In April, we proudly organized another edition of ShipIt. This event provided our team with the opportunity to break away from routine tasks and focus on innovative ideas that could benefit both our office environment and the apps we develop.
What is ShipIt?
ShipIt is an internal event, inspired by Atlassian, where everyone has the freedom to work on any project they are passionate about. Participants come up with creative ideas that can enhance our office experience or improve our apps. After a lively voting session, we selected the top six projects to bring to life. Teams were then formed to implement these ideas over a short, intense period.
A Weekend of Creative Development
This year, we added a twist by incorporating a mandatory requirement for artificial intelligence into our project criteria. Every team had to include AI, either as a copilot/assistant for coding, by using an AI API, or through any other creative idea.
We met at the office on Friday, where we had brunch and selected the ideas before starting our work. Voting on the ideas was fun and exciting, with everyone contributing something creative and interesting. After lunch together, we all continued developing our projects.
On Saturday, participation was optional, but the office was open and accessible to anyone who wanted to code some more. Finally, on Sunday morning, we met at Faber to present the ideas and select the winning project.
Over the weekend, our teams turned their ideas into working prototypes, focusing on improving our life and work at Cobalt Sign. The projects cover a wide range of innovative solutions. Here are their descriptions:
The Projects
1. Holiday Revive
Holiday Revive is an app designed to streamline the process of requesting leave. Employees can easily fill out a leave request and submit it for approval, simplifying administrative tasks and improving efficiency within the company.
2. itinerarAI
itinerarAI, developed for our Ready Set Holiday! app, enables users to create personalised travel itineraries. By answering a few questions, users receive a custom trip plan for their chosen destination, curated with the help of AI. This app enhances the travel planning experience, making it more interactive and tailored to individual preferences.
3. CobaltConnect
CobaltConnect assists potential interns through the application process by providing detailed information, knowledge verification tests, and an internship application form. The app utilizes AI to generate domain-specific tests, ensuring candidates are well-prepared and informed about the opportunities at Cobalt Sign.
4. MoodUP
MoodUP aims to enhance employee well-being by encouraging daily reflections on mood and workload. After five consecutive days of entries, the app processes the information with AI and provides personalized tips on the sixth day to help users improve their work habits and mental health.
5. ReadySetQuiz?
ReadySetQuiz?, designed for our Ready Set Holiday! app, engages travellers with quizzes about their destinations. The app generates general knowledge questions with five possible answers, enhancing users’ excitement and curiosity about their trips. Users receive feedback on their performance and can retake the quiz or explore quizzes for other destinations.
6. Who2Huddle
Who2Huddle is a Slack bot that helps employees find colleagues with expertise in specific areas. By asking a question, employees receive recommendations on who to contact for assistance, along with details on the person’s knowledge and how they can help. This bot fosters a collaborative environment and facilitates knowledge sharing within the company.
Project Showcase and Recognition
The highlight of ShipIt 2024 was the project presentations on Sunday. Each team demonstrated their application, explaining their development process and intended impact. The event encouraged not only innovation but also a bit of friendly competition for the big prize.
Following the presentations, colleagues voted on the top three applications that impressed them the most. This year’s winner was the team behind itinerarAI, whose innovative approach to travel planning captured everyone’s attention. As a reward, the winning team received a trip to Berlin and tickets to Google IO Connect 2024.
Afterwards, we had a delicious lunch at Faber and a pleasant chat.
ShipIt 2024 was fun, creative, challenging, and refreshing. It showcased our technical skills and collaborative spirit, giving us the opportunity to try new things and come up with ideas in a short time. We look forward to the next edition and the exciting projects it will bring.
