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Living abroad for a while, getting to know a new culture and gaining some valuable international work experience? You can do it all at NORMA Group as part of a Bubble Assignment. The goal of these assignments is to strengthen cooperation among the sites and to help us all learn from each other. Overcoming national and cultural boundaries is a natural side-effect.
Sonja Raičević, EDI Administrator EMEA at the NORMA Group site in Subotica, Serbia, talks to us about her experiences during a three-month bubble assignment in Barcelona. She explains how she successfully improved EDI processes, dealt with new challenges and gained valuable professional insights in the processes.
Sonja, can you tell us a little bit about your job?
I have been part of the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) team since December 2020. I am responsible for ensuring that the EDI function is implemented correctly at all EMEA locations. Electronic Data Interchange is an electronic standard format that makes paper-based documents such as orders and invoices superfluous.
“By automating transactions, companies can save time and avoid costly errors that can occur during manual processing.”
My tasks include the implementation of EDI connections with external partners and other NORMA Group sites as well as working on the D365 implementation, monitoring existing connections and working on resolving daily challenges in the system.
At the beginning of the year, you did a bubble assignment in Barcelona for three months. How did that all come about?
When I first joined NORMA Group, I learned about the possibility of a Bubble Assignment. I became really interested in such an assignment after a colleague told me about her stay in France. I think a stay abroad is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the culture, the people and working in another country.
Sonja visiting the Sagrada Família.
In 2022, I was already working as EDI support for the D365 project at the Barcelona site and was impressed by the energy of the people there. And that is where the idea to spend a longer period of time in Spain got its start. I suggested it to my team leader and my supervisor, and luckily they liked the idea as much as I did.
Did you make any plans for your Bubble Assignment before you left?
Yes, my plan was to ensure that the electronic data exchange at the Barcelona site worked smoothly. I was also excited about solving some of the challenges that were already in place and optimizing processes both in the office and on the warehouse floor.
One of my goals was to implement an electronic invoice receipt process with the local finance team. I didn’t have a lot of experience with that kind of thing at the time, so I was able to learn a lot.
“Now I feel more confident implementing these processes at other sites.”
How was the reception from your colleagues?
I tend to be a little bit introverted, so I was nervous about how I would be received in Spain. But my apprehension was completely unfounded and I received a warm welcome. Because of the size of the location, I was able to get to know almost all of my colleagues personally. They were very nice and made me feel at home. I still have contact with most of them.
What are the differences between your working life in Serbia and in Spain?
The site in Subotica is really big. There are several hundred people working there – the site in Spain is a distribution center with a significantly smaller number of people. The working hours were also different, because in Spain the employees have a siesta – a longer lunch break, which I think is great. Of course that means that the working day ends a little later in Spain than in Serbia.
Sonja in Park Güell, considered one of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona.
In Serbia, I work with several NORMA Group locations, while in Spain I focused on just one location. I wanted to make sure that everything worked perfectly for my colleagues. I hope they are satisfied with how the Electronic Data Interchange now works on site.
What lessons did you learn for working experience in Spain?
I learned a lot because I was able to implement new processes in Spain. The fact that I was on my own there gave me the opportunity to gain a great deal of self-confidence in my work.
Apart from work, what did you do in your free time?
I spent my free time exploring every inch of Barcelona and learned a lot about the history and culture of the city. I was constantly out and about, visiting the beaches, parks and restaurants. I also went on a trip to Andorra, a beautiful country with stunning surroundings.
Sonja in Andorra – a small, independent principality in the Pyrenees between France and Spain.
I also spent a lot of time with a friend from school who lives in Barcelona. My family and friends also visited me.
What advice would you give to anyone who might be planning a Bubble Assignment?
Don’t hesitate, take advantage of the opportunity to grow and enjoy every second of the experience.
