Ghulam Murtaza, dynamic, full-stack industrial developer. Beyond defining the focus, he plays a very important role in connecting operational technology (OT) to information technology (IT). His journey began in Khairpur, Pakistan. Today, he works in a senior position at Amazon, a testament to how imagination and determination can turn a life around. That’s possible for anyone, even during an economic downturn. As the tech industry faced over 200,000 layoffs in 2022-2023, Murtaza adopted a counter-cyclical strategy that enabled him to thrive despite adverse conditions.
Beyond Murtaza’s feel-good success story are his undeniable technical skills. Interpersonally, he shines at the so-called “soft” skills. His capacity to listen, observe, and understand the needs of his team would turn out to be the most important tools in his journey. Through his lab’s initiatives and ventures, he envisions a future where automation empowers people to harness their creative potential. This vision strikes a chord all throughout the industry.
During his tenure with Scape, Murtaza has designed and deployed the full range of high-impact engineering implements. Combined, these innovations have eliminated tens of thousands of technician hours and significantly cut downtime. He focuses on a user-centric approach and scalability high above all else. As a result, he has developed applications that are projected to save millions in avoided potential losses.
Innovative Solutions for Operational Excellence
Murtaza’s standout portfolio features a whopping 36 projects, emphasizing his creativity and capability to innovate previously unexplored solutions. Most significantly, he created a system called Parts Lookup, an online database that shaves hours off search time, minimizing downtime for technicians. This one little tool saves an average of 15-20 minutes per search which makes processes infinitely more productive in all areas.
On top of that, he churned out an outstanding tool called CtrlG. It immediately scans through brochures and takes them straight to the specified page and link users require. This application is just one example of Murtaza’s dedication to simplifying complicated steps for technicians. With more than 150 O&M technicians depending on his tools, Murtaza’s work has meaningfully enhanced operational efficiency.
Murtaza’s innovative endeavors were recognized by Devin Whittaker, Area Maintenance Manager, who noted the significant impact of Murtaza’s Unit Lookup tool.
“Devin Whittaker, Area Maintenance Manager, wrote me a CBRE Applause for the Unit Lookup tool, highlighting how it saves 15 minutes per maintenance task,” – Ghulam Murtaza
Beyond accelerating search times, Murtaza’s tools cost about $0.35 per month to run on cloud infrastructure. This innovative solution opens the door to high-quality applications being both accessible and scalable. It allows industry and government organizations to increase efficiency without increasing cost.
A Counter-Cyclical Approach to Challenges
Though he had to endure the brunt of the 2022-2023 tech recession, Murtaza did not let that stop him. Instead of succumbing to the pressures of a hiring freeze and uncertainty in the industry, he chose to create value every single day.
“I was working under visa pressure in a hiring-freeze economy, but instead of waiting for things to get better, I chose to create value every single day,” – Ghulam Murtaza
By deconstructing large, overwhelming projects into smaller, manageable steps and focusing on completing each set of steps individual by individual, Murtaza made his solitude into his superpower. This rigorous and reasoned system provided a sturdy framework in which to operate, even when the pressures were extreme.
Murtaza pointed to the value of immediate peer-to-peer feedback as a motivational tool. He recalled how comments like “You saved us today” or “You’re a king, thank you, that part was so easy to find” inspired him to push forward.
“What truly kept me going was the real-time feedback from those around me,” – Ghulam Murtaza
He found that the impact of his work was profound because the direct connection made it inspiring. This cause drove him and provided the fuel to power through difficult moments.
The Vision for Future Automation
Murtaza’s vision goes further than short term solutions. He is shaping a world where machines amplify human capabilities. His conviction comes from the philosophy that automation is meant to amplify people—not substitute them.
“My mindset was always: ‘If I were in another building receiving this tool, how would I want it to work—with zero extra effort?’” – Ghulam Murtaza
This user-centric philosophy drives Murtaza’s design process. He hard-processed an average of 1,200+ pages of vendor data. He took that knowledge and paired it with Amazon’s internal inventory and technical drawings to design tools that are effective and easy to use.
Murtaza’s journey reflects relentless perseverance and innovation.… He wasn’t really hired to be a tool builder, but he stepped outside the box and came up with tools far beyond that exceeded expectations.
“I wasn’t hired to build tools, but I did it anyway,” – Ghulam Murtaza
In part because of his approach, he’s received acclaim. It has made him an asset in the field of automation.
