“A
Technology helps connect international markets and bridge distances. Fortunately for the LINKIT group, technology enables us to welcome our newest colleagues in South Africa and integrate them into our culture of explorers.
But technology is just a tool. Ultimately, it is about giving IT and IT professionals the position they deserve in organizations and society. People are essential to deploy technology properly.
Good design helps to deploy the right technology for the right challenge that makes sense for the users. And cleverly used, it can also help to become more sustainable and save costs. Predicting with artificial intelligence when an aircraft needs maintenance to prevent the aircraft from being unnecessarily grounded for a long time? We do it for and with KLM!
LINKIT is no stranger to being an OutSystems partner of the Vechtstromen Water Board. When employees at Vechtstromen worked on making the planning tool Plato, they developed it more userfriendly. It was, therefore, only a small step to enlist LINKIT’s help for a user experience assessment.
UX designer Charlotte Postma set up a user test on location while developers Peter Buisman and Matthijs Schokker from Vechtstromen watched each component. This means that the water board is one step closer to an improved version of their planning tool, and thanks to ‘show, collaborate, do it yourself’, the team can also get started with usability tests.
Are you planning an event, a meeting on location, or emergency response training for a larger group of employees as an employee of the Vechtstromen Water Board? Then you use Plato. People can collaborate for events in the tool, participants can register, and they can book a location. Invitations are being sent from the program, built in OutSystems so that people receive all
Increase the user-friendliness of your application?
the information in their mailbox. But, they discovered at Vechtstromen that the tool is not equally useful for everyone. Although the application works exactly as intended, Vechtstromen’s IT department regularly received questions about specific actions and where to find something. For the users, the program could use improvement. But; how do you discover exactly the pain points or why people can’t find a specific action? For that, you need a user experience assessment: a user test that allows you to find out what people encounter in the program and what they think is logical regarding job titles or the placement of certain parts within the user environment.
Because the Vechtstromen Water Board lacked specific experience in the field of UX, they called in LINKIT. More specifically: UX designer Charlotte. Because although they know how to test at the water board, it is essential to set up and execute it properly. Only then will it yield useful results that also answer the right questions. So for this usability test on location, Charlotte worked with the Vechtstromen team to include them fully in the process and its elaboration. “Normally, I always do this alone,” Charlotte laughs, “but now it was also a part of transferring knowledge so that in the future they can do this themselves at Vechtstromen.”
First of all, the team discussed which things needed to be tested. “That goes further than setting up an interview and having people carry out an assignment,” explains Charlotte. “It’s vital to add the right detail to that.” “For us, we also had to think about the output,” adds Peter. “You can’t test everything, so we focused
on a few scenarios.” While Charlotte worked in the background on preparing an assessment, Peter took care of finding the right people for the test. “We approached our people for that test,” says Peter. “They have to work with the tool, and we want to improve Plato for them too.” The team selected people with different roles to improve the planning tool from different perspectives. For example, we gave a assignment to an
• UX is always about the person who uses the technology.
• UX research allows validating before you start.
administrator, an organizer and the participant who has to register for a specific event via the application. Charlotte approached those people so they knew what was going to happen and the test’s purpose. Each test subject then performed several assignments, with the team watching how this went.
“The final usability test took place at our location in Almelo”, says Peter. “That was exciting because, for people, it feels a bit like they are being judged. While we want to look objectively at how people work with our program.” That is why Charlotte led the user test, and Peter and his colleague watched behind the scenes via Teams. Six 1-on-1 studies, each lasting about an hour, were administered over two days. “It is important to do such a usability test on location,” says Charlotte. “That way, you can follow where someone’s gaze is heading, and you can see, for example, how someone changes their approach. You don’t get that from a distance.” Peter agrees. “The little things like that are very important to
• Digital transformation starts with researching the current situation.
• Good UX Design makes people’s work easier.
us. By being close to it, we immediately see what people are looking at or how people are reacting. Especially non-verbal! That provides much more information than if we were to see the results alone.” But… is performing only six tests sufficient?
