Behind the Scenes of SQLI: Meet Bert Eerdekens
Since joining SQLI in Hasselt, Belgium, in 2016 when he was a student, Bert has taken on more and more responsibility and is now working as a Lead Application Consultant.
Can you talk about what you did when you first joined SQLI?
I first started working for SQLI when I was still at university, in 2016, and was part of the infrastructure department. I then came back in 2018 to do my internship and in July of that year I started working full-time for the company as a PIM Application Consultant.
This role focused on implementing PIM software for our customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. Over the next few years my role evolved as I took on more responsibility, and in 2022 I was promoted to my current position.
What’s involved in your role today?
As Lead Application Consultant, I'm responsible for the technical designs of our implementations. It’s like a Technical Lead role. My job is to make sure that what we deliver is based on the requirements of our customers.
This involves choosing the best route, so to speak, and putting together a roadmap for implementation for our team of four application consultants, myself and a developer.
What main challenges do you face?
I’d say that my first main challenge is making sure that I connect everything together in the right way so that I can see the bigger picture of a PIM tool within an organization’s environment.
What do you like most about working for SQLI?
For me, working at SQLI has a real “family” feeling, particularly within the PIM/MDM team in Hasselt. We all work together at the office on a regular basis. And we have team events, such as team building activities, with our colleagues both here and in the Netherlands.
What I, and the people in Hasselt, particularly enjoy is that every Friday we all go out and have lunch together. This helps create a positive vibe and builds a great team spirit.
The atmosphere in Hasselt is very relaxed. Everyone knows everyone else. So overall it’s a chill place to be.
Any advice for someone thinking of joining SQLI?
I’d say, “Don’t hesitate for a moment”. SQLI is a very welcoming place to work. People from across all our practices are more than happy to help you and make sure you feel welcome.
How do you see your future at SQLI?
I feel positive about my future with SQLI. I am looking forward to working on many more successful PIM implementations with the team here in Hasselt and developing my overall knowledge of the business