Not many people can say they have been working for their employer for 30 years. Henry Verdonschot can. That's in the fact that over the years he's had the opportunity to fill a variety of roles, and no two days are ever the same. His very first position at Shift2 (then Procura) was developer, and over the years he fulfilled different roles to where he is today: product manager of Procura Elections. Meanwhile, he manages several developers and works closely with, among others, product owner / consultant Maarten van der Veer, whom we spoke to last time.

Henry, what exactly do you do for Shift2?

"I am product manager of the Procura Elections application. That means I keep an eye on the big picture of the package and ponder the question: where do we want to go in the future? In daily practice, it means that I consult a lot with the team, see if everything is going well, if we can do what we want, what is needed and what, if anything, still needs to be taken care of.

I also have a lot of contact with customers. For example, I discuss their wishes and requirements regarding the application, and I make sure we respond to changes in time to always deliver the best product.

Because our company is not very large, we all also pick up tasks besides our daily work, such as in my case the ISO certification. Important certificates with which we demonstrate that the quality within the organization is in order, but also the security in our work processes."

You recently became ISO certified, what does that mean?

"We have achieved two certifications: ISO 27001 and 9001. This provides us with an integrated management system that meets the requirements of both standards. With this management system, Shift2 manages the quality and information security aspects of its operations, meeting all relevant legal, business and contractual security obligations.

The ISO 27001 standard is the international standard that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, executing, controlling, assessing and maintaining an Information Security Management System (ISMS). This with a focus on the continuous management, control and improvement of information security risks.

ISO 9001 is the international standard that sets requirements for the quality management system. Important topics are the quality policy, process management, customer orientation and its continuous improvement. By working according to ISO 9001, the quality delivered is guaranteed and increased customer satisfaction can be achieved.

We already had both processes in place, but now we have the certificate to officially back up our story."

Why are these ISO certifications so important?

"ISO certifications are increasingly the customer's requirement. There are customers who don't want to deal with you if you don't have them. So the moment you have the certificates, you have a seal of approval by which you can show that you meet the requirements. That makes you a reliable interlocutor for the customer.

But not only that: for your business, the certificates are just as important. They guarantee that you have all the processes you have in place. It forms a structure with which you can indicate: if you do this, make sure that you register everything and have it in order. If someone doesn't comply, you can call people to account.

It may feel like a must for the team at first. But over time, people see the added value of having and maintaining the certificates. Now there are documents defining the rules and processes, and everyone knows where to find them. That benefits all parties.

After getting certified, you will be checked every once in a while with an audit. That way, you also know for sure if you are still doing well, and if you are complying with the requirements and rules.

The great thing is that we already had everything in place, just that it hadn't been captured yet. Now we've really achieved the stamp, which makes it easier for us to achieve success for our clients."

How do you ensure success with your clients?

"Surely that is mainly in the application. It must never stand still and must continue to develop. This is the only way we can ensure that customer wishes are incorporated into the application, that we grow with those wishes and that we respond to the wishes of legislation. We are working on this throughout the year. In the run-up to the elections, the focus is on customer support. And afterwards we make sure that the application is completely up to date again, and that new developments are added. To then enter another election period."

What do you like most about your job?

"The thing I like most about my job at Shift2 is that every day is different. Our positions are broad, you don't really have one job or one hat on. Sometimes I get to do the catering, other times I'm really working with customers. I really enjoy that contact, also with our suppliers.

We may be a small company, but we have a great product and satisfied customers. That we can serve so many communities with this small team and get everything done right, I'm proud of that."

What expectations do you have for the future?

"Over the years, we see that competition is increasing. For our product, that means we have to keep developing so that it works well and keeps customers satisfied. That satisfaction is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, which is why we regularly ask our customers for feedback on our application and service, we have a roadmap for the developments we are going to do, and we keep an eye on the competition and make sure we stay ahead. Technology never stands still. Every time there is something new. You can't imagine what it was like five years ago and what it will be like five years from now. But that's exactly what makes my job interesting."

Wondering if Procura Elections is for you?

Could you use support from Henry and his team for your upcoming elections? Or are you curious what else Shift2 has in store for municipalities? We'd love to think with you. 

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