“Five to six tests are normal for a usability assessment,” says Charlotte. “That has to do with efficiency; relatively speaking, you don’t get much extra information from more tests.”
This became apparent when beautiful insights emerged from each test. Not only because of what the subjects did but also because of the questions they asked when they got stuck. At the end of each session, Peter, Matthijs and Charlotte discussed their initial findings. What stood out, and were there any additional questions?
“A usability test mainly shows you where the pain points are, but not necessarily what the solution is”
Of course, the Vechtstromen team could already do a lot with that input. “We were able to implement various small solutions immediately. Add a button, change a name… these are things that can quickly lead to major improvements,” says Peter. “Other results are less easy to process because you first have to look at how you are going to approach that.” Charlotte agrees. “A usability test mainly shows you where the pain points are, but not necessarily what the solution is. Sometimes it is straightforward, but if you discover a deeper problem, for example, in the navigation structure, you need additional research for that.”
What is the most important thing they
have learned at the Vechtstromen Water Board? Peter laughs. “Well, what we think is very intuitive, sometimes doesn’t make much sense at all.”
Charlotte: “There is a big difference in the approach to how a program works. For an outsider, it is easy to see when something has been approached from the technical point of view and not so much from the user’s point of view. That is something that they have recognized
at Vechtstromen.” Peter nods. “By doing this in this way, we have not only been able to experience how testing something like this works, but we also know how important it is that users can indicate what is intuitive to them. By talking about small adjustments and checking whether they think the same as we do, we can see in advance whether it works. We will certainly include that in new developments!”
As an organization, the Vechtstromen Water Board is responsible for water management in 23 municipalities. There they deal with, among other things, the purification of wastewater, strengthening of aquatic nature, advice on groundwater and agriculture, water management, permits, supervision and enforcement.
“By being close to it, we immediately see what people are looking at or how people are reacting”
She has been in the Netherlands since July and works as a Machine Learning Engineer in the MLOps team for KLM. She talks about her background and the (forced) turn in her life.
Anastasiia, how did you end up in the Netherlands?
“I was born in eastern Ukraine. In 2014, because of the fighting in the Donbas, I moved to Kyiv. Unfortunately, because of the war at the beginning of this year, my life changed drastically again.”
Anastasiia fled to Poland, where she worked for a Ukrainian employer until LINKIT approached her. “We came into contact via Telegram and LinkedIn. The interviews inspired confidence, and I decided to make the long journey to the Netherlands.”
Can you tell us something about your background?
“Data has always fascinated me because of its versatility. After my studies (Mathematics and Statistics, ed.) I worked as a Data Engineer and Data Scientist. I call myself a Data Scientist with engineering as an important part. Because of my background, I have
knowledge of data streams, data storage and APIs. Something that comes in handy in the current KLM project because I understand both sides of data and know when which expertise is needed.”
What is the most significant difference between working in Ukraine and the Netherlands?
She laughs: “The Dutch are of the times and direct in their communication. Ukrainians are more personal.”
How do you see the future of data?
“Data remains the future. Due to the shortage of data specialists, I see a bright future for my area of expertise.” Due to the staff shortage, many Dutch companies are now looking for employees across national borders, which
offers opportunities for talent. “Everything is well organized here (the Netherlands, ed.). There are many international companies, and the level of education is high. Ingredients that provide immigrants (like me) with a basis to develop yourself as a person and in your field.” And her future?
“I
myself
That is clear: back to Ukraine.
“The war taught me that long-term goals are not realistic. So my short-term focus is a stable life here, but I hope - when we win the war - to return to Ukraine to help rebuild and transfer technical knowledge there.”
Anastasiia (25) lives in Utrecht and has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics. After working in Ukraine, Poland and Turkey, she is now active as a Machine Learning Engineer at LINKIT.
“I hope to one day transfer my technological knowledge to Ukraine”
LINKIT is growing not only in the Netherlands but also globally. For example, offices have been opened in Düsseldorf and Johannesburg, and the internationalization of the company is increasing day by day.
But what does this mean for mutual labour and cultural differences? We ask three LINKIT explorers from the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa about their experiences and noticeable differences.
