Insights

1 min read

Optimal infrastructure for Holland’s largest online store

Online sales are growing phenomenally. In the past ten years, sales have more than quadrupled. Still, turnover increases every year with about 8 to 9 per cent (source: Thuiswinkel Markt Monitor). For market leader Bol.com, this growth would not be possible without an optimally functioning ICT infrastructure. Optimal in this case means that the ICT just has to work all the time. An online customer is not very loyal and clicks through to another webshop, especially in the crucial peak season around the holidays. This requires a state-of-the-art infrastructure that anticipates continuous growth.

Case study

1 min read

Implementation of new application and digital pass system

For Amsterdam residents with lower incomes, activities like going to a dance class, the library, a birdwatching group, a debate, a theater performance or a museum aren’t always accessible. Based on the idea that everyone should be able to participate, the municipality of Amsterdam created the Stadspas over 25 years ago – a pass that offers all residents of the city the opportunity to enjoy the beauty that the city has to offer. "With the Stadspas, Amsterdam residents with a small wallet receive all kinds of financial benefits when undertaking activities or purchasing products in the areas of culture, recreation, exercise and health," says Harro Hoogerwerf, who has been working as head of the Poverty Reduction Department at the City of Amsterdam for the past year. "It's a product we are proud of, because through the Stadspas we are creating more equal opportunities"

Shadow IT appears unstoppable, how do you deal with it?

Shadow IT is defined as the IT within an organization that does not fall under the responsibility and management of the organization's central IT department. There is an increasing presence of shadow IT in organizations, especially due to the wide range of cloud services available and the increasingly adopted bring-your-own-device policy. It seems to be an ever-growing challenge for IT departments to manage shadow IT. IT departments will need to let go of some responsibilities while setting clear boundaries for shadow IT.

2 min read

Is Agile working the end of ITIL?

No more long queues at the town hall, you can simply arrange your parking permit from your couch. Or send a payment request via WhatsApp after a night out. Nowadays, we consider these things normal. Services are available everywhere and anytime. Additionally, customers and citizens are becoming increasingly central. This requires continuous innovation on the one hand and services that are always available everywhere on the other. Many organizations find themselves in a dilemma between quickly responding to changing needs and offering 24/7 services. Organizations are looking for ways to meet these demands, and sometimes it seems like these demands conflict with each other. Below, we look at two examples of common frameworks for continuous innovation and 24/7 services. We also explore how these frameworks can contribute to delivering business value.

5 principles for making ecosystem collaboration work

Shifting from thinking in silos to thinking in ecosystems is essential for the transition to a digital world. Five principles characterize collaboration in ecosystems and help organizations move beyond their own boundaries to make the most of available resources.

4 min read

Why thinking in ecosystems pays off

Silo thinking is out, and "ecosystem" is the new buzzword. It encapsulates the essence of transition thinking, the transition to a digital society. The importance of this shift, the principles that drive success, and steps you can take in this direction are explored in three parts. This first part explains why thinking in ecosystems pays off.

Polysourcing demands radically different IT governance (2)

IT decentralization requires organizations to reshape their IT governance.