias Schmidt

2024