How do you collaborate with colleagues and managers?
Shadeé: “Here (De Meern, ed.), there is little to be seen of hierarchy. It’s about mutual respect, regardless of one’s position. LINKIT has an open culture, and communication is very accessible. We regularly organize activities outside of work, and the nice thing is that everyone, from young starters to board members, is happy to attend.” Lando: “Germany generally has a strict work culture, and you address your managers by their last names. Fortunately, this is different within LINKITSYSTEMS, and we are a close-knit and young team. We make decisions together, and during our monthly team meetings, we also make time for a beer or dinner in addition to work-related matters.” Louis: “In South Africa, it depends on the organization type. I know from experience that there are companies
with a strict hierarchy where managers determine the day-to-day business.
“Twenty different nationalities work in De Meern, and I would like to know more about their stories and cultures”
At LINKITSYSTEMS in Joburg (Johannesburg, ed.), this is much more relaxed, and regardless of the function, we are all open to each other. However, because we are still in the startup phase, we haven’t had any real drinks or activities together yet. I hope this will change in the future so that we have more personal contact.”
How do you experience communication with other countries?
Shadeé: “To be honest, I don’t notice much difference when I have contact with colleagues from Germany. LINKIT has an international character, so everyone has found a universal way to communicate.” Lando: “In terms of
“In Germany, we still see ourselves as a startup”Shadeé
communication, there is little difference between Germany and the Netherlands. I only notice that LINKIT in De Meern has been running like a well-oiled machine for years, and LINKITSYSTEMS (Germany, ed.) has only been around for a relatively short time, so we still see ourselves as a startup.” Louis: “The Dutch often only schedule meetings between 09:00 and 17:00, so I have to plan meetings with colleagues and customers very well. The situation is different in South Africa: people start early –sometimes as early as 06:00 – and work continues longer.”
What is the most significant difference in working with international colleagues?
Shadeé: “That questions are sometimes interpreted very differently than they are intended. That results in funny, but sometimes also uncomfortable situations.” Lando: “In fact, the Dutch are just as well organized in their work as Germans. For example, if I want to plan an (online) meeting, the meeting’s date, time and duration must be clearly recorded in the agendas in advance.” Louis: “Whenever we have a Teams meeting, everyone’s webcam is turned on. That took some getting used to in the beginning because, in South Africa, everyone has these turned off.”
What does your lunch break look like?
Shadeé: “I like to have lunch with colleagues, preferably with people I don’t know very well yet. Twenty different nationalities work in De Meern, and I would like to know
more about their stories and cultures. After lunch, I like to go for a walk outside to start the afternoon with a breath of fresh air.” Lando: “Because I live almost 600 kilometers from the office in Düsseldorf (in Berlin, ed.), I often have lunch alone or with my partner when she is home. This is often a vegetable meal, after which I – to relax – play football in the garden with my son.” Louis: “At the weekend, I cook my lunch (African for lunch, ed.) for the whole week, so I only have to defrost it. Often this is vegetables with chicken and rice or potatoes. Then, because I start early, I have lunch between 11:00 and 12:00, preferably in the garden. Here I enjoy the sun and take a break from work."
LINKIT (De Meern, The Netherlands)
Shadeé (33) has been working at LINKIT since February 2022, and as a Recruitment Business Partner, she is responsible for recruiting the Low Code squad. She loves yoga and prefers to listen to African and Latin chill beats.
Lando (37) works as Head of Solution Advisor for LINKITSYSTEMS in Germany and serves customers in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland, ed.). In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, hiking and climbing.
Louis (29) has been a Mendix Lead Developer and LINKIT explorer from the very beginning since LINKITSYSTEMS opened its doors in South Africa. He is a real outdoorsman and can often be found in the wild.
