Hi Reader, "Hi, can we plan for a Farmaneut demo?" Farma-what? Farma-neut? As I started to visualize this new type of unhappy and somewhat grumpy medical professional, a wave of doubt made its way through my body. But soon thereafter, a warm feeling of thriving ambition made its way back to me, producing a big smile on my face. We love our customers for their enthusiasm but far underestimated their creativity. When developing market intelligence software, we felt like astronauts exploring...
almost 2 years ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Do you remember the days you were buildling houses in Lego bricks? Building the house of your dreams, but then getting frustrated as you couldn't find that specific 3-dotted thin brick you needed according to plan? Of having to start it all over because you skipped that one crucial step? Or did you prefer to play around, ignoring any provided plan? And now, as an adult? Do you build your dream house brick by brick, working yourself to blood sweat and tears? Or do you consult an...
about 2 years ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, “It’s not about creating a digital strategy for our business but about creating a business strategy for a digital world.” A quote from Lidia Fonseca. As Pfizer’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Lidia is responsible for all data and technology solutions across the organization. Organizations need to adapt to the changing environment and implement digital and data in their everyday operations and workflow. But I hear you think… where do I start? I’m already using data, right?...
about 2 years ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, One hundred seventy seven was the number of cans and bottles I could count on the roadside this morning on my bike commute. Corresponding to an average of 5 beverage containers per kilometer on the way to the office. Since September, I have decided to pick up the litter as much as possible, in the hope to improve the situation. Picking up empty bottles, I started to realize to the fullest the contribution of cleaning to quality. In databases too, cleaning is essential: rubbish in...
over 2 years ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Ding dong… with a sheepish smile and a multi-coloured exploded bouquet that had to make up for my mistake, I was standing at the doorstep of my "second mother". She took care of me and the family household when I was a kid. Happy birthday, erm I mean, yesterday. The stern look in her eyes was clear to me. I had been trying for the best, though: a paper birthday calendar with cute puppies and kittens would serve as a daily reminder to the most important milestones of my loved ones....
over 2 years ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, On all fours, I pushed myself the last meters to the top. My head was spinning as if I had just come off the Cobra roller coaster in Walibi. At the top of Mont Coin, I laid myself down over the edge of the abyss. My sons, not afraid of heights, ran back and forth on the edge of the rim, encouraging me to come and enjoy a fantastic 360° panorama. Open mouth, we gazed at the beautiful peaks, mountain lakes and herds of cattle we encountered on our climb to 2500m. Up there, on the...
over 2 years ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, “Patience is a moral duty”, my grandmother always said. But… standing on the train platform sweating and gasping for air after I’ve been running like a fool seeing my train leaving right in front of me knowing I’ll have to wait that extra hour due to deficient railway service I must admit I sometimes lose my patience. Fortunately, some Spotify playlists and podcasts act as instant pain relievers in those cases. Sadly, this is less trivial for patients with severe life threatening...
over 2 years ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Quick quick, push off, push off, I have to interrupt that call NOW. …was all I could think. Around midnight. Dizzy like a sloth hanging in its tree with a little champagne overdose, I woke up to the sound of the dial tone. Within a second, the drowsiness turned to horror. Panicked, I grasped for my mobile on the night table as if I wanted to instantly kill an annoying mosquito. I was calling a customer. The victim was the last dialed number in my call history. After a few dial...
over 2 years ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Oops, so the horn is located all the way at the bottom of the bike? Thoughtfully I inspected his impressive curry coloured high-end speedbike of a strong German two-named brand. My friend's bike was equipped with 2 power batteries and a series of specs every cycling fanatic is dreaming about… but there, at the very bottom, in between the pedals... there it was, the little membrane through which the warning signal was supposed to be produced. Ready to catch a thick layer of dirt and...
over 2 years ago • 1 min read