THE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT GUIDES SMES THROUGH A JUNGLE OF REGULATIONS

With OutSystems as a machete

It is early 2022 when Maarten van Veen comes up with his idea for The Compliance Department: a platform to help SMEs become or remain compliant by taking them through all the steps they need to take to achieve this.

No complex language, lots of visual explanation and an underlying system that immediately indicates what is required to get a grip on your business risks and comply with applicable laws and regulations. He builds that platform with LINKIT in OutSystems. So, for example, the startup is set up for growth, and Maarten’s employee Lutfi is immediately included in the development to build the future on all fronts. And so he helps them through a jungle of regulations.

Searching for knowledge through a forum

Maarten knows that a well-functioning platform is essential for implementing his idea. So before he ends up at LINKIT, he extensively researches options. “I was looking for a programmer but also had to look at the costs. That is why I ended up with low-code at a certain point,” says Maarten. “OutSystems stood out because it is a strong platform. In terms of privacy and security, everything is fine, and they are very transparent.” The next step was to find someone with a lot of experience implementing it to develop the compliance tool.

“I, therefore, searched the

4 FAST FACTS ABOUT COMPLIANCE:

OutSystems forum for someone active in the Netherlands and with the necessary knowledge. That is how I ended up with Remco Dekkinga of LINKIT, who introduced me to Dion and Barend.”

Developer and sparring partner

Dion and Barend work at LINKIT and its account manager (Dion Drost) and Outsystems developer (Barend Coetzee). Both are very enthusiastic about the assignment. Barend: “Together, we build the core of the company. There is a lot of freedom, but you have to be very resourceful and constantly question everything.” Therefore, Dion and Barend are concerned with more than just the functionalities. “We look at where we see quick wins and also like to think about how Maarten can get more customers,” says Dion. In addition, Barend spends one day a week with Lutfi, the nearly-graduated software engineer employed by the Compliance Department as an OutSystems developer. With his experience, Barend is responsible for the architecture and the most complex functionalities. At the same time, he also guides Lutfi in, among other things, best practices, data modelling and reusability of components. “It is important that Maarten retains his flexibility,” explains Barend. “That is why we share our knowledge. In addition, OutSystems is accessible. Those two things together provide grip, not only for the role of Lutfi but also for attracting future staff.”

• Compliance is about complying with laws, regulations, internal guidelines, and policies.

• Integrity, environment, corruption prevention, export control, fraud prevention, human rights, IT security and privacy compliance are subjects.

• As a company, you must intervene when there is bullying and sexual harassment.

• Your company becomes more attractive to new employees, business partners and investors when compliance is in order.

Conditions for success

Maarten agrees. “The role of LINKIT will, therefore, not always be the same because depending on the project phases and Lutfi’s knowledge, we need them more or less. It’s nice to be able to do that.” The Compliance Department is working hard on the risk analysis, the platform’s core functionality. It is crucial because it determines what an entrepreneur has in mind, which ISO and NEN standards or regulations they want to comply with, and the chance the company will not comply. “As an entrepreneur, you can decide for yourself each year how much risk you want to run,” explains Maarten. “The Compliance Department provides scope for this and ensures with a clear step-by-step plan that you are and remain in control. Depending on what you need or want to meet, the platform assigns tasks to different people within the organization.” Therefore, Barend has to link Maarten’s risk scenarios to the various optional and mandatory measures in OutSystems. Those actions must reach the right people at the right time. In addition, customers must be able to see their progress in their environment, and the tool must be workable for both small and slightly larger companies to be scalable. One of the most critical conditions is that it remains effortless. Both in terms of communication and platform. “Everything we build must meet seven principles,” says Maarten. “For example, it should be simple, not contain any legal language, not have a steep learning curve, and so on. It can only be built if it meets these requirements.”

Grow together

The basis of the platform is now in place, and the next steps are clear; the first version of the platform should be presented in the summer. Barend: “Not many startups work in Outsystems, even though it has many advantages. One of them is the fact that many functionalities are already there. So you can switch quickly and shorten your ‘time to market’. Moreover, it is very future-proof, and the prediction is that it will only be used more often.” Maarten is also happy with his choice in terms of low-code and the partnership. “It was essential for me to find an organization that has extensive experience with OutSystems, that is a safety net and a sparring partner, and that thinks ahead so that no long-term problems arise. In addition, you must have someone who also dares to contradict. That’s fine with LINKIT”, Maarten laughs. He emphasizes the good dynamics between Lutfi and Barend. “They never just do something; it’s always about ‘why are you doing it that way’.” The Compliance Department and LINKIT are committed to growing together and are keen to make The Compliance Department a success. The first signs are favourable: the number of customers for the first year has been achieved. Dion and Barend also have complete confidence in Maarten’s idea!

About The Compliance Department

Compliance

Building tomorrow’s leading companies

Nice news! LINKIT has entered into a partnership with YES!Delft to stimulate innovation. LINKIT is now part of a vibrant startup ecosystem that drives innovation and progress in the Netherlands.

YES!Delft believes in the impact tech companies can have. They play a crucial role in our society and economy. YES!Delft transforms ideas and teams into solid startups and helps them grow into successful companies. By connecting the ecosystem of experts, mentors, business partners and investors with these unique programs, they help build tomorrow’s leading companies.

Contribute to the immigration chain

The consortium of LINKIT, DiVetro, Bartosz ICT has been selected by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), and the Repatriation & Departure Service (DT&V) as one of the partners for the external hiring of IT professionals.

It concludes the ICT rental tender. New parties for the four-year framework agreement have been selected. The ICT hiring for the next four years has doubled considerably compared to the last contract. The tender was carried out under the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) by the Procurement Implementation Center EZK (IUC-EZK). It is due to the termination of previous framework agreements. The palette of quality profiles is based on previous work. It covers various fields, from application developers, administrators, data engineers, and project leaders to information and business analysts, testers, functional designers, architects, and network administrators.

The

Digital Innovation In Logistics

The Handelslogistik Kongress in Cologne was an excellent opportunity for professionals in the logistics sector to gain insight into the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of logistics.

Those who felt they were missing the key to digital innovation in their logistics operations could learn all the tips and tricks from Lando Schebsdat, Ozan Ates and Oliver Wieland at our stand. These three experts have extensive experience in using technology to optimize logistics processes, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. Whether implementing new digital tools or optimizing existing ones, the ‘Handelslogistik Kongress’ was the perfect platform to gain knowledge and network with like-minded professionals.