“Whenever we have a Teams meeting, everyone’s webcam is on”
Louis
“LINKITSYSTEMS has only been around for a relatively short time, so we still see ourselves as a startup”Lando
Aircraft maintenance is subject to strict laws and regulations. Certain parts must, by definition, be replaced every few years. Mechanics are responsible for regular inspection and standard maintenance based on the data they collect from the various systems.
t KLM, however, they go one step further: to purchase as efficiently as possible, schedule maintenance, and gain intelligent insights from varied aircraft maintenance history, they use artificial intelligence. More specifically, predictive data. With KLM’s predictive maintenance, they predict maintenance and can prevent aircraft from being grounded for too long or needing more expensive repairs. This offers advantages for almost every industry where machines are in charge and downtime costs money immediately.
The maintenance team is in a hangar with an older Embraer type, the aircraft that KLM Cityhopper uses for short flights within Europe. A mechanic links a drive to the plane to transfer the so-called CAR data, the information from the well-known black box. He takes it to another location, where he uploads the data from the drive. The sensitive data is split because only the parts his colleagues need may be used. Those parts are then unlocked for processing. The ultimate goal of using that data is simple: to detect a problem as quickly as possible because the sooner a problem is detected, the less it costs to solve. However, retrieving that data is only step one…
“Getting the data is a complex process, but transferring the data with the newer Embraers does happen automatically,” emphasizes Wemerson Cesar. He works on behalf of LINKIT as a Data Engineer at KLM Cityhopper. Alyona Galyeva joined later when the team needed a Solutions Architect in addition to a Data Engineer. “The data from such a black box is endless,” she says. “It
contains all the sensors’ information and conversations between pilots. Therefore, we are not allowed to do anything with a large part of that information, which is of no use to us. So Wemerson was the first to join KLM because he had to make sure that the right data ended up in the right place before we could do anything with it.”
As a data engineer, he says, Wemerson can not support the KLM team 24/7, but he does it daily. He ensures that KLM’s data scientists and business intelligence department provide the correct data for new insights and research. In short, he builds and maintains the pipelines that enable the flow of information. First, he connects them all to the data lake, the place where the current data from the aircraft, split and decoded, ends up. “Data scientists and business intelligence don’t have access to that,” says Wemerson. “My job is, among other things, to ensure that crazy or double values are removed, and the sensor data is enriched with, for example, flight data,
• Commercial aeroplanes are more fuel efficient than your car.
• The Flight Data Recorder or ‘Black box’ is actually bright orange.
• The world’s heaviest aircraft once weighed about 600 tons.
• By removing one olive from an onboard salad, American Airlines has saved $40,000 in one year.
such as times and places.” Next, that clean and enriched data moves to another place via a pipeline, after which it is accessible for a specific purpose, such as building a dashboard by someone from business intelligence.
Real-time data and the data scientist as a unicorn
It is quickly said that this data should preferably be viewed in real-time.
“That is often unnecessary and not cost-effective,” says Alyona. It also applies to KLM Cityhopper. “It takes a lot of computing power, and it is of no use at many moments. For example, when an aircraft is flying, you cannot retrieve data, and you do not need it from an aircraft that is stationary in a hangar.” That is why the dashboards are updated every hour with the current information. Another thing we encounter in almost every case is the data scientists’ role, says Wemerson. “Often they are seen as people who know everything, when in reality they have to deal with statistics, training models, making predictions and maybe making a dashboard.” “It’s best to start a process like this with only data scientists,” says Alyona. “If you want to see whether AI is a solution for your issue in your company, for example. But once you know you’re
“If you want to see if AI is a solution for your company, strengthen your team with data engineers”
headed that way? Then strengthen your team with data engineers! It prevents you from getting stuck at a later point.”
KLM Cityhopper took that advice to heart. “Our role requires that we can also substantiate why something is necessary,” says Alyona. “That applies to every step, including setting up the environment and using the right tools. Working with AI is a paradigm shift.” She gives an example. “With traditional software, you monitor in real-time: does it work or does it not work? AI monitoring combines historical and real-time data, where you always have to compare. You are dealing with something continuously mutating, whereas you previously had to deal with something static. That requires a different approach, but you always have to be able to explain why.” The value of migrating to the cloud also had to prove itself—especially given the sensitivity of the data. “Now we send the data to the cloud in a kind of gibberish, then it is translated there, the algorithm starts working with it, and we get a prediction,
which we make illegible again and then retrieve it on location. There we convert it back to the actual data, and only then can it be transferred to a dashboard.”
