We are talking to Brian Arendse, Business Intelligence Consultant
Well, that varies from day to day. At the moment, I have three different assignments. I am working for the Municipality of ’s-Hertogenbosch on the implementation and roll-out of the Data Management Platform, part of the Den Bosch Datastad program. I also support the team managing our Data Management Platform for Municipalities. And I am part of the innovation team working on that platform.
At ’s-Hertogenbosch, I am part of the Data Expertise Team. This team consists of Domain Analysts, Data Analysts, Data Engineers, and Architects. The team is still in development and I support them on various projects. I answer all kinds of questions — like: “How do I create a specific calculation in Power BI?”, “How do I connect a particular type of data source?”, “How do I implement changes in the Municipal Data Model?” or “I get this error message when I push a query to production — what does it mean?” And once a week, I meet with all the Data Engineers from the Municipality of ’s-Hertogenbosch for deep technical sessions. I really enjoy those too.
Within our innovation team, I spend a lot of time researching continuous improvement of the Data Management Platform, investigating how we can add new reusable components and products based on ideas and wishes from customers and our own team. But I also focus on integrating our Data Management Platform with the Enable U portfolio. For example, we are looking at connecting the basic registrations – such as BAG and BRP – via 2Distribute to our Platform and direct mapping with the Municipal Data Model.
I started at Scamander, now part of Enable U, almost seven years ago. I grew up in Vreeswijk and as a kid I used to walk and cycle past the building where Scamander is now located. It used to be a bank and was later converted into an office. During my studies, I first came into contact with Business Intelligence. After gaining some initial work experience, I actively started to look for an employer near my home where I could work with Business Intelligence. That search led me to Scamander. After submitting an open application, I was invited for an interview. One of those interviews turned out to be with a former schoolmate. How nice is that? Everything came together quickly, and I was able to start soon after.
I studied Information Science for my bachelor’s and and followed up with a Master’s in Business Informatics. The Master’s focused on business analytics, where you learn how important it is to bridge the gap between business and IT. After my studies, I started working at Keylane. That was thanks to one of my lecturers at university, who told me how much he liked the company. At Keylane, I was a functional software designer. It was enjoyable, but I missed the interaction with customers. I really enjoy combining technical work with a customer-focused approach. On top of that, the company had grown from a small-scale business to a European software provider with over 800 employees. Naturally, that was much less personal. That was the moment I decided to look for a new challenge – and that led me to Scamander.
What I really enjoy is the variety in my work. I love solving complex problems — diving deep into something and not letting go until it is figured out. But I also really enjoy, and find it important, to sit down with the client and discuss how we can best help them — how to solve their problems or tackle their challenges. It is all about building that bridge between technology and business — something I was already passionate about during my studies.
To stay up to date, I have obtained several certificates and diplomas over the past few years. Some of them are from Microsoft, such as the PL-300 for Data Analyst in Power BI and the AZ-104 for Data Platform Engineer. I am currently working on certification for Microsoft Fabric. Last year, I became a Certified Data Management Professional through DAMA, and I am now exploring TOGAF certification for Software Architecture. I also keep an eye on LinkedIn to stay informed about developments in my field.
I have been working at Scamander for quite some years now, which became part of Enable U last year. What I really like about Scamander — and what I also see at Enable U — is the drive and creativity to find solutions. All with the goal of helping our customers in the best possible way.
Spare time? Well, there is not much of that with two little kids around! Our day starts at 5:30 AM, and from that moment on, it is all about the kids — getting them ready and off to daycare. Then I start my workday, and as soon as it ends, it is time to pick them up, feed them, and keep them entertained. Once they are in bed, I get a bit of time to myself — to play some games or watch a movie or series. Our youngest is now almost a year old and, thankfully, starting to sleep through the night. Otherwise, you are also up and about all night. But no complaints — it is a lot of fun, especially doing things with them. We have a zoo membership in Amersfoort and regularly visit indoor playgrounds or petting zoos.
I used to spend a lot of time playing sports. I played football in my youth at VSV Vreeswijk, but after two knee surgeries, I had to stop. Then I started working out — I was at the gym almost every day when the doors opened. That stopped during COVID, and then the kids came along. I am thinking about getting back into it, though — I do miss it.
Scamander and Enable U have a lot in common, but there are also some differences — and that is a good thing. We complement each other really well. Let’s make the most of that, so we can support our customers even better to become data-driven.
