ENREACH

Cloud solutions in the telecommunications sector have become commonplace in a short time. And even in the corona crisis, the
cloud model is proving its added value. Stijn Nijhuis, co-founder of the Almere-based company Voiceworks, one of the founders of cloud telephony in the Netherlands, and CEO of parent company Enreach: "Especially at a distance, collaboration is important."

Enreach, one of the largest ICT employers in Almere, provides communication services for mobile and fixed telephony, integrated with innovative software solutions for more than 2.3 million users in the European business market. "The core of our business is cloud telephony," explains Nijhuis. "That is now the standard model for many companies in the Netherlands, but when we launched this service in 2005 with our company Voiceworks, it certainly wasn't yet." Voiceworks is thus among the founders of cloud telephony in our country. The financial crisis in 2008 did the company no favours. A cloud solution was the perfect way for many companies to remain flexible and scalable without large investments.

Rising demand for cloud solutions

Even in the corona crisis, the demand for cloud applications is rising sharply, notes Nijhuis. "More and more companies recognise that a cloud solution is indispensable. You can easily scale up and down as needed. And you are always accessible, even if all employees work from home." Meanwhile, with over 350 employees, Voiceworks has grown into one of the bigger players in the Dutch business telecoms and ICT market. "After KPN, we are the market leader in our industry," said Nijhuis. Parent company Enreach, co-founded by the same Almere entrepreneurs, operates in more than 25 countries and employs over 1,100 people. Spread across Europe, in addition to several locations in the Netherlands, there are 22 branches: including in Germany, Denmark, England, Finland, Spain, France and Latvia.

"We are constantly creating new innovative solutions," Nijhuis explains the company's success. "For example, over the past decade we have specialised in far-reaching fixed-mobile integration. Here, for example, it is possible to have a private number and a business number delivered on one SIM card and to combine multiple identities, which is especially convenient for smaller companies and self-employed people."

Integration of IT and telecoms

The latest product developments mainly involve the integration of IT and telecoms. "What makes Enreach unique is that we are both software provider and network provider," says Nijhuis. "When you start a conversation with us in your car on your mobile, you can continue that conversation in a video call on your laptop when you arrive without interruption." Enreach is also betting on ground-breaking applications for the future, for example by using artificial intelligence. "We are now working on innovative voicebot solutions. In this, callers get a virtual voice assistant on the line with whom they can talk and discuss certain options."

Leadership and self-organisation

As an employer, Enreach distinguishes itself by using self-organising and self-managing teams, among other things. Nijhuis: "We operate a holacratic management model. This means that we do not formally employ any managers or CEOs. Everyone has the same rights with us when it comes to launching projects. We say 'yes' to every idea by default, unless it is harmful to the company. In my view, as a leader, you have to be constantly making yourself redundant. If you don't, you are the brake on your own growth."

Almere allure and appeal

Nijhuis, who started his career at the age of 19 in an Almere attic room, still sees Almere as an ideal entrepreneurial city. "Here we can stand out, whereas in Amsterdam you are soon one of many in a gigantic battle for talent. So when our former premises became too small a few years ago, it was obvious to look for a new place in Almere. We emphatically wanted a location with stature, allure and appeal, both for staff and visitors. In Almere Duin, we found exactly what we were looking for: from our new building we have a view of the Markermeer, the beach and the marina. Moreover, this location is perfectly accessible, both by train and by car. Almere offers us all the space we need to continue growing."