It’s a bit of work, Alyona admits, “but it takes a lot less effort and maintenance than doing everything on site. Plus, we keep it safe that way!” It also has to do with legislation: it influences what can and cannot be done with the data and the actual maintenance. “A model can predict that something will only wear out in eight years, but if the law says you have to replace it after four years, then you have to.”
With ‘only’ eight people in the KLM Cityhopper team, the assignment was nevertheless manageable. That made for a relatively straightforward process. “But remember that AI solutions always take time,” says Alyona. “There are often different departments involved. It’s not just about building; it also needs to be tested by those who will use it. You must know if it works, not just in the
short term.” KLM called in the help of LINKIT after two years. The project has now been going on for four years. But, once it works correctly, it pays off a lot. “The greatest added value of predictive maintenance is that you can already order scarce parts, for example, which reduces your downtime and improves your customer experience significantly,” says Alyona. The joint team first ran a pilot with oxygen and hydraulics data to ensure everything worked correctly, which they later converted into actual models. These have now been fully transferred to KLM Cityhopper, which maintains the current models. “That’s the best thing,” says Alyona. “Once this turned out to be a success, other KLM departments also wanted to get started!”
This LINKIT order for KLM Cityhopper resulted in a second order for KLM Operations. Curious? You will read it in our next edition!
“Working with AI is a paradigm shift”
With a Design Sprint, you solve significant challenges in four days and test new ideas for feasibility and validity. Does that idea for that application work so well for the users? Will that new web app do what you have in mind? In four days, we go from a rough idea to a prototype, and we test it with real users.
With a Design Sprint, you work in isolation in a small team. You work according to a proven methodology to bring an idea to a concrete vision and validated solution. More often, a Design Sprint is part of the projects that LINKIT starts with its customers to start with a validated starting point and thus achieve faster and more efficient results that work.
After previous training programs for data engineers, cloud engineers and OutSystems specialists, the first Mendix traineeship at LINKIT is also a fact!
Five new explorers have embarked on their educational and memorable journey to become Mendix professionals.
The first week started with many knowledge sessions, workshops and fun activities to better get to know the team. We also got to know the large Mendix community during a 48-hour hackathon. After this, the real work began, and they started their own ‘Innovation Project’. With a tailor-made training program, the explorers are prepared as fully-fledged low-code software developers, supplemented with the training of soft skills. They do this so that they can then start working on projects as Mendix professionals.
Today, gaining knowledge can be done in countless ways and places. Whether it is through search, physical knowledge sessions, TED talks, Youtube or, for example, Podcasts. As a knowledge partner, LINKIT is happy to contribute to this.
The previous magazine stated that Studio LINKIT had been launched. Now there is a sequel, the ‘Studio
LINKIT - IT Podcasts’. A podcast channel where all kinds of IT topics and issues are discussed and where experts from the industry take you through their experiences and talk to each other. Perfect for, for example, on the road in the car. More podcasts will follow in the coming times, and more IT topics will be discussed. The podcasts can be listened to via Spotify by search for Studio LINKIT – IT Podcasts.
Developers increasingly use low-code platforms to develop applications and associated components, such as data and logic. Platforms such as Mendix and OutSystems allow users to develop company-specific software at lightning speed using pre-programmed building blocks. Compare it to Lego: with the blocks at your disposal, you can build countless constructions.
But what does the use of pre-programmed blocks mean for your development freedom? Does this limit creativity, or is very specific customization possible? And how does this relate to security? We ask two low-code experts, Cecile Maan (Senior Mendix Developer) and Orla Dijkink (Squad Lead OutSystems).
Logic in construction “Lego gets to the heart of low-
code,” says Cecile. “With Lego, you build a house from blocks; with low-code, you build an HR or order application from blocks, for example.” She has been working with Mendix modules for clients in the banking and consultancy sector for years and is therefore convinced of the possibilities. “By connecting the blocks, a logic is created in the ‘construction’, and you arrive at a complete structure. A well-functioning application.” Orla also recognizes the advantages of using automated blocks,
thanks to its experience in the financial sector, among others. “In OutSystems little or no code needs to be written so that applications are quickly put together. Without getting upset about the functionalities or digging deep into the code, you can easily update, modify or delete building blocks during the development process.”
