Let's talk Teamwork, Technology, and Tomorrow

This year, Quyntess celebrates its 20th anniversary. To mark this special milestone, CTO Teunis Biemond shares his two-decade journey, and his vision for the future of Quyntess. His story highlights the challenges and achievements that have shaped the company and made it the success it is today.

Teunis, can you tell us about the vision of Quyntess in the early days?

It all started with an exciting opportunity to break away from our U.S. parent company through a management buyout. This gave us the freedom to become independent and set our own course. Our vision was simple but clear, we wanted to build a company that could create real value for its customers.

Can you tell us more about the company’s journey from its first steps to today?

There have been some interesting changes over the years. When we first started, we installed software directly on our customers’ systems. These manual processes were very time-consuming. 

Software as a service was still very novel at that time. Rob van Ipenburg, our CEO, quickly recognized the potential of SaaS in supply chain digitization. In 2006, we started moving customers to the cloud. I remember that Stork and Volkswagen were among the first.

In 2015, we partnered with Tradeshift and began developing a new, standardized software platform, moving away from custom-built solutions and the operational challenges that come with it. This transition really opened the door to innovation and made our solutions more scalable.

Another big step came in 2018 when we moved from Gorinchem to Rotterdam. Moving from a small town to a busy city like Rotterdam really was a memorable change for the whole team.

Another highlight was building our German team in Cologne. We found ambitious young talent through Germany's unique ‘dual master studies’ model. The German team quickly became an integral part of our success. For me personally, the addition of the German office has been especially rewarding, as I became fluent in German to connect even better with our German team and clients. 

What do you see as the most important company values?

That’s an easy question: our commitment to customer success. We offer comprehensive supply chain management apps and scalable solutions to cover all the needs of our customers and their partners.

What makes us different, I think, is our readiness to go the extra mile in improving supply chain efficiency for our clients. For instance, by offering premium onboarding services or tailoring our apps to suit our customers’ unique wishes. You see, we want to provide more than just a product, we want to build meaningful relationships with our customers.

Another core value is our collaborative spirit. I’m particularly proud of our multicultural team, where people from various backgrounds come together, bringing unique perspectives, cultures, and experiences, all working towards common goals. It’s truly a pleasure to come into the office and connect with everyone in person, something I really missed during the COVID years.

What does the 20-year anniversary mean for you personally?

It's amazing to look back on what we've accomplished over the past 20 years. I'm personally grateful for everything that made this milestone possible, and I thank God for giving us everything we needed to do that.

Right now, as I approach 60, I’m preparing to reduce my working hours and focus more on other pursuits.

Do you have any specific pursuits in mind?

Mainly volunteer work and spending more time with my family, especially my granddaughter, who is 2 and a half. I’ll make sure to stay active and avoid idleness. Keeping engaged in new ways is something I really look forward to.

This anniversary marks the beginning of that transition for me. It’s a double feeling, you know. While I’m looking forward to the next chapter, I know I will miss the daily involvement in the company. But I’m confident that when the time comes to step back fully, it will be with a proper handover so that business can continue smoothly.

What was the significance of visiting India for you, both personally and professionally?

For our anniversary, I’m grateful for the chance we had to visit this amazing country, where many of our team members come from. I was impressed by India’s progress but also moved by the stark contrast of poverty that exists. 

Seeing this firsthand, as well as learning more about India’s rich history, gave me a deeper appreciation of its culture, and not just me, the whole team felt this way. It was a humble reminder of the diverse backgrounds of our team and the global impact we can make together.

What do you hope that future leaders will continue within the company?

I hope future leaders continue to build on what we've established, growing the company while maintaining its stability and financial strength. Much of the credit for this success goes to Rob, for overseeing it all and setting the direction. 

Above all, I hope we keep building a strong, supportive team culture, built on short lines of communication and transparency. It’s important that everyone, from managers to cleaning staff, feels heard and appreciated. After all, happy employees lead to happy customers, and that’s something I hope will always remain at the core of Quyntess.