Oslo · Solutions architect · Building since 1997
Ecommerce and payment platforms, my own retail brand, fundraising that has moved millions to emergency causes, three decades of live radio. Different fields, same job: understand the real problem, design something that holds up, then build and finish it myself.
Most projects fail in the gap between the plan and the build. I cover both sides of that gap myself, so nothing gets lost in translation.
We start with the problem, the people using it and the money. You get a written scope, an architecture you can read without being technical, and an honest view of what to cut.
Data model, integrations, payments, hosting, security. Decisions made early and written down, so the thing can grow later without a rebuild.
Timelines, suppliers, developers, launch plan. One person accountable, weekly progress you can see, no status theatre.
Monitoring, fixes, iteration on real numbers. Launch day is the start of the useful part, not the end of the invoice.
Open for work
I run my own retail brand online, in vending machines and on the street in Oslo, so I have paid for every mistake myself. Shopify, WooCommerce or something custom — the choice comes after the numbers, not before.
Catalogue, collections, product data and a checkout that does not lose people on the last step.
Shopify to WooCommerce or the other way. Products, customers, orders, URLs and SEO carried across intact.
Vipps, Klarna, Stripe and PayPal wired up properly, with Bring and Posten rates shown before checkout.
Funnel analysis from first visit to paid order, then fixing the step that actually leaks.
Repeat billing, sponsorships and recurring giving, including the messy edge cases.
Where I learned it
My own supplement and natural food brand, run end to end. I handle the imports and purchasing, design the packaging, build the formulas, place the vending machine outlets, sell wholesale to other shops, and run the brick-and-mortar store in Oslo. Every recommendation on this page has been tested on my own margins first.
Two things I have done for as long as I have made websites. They are why the strategy work comes easily.
I have hosted shows on CrazeFM, ApniAwaz, 99.3FM and 107.7FM, working through thousands of topics in Urdu, English and Norwegian — live, unscripted, with the audience talking back. It taught me how to explain a complicated thing to whoever happens to be listening.
Alongside the technical work I have raised millions for verified organisations and causes — check out the campaigns. My focus is the urgent end: emergencies, medical operations, natural disasters and people who need help this week rather than next quarter.
I am one of the larger individual fundraisers in this space, and organisations tend to call when a campaign needs a boost — which means I have spent years watching what makes people trust a page enough to pay on it. That knowledge goes straight back into the checkouts I build.
Alongside the emergency work I run SaafPaani, a clean water project that installs pumps with partner organisations in places where clean water is hard to reach. It has been running for years and is the one that never stops.
With Wakas there are no problems that can't be solved. He has or finds a solution to everything. If it doesn't exist he creates it himself. If he doesn't know how it works he studies until he knows.
Very positive and helpful in dealing with our Norwegian and international clients within web monitoring. I especially appreciated his engagement and caring for both our clients and CyberWatcher.
The ideas that Wakas came up with were both innovative and coherent, making my work much easier. He took what was essentially a creative role and applied a good structured approach to the design and development stages, interacting well with business and technical staff at all levels.
I would happily recommend Wakas to anyone looking for a pragmatic interaction designer who combines technical competence with customer focus and understanding. He took the initiative to identify where in the organisation his skills were needed, and was a key player in the rebranding.
A committed colleague and a quick thinker. His knowledge and skills have been a huge attribute not only to the projects he worked on but to the company itself. I would gladly recommend him to any employer looking for someone solution-oriented who gets things done quickly and accurately.
Very service-minded, always on hand to help, full of knowledge and good ideas. I have never heard him say no. He thinks things through before executing them, works diligently and delivers on time. He is an asset to every team.
Wakas has been a great project manager for a long time. Very good knowledge of web technologies, which makes for perfect guiding through a project.
He is always absolutely clear on his requirements and knows what needs to be done. I have been doing business with him for quite a long time, and the experience is most pleasurable at all times.
A real pleasure to work with such a client. Easy-going and understanding, and every task from him is descriptive, clear and interesting, which is really important. I am absolutely sure we will continue our collaboration.
Contact
A paragraph is plenty. If it is a fit I will say so, and if it is not I will tell you that too — and usually point you somewhere better.