Providing customization
It is clear: with automated, pre-existing modules, functional and efficient
applications can be developed. But what happens when clients have very complex, specific wishes? “OutSystems developers can use the modules that the platform offers in 90% of the assignments,” says Orla. “The other 10%, which is needed to provide customization, we achieve with programmers who have in-depth knowledge of, for example, Java, .NET or Javascript.” Cecile adds: “If you want to make major changes that have not been incorporated in the modules, you have to adjust the blocks manually and go deeper into the material. With Java or Javascript, but also, for example, by
“With Lego, you build a house from blocks; with low-code, you build an HR or order application from blocks, for example”
working with widgets. This brings more logic into the application structure. You can program the widgets yourself, but you can also download existing variants from the ‘Mendix marketplace’, which you can then tweak.” However, Cecile and Orla do not immediately recommend adapting existing models, especially for novice low-code developers. Cecile: “With existing blocks, which are extensively tested in advance, you already have a lot of freedom in app development. The more you use self-developed widgets or complicated code language, the greater the chance of bugs.” Orla shares this idea: “lowcode platforms extensively test pre-programmed modules before they
are made available. As a result, these modules are error-free, increasing the application’s lifecycle and making it future-proof.”
They are convinced that working with modules is the fastest and safest way to develop. “Low-code aims to develop well-functioning business software with relatively little programming knowledge.
A platform like OutSystems saves developers time through the automatic use of certain code patterns, the standard application of encryption for data and the adjustment of security rules,” says Orla. Cecile adds: “Mendix also has this ‘guaranteed’ form of security, from which users benefit from the platform. But we also pay a lot of attention to the security of applications during the development process and after the launch. In addition, we use metrics to monitor how applications perform and where (security) improvements can be made.”
Due to its stable security foundation, low-code has grown enormously in recent years. “That has to do with the increasing popularity of SaaS solutions and hyper-automation,” says Orla. “And the stretch is not over yet. The demand for low-code will only increase,” adds Cecile. One of the advantages of low-code is that you can develop business software with a small team, without a separate front-end developer or database expert. But there is more, according to Orla. “A big advantage over traditional programming is that developers work closely with the
Senior Mendix Developer, LINKIT
Cecile Maan (30) has been working at LINKIT since March 2022 and has over five years of experience with Mendix.
customer. Demos are given regularly, and customer feedback can be taken directly into the next sprint. Both in normal environments and in mission critical environments.” Something
Cecile wholeheartedly agrees. “You can build beautiful, sustainable apps with a young and experienced developers team. I don’t have to read endless codes to determine whether an app meets the customer’s desired quality. In addition, there are low-code communities where developers can ask questions and where modules and code solutions are offered. For example, the modules of the low-code platform evolve following the use of its users, which immediately indicates the dynamics of the low-code market.”
Squad Lead OutSystems, LINKIT
Orla Dijkink (40) started at LINKIT in 2018 as an OutSystems Developer and is now responsible for the OutSystems squad.
“These models are error-free, extending the life of the application and making it future-proof”Orla Cecile
webhooks.app is an open source application following the microservice architecture. Its purpose is to provide a webhook endpoint for demos.
This series starts with introducing the webhooks application, deploying it on a Kubernetes cluster using Helm or Acorn, and implementing a simple observability stack. The last four parts explore some security considerations and see how to ensure (at least to some extent) that the application’s specifications follow some of the best security practices.
Data shapes our modern world and has become the center of our businesses and lives. This article, more of personal insight than an in-depth study of Data-Centric Thinking, aims to help understand and adopt correct thinking on Data Strategies in modern Solution Architecture and what can be done to make these strategies work.
While trying to answer broader questions like: “what is the meaning of Data-centric” and “how to execute a Data strategy”, Filipe tries to explain some fundamental concepts around architecting for Data, the ability to deliver on a strategy, how strategy adoption starts with a mindset and culture change, and how Data architecture is not a Data strategy by itself.
