In a previous blog, Erry de Boer, CEO of Eqeep, shared his journey from the work floor to the boardroom. He also explained how his background in design & build gave him a different perspective on IT. Today, he shares a practical example that perfectly illustrates why ‘first understand, then act’ is so important.

When standard isn’t standard enough

Recently, I was contacted by a company that rents specialized equipment. They had been looking for a good rental solution for a long time. While ERP systems offer various standard solutions for rental businesses, this company had so many exceptions that a standard solution wouldn’t work. Customizing the ERP system would mean they’d have to reinvent the wheel with every upgrade. Moreover, it would lead to higher maintenance costs and a greater chance of errors. Clearly, there was a need for a smarter solution.

The art of connecting

Instead of immediately thinking in terms of solutions, I first took a look: how can we present their existing work processes in an effective, efficient, and simple way? By talking with different partners, I discovered a party that was a perfect match.

From complex to simple

Now we’re working together on a solution that translates their complex back-office processes into a user-friendly front end. Of course, it’s not that simple – there’s a lot involved. But it’s precisely this challenge that makes it so interesting. These kinds of ideas only emerge when you sit down with people, really listen to them, and engage in conversation.

Specialization as the key

We don’t pretend to have the answer to everything. We deliberately choose specific domains where we can offer real added value, such as asset management and service management. That’s where our strength lies and where the growth is.

The foundation must be solid

Naturally, not everything always goes perfectly. Sometimes you offer a solution and afterward think: I wish I hadn’t done that. You get it working with pushing and pulling, and that’s not how we want to work. You want a solution that’s fundamentally sound. One that customers can build on and grow with. One that we can learn from.

From design to result

Just as I said in my previous blog: it starts with a good design. You begin with the customer, with the company, with the market they operate in. Only then can you determine which approach fits best. Because only then do you truly help organizations move forward.

Erry

Want to know more?

Have these insights got you thinking? At Eqeep, we help organizations work smarter. Contact us for a no-obligation conversation or request a demo to see how we can help you optimize your processes.

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