Over 300,000 businesses across three continents use Clover Go, a mobile point-of-sale app that processes over $7 billion annually. The global market for mobile payment systems is projected to grow from $33.41 billion in 2024 to $110.22 billion by 2032, a trend that reflects growing demand for flexible, device-based tools like Clover Go.
The team that builds and maintains Clover Go operates entirely across separate regions. Senior Engineering Manager Manoj Soni leads this global operation from within Clover Network, part of Fiserv, and directs efforts from California to Dublin to Bangalore. Soni sees distributed work as a strength, not a hurdle. His teams operate in staggered shifts across time zones, creating near-continuous development cycles. Each regional office hands off work to the next with minimal interruption, producing a 24-hour workflow that supports high-volume, high-reliability software.
“You are working with code, expectations, time zones, and cultures,” Soni says. “It has to feel like a unified team, wherever people are.”
How Global Structure Supports Local Product Development
Maintaining cohesion across three continents requires deliberate systems and adaptive leadership. Soni blends structure with flexibility, establishing the team’s flow through regular standups, sprint planning, and shared retrospectives. This consistent cadence helps keep everyone in sync, while his adjustments to workflows and expectations maintains that momentum carries across regions, aligning with local norms, time zones, and working styles.
Each regional team owns a defined scope. U.S. engineers focus on architecture and infrastructure. Developers in India handle Android and QA, while the Ireland office leads iOS and backend enhancements. This clear division enables specialization, smooth handoffs, and peak productivity during shared hours. It has powered key launches, including Apple Tap to Pay, Offline Mode, and a real-time adaptive backend, each delivered through effective cross-continental collaboration.
“Each region brings a different working style,” Soni explains. “Understanding those differences builds trust and stronger collaboration.”
Building Teams and Delivering Results Across Time Zones
Soni prioritizes practical contributions over formal credentials when evaluating candidates. He selects engineers who have created functional products — apps, tools, or prototypes — regardless of their formal experience. He values initiative and curiosity more than seniority or titles.
“I look for people who ask questions, show curiosity, and complete things independently,” he says.
Once engineers join the team, Soni places them in full-stack groups that own all the features. These small teams manage everything from design to release. This structure reflects real-world responsibility and keeps developers connected to user impact.
Clover Go’s invoicing feature, which generated $150 million in its first year, illustrates how this model works. Engineers across time zones developed, tested, and launched the feature on schedule, maintaining product stability and performance throughout. Team members used Firebase Analytics to track how merchants interacted with the product. Based on those insights, they refined designs, streamlined workflows, and delivered updates. Every engineer directly influenced a specific outcome that shaped the product vision.
Creating Cultural Continuity in a Distributed Team
Building a strong, connected culture across remote teams starts with intention. Soni fosters these connections by nurturing relationships among engineers in different regions, pairing junior staff in India with senior leads in the U.S. and Ireland. These mentorships accelerate onboarding, strengthen continuity, and promote lasting knowledge sharing across teams.
He encourages informal connections through virtual coffee chats, open discussions, and regular cross-team check-ins alongside structured guidance. Engineers share more than project updates. They exchange context, talk through challenges, and reflect on the broader goals behind their work. These conversations build trust, reinforce shared values, and help the culture stay cohesive across time zones and teams.
“Team culture depends on deliberate effort,” Soni emphasizes. “You have to plan and protect it.”
Delivering for Local Merchants With Global Scale
Although a globally distributed team builds Clover Go, the app functions like a localized solution for every merchant. Teams release features in stages, test them in live environments, and adapt them for local use. They also update the backend continuously, enabling rapid improvement delivery.
Engineers in multiple regions carefully plan and coordinate each transaction. Soni enables the systems to run smoothly, so merchants experience a dependable and intuitive product.
A Scalable System for Product and People
Manoj Soni guides with structure, trust, and clarity. His teams at Clover Go operate across time zones and deliver regionally relevant software. Each team owns its work and stays aligned with users across all locations.
“Success depends on the people writing the code and using the product,” Soni says. “When both work well, everything else follows.”