“Well, f**k …” I thought to myself while waiting for my boss to answer my call. I’m sure all he wanted to hear on a Friday morning was that one of his senior leaders just manually deleted a main back office database by mistake.
The phone’s calling ringtone sounded like my career’s dying heartbeat on a hospital heart monitor. In those moments, a shining beacon of inspiring leadership truly makes a difference. Like the first words of my boss; “How the f**k did that happen?!”. We always read about these issues and say to ourselves, “they would never happen to us.” Read this post to get an insight into how to be prepared and avoid these situations.
In five articles, Patrick shares his observations and thoughts after finalizing the third platform built with Kubernetes as the foundation in Financial Services.
He reflects on the platforms, toolings, and how much the field has and hasn’t changed in the last three years. It consists of five parts:
1. Overview, K8s PaaS offerings, Networking –2. Workload Identity, Secret Management / Externalization - 3. GitOps – 4. Policy Enforcement –5. Cloud Resource Brokering
HUGO ROCHA PATRICK PICARD
People are the reason for the success or failure of a project. Methodologies, technologies, and programming languages are the tools used to create software.
In this post, Ben concludes there is not and will never be a magic formula to deliver projects. Soon there will be a new methodology that promises to deliver software projects on time and within the budget. It won’t work! While we have fun learning new terms and joining a new methodology cult, we are stuck with the half waterfall/half agile approach that takes bits of each and still delays the projects.
The Dutch retail market is developing rapidly: customer expectations continue to rise, margins are under pressure, labour is scarce, and ‘traditional’ business models are struggling. So how do you, as a retailer, deal with these challenges?
And how do you ensure a sustainable and sustainable business model?
The demand for technological solutions is increasing as the market moves online. Something Nick van Ramshorst, retail expert and Solution Advisor at LINKIT, recognizes: “Digital transformation is no longer a buzzword, but a bold item on the agenda for every retailer.”
The corona pandemic has been
an eye-opener for many companies, says Nick. “Physical stores had to close, which forced entrepreneurs to think about technological solutions. As a result, legacy systems and processes were digitized, the business model was overhauled, and a data strategy was devised. These changes have put a lot of pressure on the operation.” A pressure that is often reinforced by the separation between IT and operations. “IT is often seen as the ‘neighbour from
further away.” While an integral collaboration between IT and operations ensures a clear vision and strategy, but also new opportunities and possibilities.”
“There is currently a major shortage of suitable workers. By digitizing manual processes and making them more efficient, an organization becomes more agile and enables itself to respond more
quickly to trends and market developments,” says Nick. “As a result, the entire distribution chain can be completed faster and at lower costs.” However, it is not only the processes that need to be digitized. The use of data is also part of this. “Well-known retailers know exactly how to use their data to predict trends. They recognize market movements and know which channels to use at what time, where, and when to distribute, advertise, and commercialize. That makes them agile and visible to their users,” says Nick.
Users expect a perfectly functioning mix of channels (omnichannel), where they are all tuned to each other. Nick: “In concrete terms, this means that, for example, as a customer, you end up at the provider’s webshop via a Facebook ad and easily go through the ordering process from here.” But how do you make an app work flawlessly with old systems? How do you integrate a webshop or portal? How do you set up a dashboard, and what data do you use? “That’s where low-code comes in handy,” says Nick. “Low code helps to provide digital insight into the retailer’s
data and processes. It enables them to develop modern applications - such as an app, portal, or webshop- available through various channels. This way, you immediately maintain a measurable connection with your customer.” You gain an edge over the competition by using data smartly and efficiently, says Nick. “To grow in the competitive retail market, there is often the idea that more people are needed. However, they are difficult to find in the current labour market. Digital transformation offers the solution. By digitizing different business processes, you become agile and scalable. This way, you are less dependent on physical human resources and can anticipate faster.”
