Name: Gitesh Shah
Email:
[email protected]
Something about me
I am Gitesh Shah, Solutions Architect at AKQA (New Zealand). I started my career as a .NET developer for many years untill I came accross Sitecore in 2017. When I started using Sitecore I joined the local Auckland Sitecore User Group hosted by Bruce Davis Goff. I loved the small community we have here in New Zealand for Sitecore.
I got an opportunity to work on a Sitecore SXA project (NZTE - New Zealand Trade and Enterprise) at AKQA which helped me alot in learning Sitecore. After that, I have worked on many big Sitecore projects like Inland Revenue NZ, Foodstuffs (commerce), Reserve bank of New Zealand and Bunnings. These projects include features like xDB implementation & personalisation, SXA implementation, docker containers and Azure kubernetes implementation, XM Cloud discovery, Coveo integration, etc. I was also one of the early adopters of docker and kubernetes technology for Sitecore and then helped other Sitecore community members in upskilling on docker.
I have worked on Sitecore for 7 years now and am also Sitecore certified developer. I have done 60+ blogs, 1 youtube channel (14 videos), 9 technical talks, attended 17 Sitecore user groups sessions, 2 SUGCON ANZ event and 1 Symposium event till now. I am also one of the co-organizer for Auckland Sitecore User Group (ASUG).
Current year (2024) Contributions
In 2024, I have written 15 blogs mostly focused on XM Cloud & NextJS, Sitecore powershell scripts, XDB performance, etc.
https://www.giteshportfolio.com/blog/sitecore
Bruce Davis Goff took a break from the Sitecore community in Auckland in December 2022 and I took over his role of being an Organiser for Sitecore Auckland User group.
As an organizer for Sitecore Auckland User Group I have helped in hosting 2 user groups.
December (2023) - https://www.meetup.com/auckland-sitecore-users-group/events/297190475/?eventOrigin=group_events_list
May (2024)- https://www.meetup.com/auckland-sitecore-users-group/events/301125394/?eventOrigin=group_events_list
As an MVP I have also been mentoring a few local developers (Jack Spektpor and Saurabh Kumar) in New Zealand for becoming MVPs.
I have also presented in Sitecore Auckland User group:
https://www.meetup.com/auckland-sitecore-users-group/events/301125394/?eventOrigin=group_events_list
Presentation can be found here: https://www.giteshportfolio.com/blog/sitecore/may-2024/auckland-user-group-may-2024
I did 1 topic Submission for Sitecrore Symposium 2024 (Nashville) but unfortunately my topic was rejected.
Throughout the whole year I have been active on Sitecore slack channels. I actively keep an eye on slack and have answered a few questions asked by different individuals in below slack channels:
#docker, #sitecore-send, #xm-cloud, #sitecore-user-groups, #cdp-personalize
I have also done some posts on Linkedin about Sitecore this year.
Future goals
My goal is very simple, to share the learnings with other sitecore community members and to grow the Sitecore presence in New Zealand.
For next year, I am planning to help New Zealand projects to move into XM cloud. Currently we are in negotiation with 3 Sitecore projects to move into XM cloud. We are working on a roadmap to move this clients into XM Cloud. I am helping this clients to successfully transition into XM Cloud and other Sitecore products (e.g.: Sitecore personalise)
Also, making sure developers in New Zealand are more trained on XM cloud and the headless side of things. Currently, most of the Sitecore developers are into .net only and I am trying to upskill developers into Sitecore JSS.
I also want to add more youtube videos about XM Cloud and other Sitecore products.
Social channels
Blog: https://www.giteshportfolio.com/blog/sitecore
Website:
https://www.giteshportfolio.com/
Linkedin:
https://nz.linkedin.com/in/giteshportfolio
Sitecore Slack: Member on sitecore slack, specifically for #docker, #sitecore-send, #xm-cloud, #sitecore-user-groups, #cdp-personalize
Sitecore Experience
Sitecore upgrades
Upgraded Inland Revenue (IRD) project from Sitecore version 8 to 10 and also used docker containers. Project was the first in APAC to go live on docker conatiners.
Upgraded Foodstuffs New zealand Project from Sitecore (including Sitecore commerce) version 8 to 10 using docker containers.
Projects
Inland Revenue (IRD) - Tech lead / Solutions Architect
Reserve bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) - Senior Developer
Bunnings - Tech Lead
Foodstuffs - Senior Developer
Highlights at work
- Solution Architect / Tech Lead on one of the world's largest functioning xDB implementations (Bunnings Australia) on Sitecore 8.2.
- Solution Architect / Tech Lead on Sitecore XP v9 & v10 xDB & Personalisation projects for Inland Revenue NZ.
- Championed and lead New Zealand's first Sitecore implementation on containers with Azure Kubernetes for Inland Revenue NZ.
- Contributed in building AKQA's Sitecore blueprint with containers and also helped in growing the Sitecore community within AKQA.