Uta puts the customer first
There has been a red thread running through Uta Ragnitz’s career so far – a passion customer service and a desire to ensure that customers keep coming back.
She brings that passion to her role as head of customer service for HID Global’s Identification Solution business worldwide. While her job involves many tasks, her ultimate goal is simple: ensure that the customer comes first.
“My role is to ensure that our customers get the best possible service, that we ship their orders on the requested ship dates and make sure that all related departments have transparent information and feedback on order status,” Uta says. “Putting customers first and getting this idea understood by all departments – that's the goal to ensure that the customer keeps coming back.”
After graduating in 2005 with a MA in social sciences, intercultural business communication and Spanish from Friedrich-Schiller-Universität in Jena, Germany, Uta began her career at ASSA ABLOY as a management assistant at Sokymat in Erfurt, Germany. She then became a production assistant there, and moved on to manage operations at the Erfurt site from 2008 to when the site was closed due to consolidation in 2009. Since January 2010, she is located at the HID Global Walluf in Germany.
No two days are the same for Uta, and that’s part of the reason why she loves her job. She says: “The diversity of cross-functional tasks and the different people and departments I work with are the best things about my job. I enjoy the professionalism and wonderful personalities of all the people I collaborate with. Making customers happy and getting positive feedback about your work is one of the most rewarding elements of my job as well.”
And throughout her career, she has been lucky to have always worked with what she loves. “Every job or promotion I was offered was something I enjoyed doing. In every role I’ve had, the customer has always played an important role.”
A good communicator who values diplomacy, Uta is open to change and always tries affect positive change. Those qualities are reflected in her outlook on what makes a great career. She says: “Enjoy your work, make a solid contribution that matters to the business and try to help others to be better in what they do.”
She enjoys being outdoors when she is not working, and finds that being active helps her relax. “If you have a job where you do not necessarily get physically tired, but work more with your brain, it is difficult to relax, de-stress and balance your life. I enjoy biking, walking, swimming – any outdoor activity helps me gain energy and recharge.”
Uta’s tips for a great career
- Be passionate about what you do to reach your goals;
- Take care of your team as you never win alone but in a team;
- Plan your work and work your plan.