As a retailer, you can no longer ignore the modernization of your organization,
says Nick. “Low-code ensures that the user shell, the structure and associated algorithms keep an eye on each other. In addition, the low-code platform offers flexibility and speed because you can
“While an integral collaboration between IT and operations ensures a clear strategy and vision”
quickly implement changes in business applications with standard components. And speed, that is vital in retail.”
“Using low-code means you can move with changing market conditions and remain in full control. Now and in the future.”
Nick is Solution Advisor at LINKIT. He is involved in various low-code projects for organizations such as Lidl and Croonwolter&dros.
After a long time of online events, LINKIT was able to do what is deeply embedded in the culture again—sharing knowledge and expertise at physical fairs and events.
In a 48-hour charity hackathon, developers from the Mendix squad worked on a solution for Welcome App during MxHacks. This application is a one-stop shop for people rebuilding their lives in a new country. In addition to the race against the clock of this development challenge, developers also had the opportunity to take a well-deserved rest in a massage chair with virtual reality glasses at the LINKIT booth.
Data challenges with the principles of design thinking? At Big Data Expo in the Jaarbeurs there was a lot of enthusiasm for getting acquainted with this design approach. During the low-code no-code day, Paulo Caseiro and Mohammed Ezzarfani gave a 35-minute demo on how to build a ‘To Do App’ yourself in Outsystems.
In the past years, LINKIT has been seeing a vast growth in the demand for its low-code services. That’s why the Utrecht based IT company is now expanding to South Africa to grow its team of low-code experts.
To give this latest branch in the international network of the LINKIT group a kickstart, it acquires South African OutSystems partner ITProsper. Growing internationally helps LINKIT to ensure enough capacity for the increased number of low-code projects for its clients.
In 2019, LINKIT founded a German branch, LINKITSYSTEMS, to service the German low-code market and started training local OutSystems experts. Since then, it has developed its own training programs to educate talents to become OutSystems or Mendix experts. Ronald Schrijver, Chief People Officer at LINKIT: “On the long term, setting up international LINKIT Hubs is an important part of our strategy to keep growing with IT talent. It helps us to explore both new markets and make a local impact, which is especially the case for our new South African hub.”
Worldwide LINKIT family ITProsper is an OutSystems partner and is active in the South African low-code market since 2016. Its 14 employees join the global LINKIT family and start
working for the international label LINKITSYSTEMS, a label that was introduced for the German market. The low-code consultants work on both local IT projects and European projects remotely. Vonnelize Haupt, founder of ITProsper, will continue leading the South African branch.
Vonnelize Haupt: “ITProsper has a talented, vibrant team ready to explore new opportunities and
take on new challenges under the name of LINKITSYSTEMS, part of the LINKIT group. The LINKIT culture fits closely with the way ITProsper has been operating and the South African team is excited to become part of a bigger market player that shares our vision, but on a much larger scale. We will continue to grow local talent, and we are looking forward to joining forces with our European colleagues and working together as a blended team to enhance the LINKITSYSTEMS brand internationally.”
Ronald Schrijver: “We’ve gained a lot of experience the last few years with integrating our German branch into the culture and mindset of the LINKIT group and I’m confident we’ll be able to achieve a similar result with our newest branch.”
“It helps us to explore both new markets and make a local impact”
Anyone who books a plane ticket does not consider what operational decisions are made for your trip. From flight schedules to the amount of water an aircraft must carry, there are dozens of factors an airline must be able to anticipate.
So it’s no surprise that a vast amount of data is hidden behind calculating all those factors. KLM’s Operations Decisions Support is the department responsible for processing all operational information. Part of this is done with self-learning algorithms, which are part of various predictive models which know a range of end users. KLM called in LINKIT to ensure that these algorithms can be used correctly and to have that knowledge in-house for the future.
There are many ways to get started with low-code. Besides choosing a technology, it is a conscious decision for a new way of working to enhance innovation and agility within your organization.
Although we always suggest starting small, it is important to have the bigger picture in mind. At LINKIT we believe that it is important to work from a long-term strategy and agile roadmap to be able to make the right decisions for now. But how to set up that roadmap? And specifically, how to decide with which use case to start?
Issue 4, year 2022 Together is published by LINKIT and is released twice per year.
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