DES Group

Getting freedom to tackle a project in your own way

Client

DES Group

The question

Connecting an additional business to an existing platform.

The approach

Unlock, transform, report.

Learnings

Bringing the customer into what you do.

DES Group is a collection of technical service providers. For financial and business insights, the entire group uses a Blenddata platform. In his first project, Data Engineer Mart Keizer connects an additional company to the existing platform.

Mart: “One of the companies under DES Group uses another ERP system: 4PS. Data from that source needs to be unlocked and included in reports that, for example, provide overview of orders, invoices and outstanding quotations. Each system has its own data model. The trick is to develop one standard data model to which you can pin different systems.”

Standard approach, custom code

“For SME projects like this, Blenddata uses the Modern Data Stack. It is a standardised approach of technical components with custom logic, for each company we develop specific code. With that, all DES Group companies are connected to the platform, so they can drive the right insights.”

You learn a certain way of thinking that you can use in other industries as well.

Mart Keizer

Medior Data Engineer

You learn a certain way of thinking that you can use in other industries as well.

Mart Keizer

Medior Data Engineer

A first Modern Data Stack project

Rollout is done together with colleagues and the customer.

“At my first customer meeting, experienced colleague Vincent was present, the implementation was with me. We hadn’t worked with 4PS before, so you start by figuring out how to get data from it. Then you start linking the system and making sure the data model from that system matches the model we already had. After this transformation, you start testing. We sent the first results and data tables to the customer for feedback: is this what you expect? You continue like this until all the data is unlocked and the customer is satisfied. In the beginning, you find the balance between figuring it out yourself and asking colleagues, who I can always turn to.”

Bringing the customer along

“During your onboarding, you already work with the Modern Data Stack. When you start applying that in practice, there is more to it. The customer wants to be included in everything you do. Taking the customer with you is easier for some people than others. I too want to develop in that area and it’s fun to be involved in that, because it creates appreciation.”

Showing what you can do

Getting freedom to tackle a project in your own way.

“The trust you get at Blenddata gives a nice feeling. If an assignment then succeeds within my proposed approach, I am proud of that. During onboarding, your colleagues don’t yet see what you can do. In a project like this, I can show that and deliver value for our client: a more complete picture for the whole group. The client is happy with the insights we generate.”

The question behind the question

Understanding the business you are working for

“Anything that comes my way, I seem to enjoy taking up. With customers, you want to do more than just deliver a product. You also want to see where you can make further improvements. The trick is often to get the question behind the question answered. We will not build until we understand what exactly is the problem we are trying to solve. So it is important to understand what industry you are in, what exactly they do and what they make their money on.”

Also making strides as a data engineer?

Growing in engineering and consultancy.
Working for SMEs and multinationals.
Blend your benefits!

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Vincent Fokker

Co-founder | Lead engineer

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