We are talking to Integration Consultant and System Engineer Jan-Jaap Spies.
Well, my work varies quite a bit. I have developed C# applications for several customers. In the last major project I was involved in, we worked with Easy Integration, our own solution for creating Azure integrations in a uniform way using a clear step-by-step approach. We implemented this for a provider of Financial Close Software. The insights we gained during that project were directly translated into new features for our solution. We worked closely with our colleague Patrick, the ‘founding father’ of Easy Integration. It was a really fun and educational experience. I am currently co-responsible for managing the BizTalk integrations at De Nederlandsche Bank. I am also part of the in-house Azure integration team. We challenge each other during weekly knowledge sessions to dive deeper into everything an integration developer needs to know and to find answers to real, customer-specific issues.
I joined Estreme in 2022 — a specialist in BizTalk and Azure integrations, now part of Enable U. Via Make IT Work, where I completed an intensive retraining program to become a high-code System Engineer. After finishing the program, I spoke with several potential employers, but Estreme really stood out — mainly because of its attractive portfolio and the great connection I felt with the people working there.
I started my professional career as a Delphi developer at a company called Computer Support, which provided middleware solutions. I did that until 2007. But that was a very different IT world — there was no cloud yet, and far fewer programming techniques and tools to work with. After that, I took a completely different path. Translation had always been a dream of mine, so I went back to study English and Translation Studies. I absolutely loved it — puzzling and problem-solving to deliver the best possible end result. I then started working as a book translator, translating from English into Dutch. But over time, I realized the reality was different than I had expected. The deadlines were often very tight, and the focus was more on word count than on the quality I care so much about. On top of that, it was a very solitary job. That is when I took some online IT courses through NCOI, and I felt the itch to return to IT. I wanted to be well-prepared and wanted to dive in deeper, so I decided to apply for the Make IT Work program.
The development work! I love getting my teeth into something, puzzling it out, and solving problems — especially within and for our own framework. Like in the recently completed project that processes data for financial closings, where I developed something that directly helps the client. Solving problems as a developer often means real hard work: lots of searching, trial and error, and sometimes realizing you have chosen the wrong approach altogether and need to start over. But the satisfaction when it finally works is huge. And the great thing is, it is a creative process, creativity plays a large part.
I am also a strong advocate for good and constantly improving documentation of everything we build and do. That is so important! Developers often prefer informal knowledge sharing, which is fun and valuable, don’t get me wrong, but I believe, and luckily the organization agrees, that product documentation should be of such quality that someone else can easily pick up where you left off. In that spirit, I would like to add a new acronym to our IT vocabulary, IT is full of them, namely: WRONG. It stands for Written Requirements Oral Not Good. Yes, the English is deliberately a bit off (“Not Good”) to make it stick. The point is simple: important requirements for a solution should always be written down, not just exchanged in a quick hallway conversation.
I learn a lot from our own challenging knowledge sessions, they really push me to dive deep into the material. And as mentioned, I am a strong advocate for solid documentation. I have created a document with multiple tabs, each covering different areas of knowledge relevant to both me and our organization. It is packed with valuable information. We also stay up-to-date by earning and renewing Azure certifications, such as AZ-400 and AZ-204. On top of that, I spend a lot of time in Microsoft Learn. It is a comprehensive learning platform that tracks the topics you have studied, which makes it easy to structure your learning path.
As a company where I really feel at home. The people are approachable and there is little hierarchy. I started at Estreme, which was much smaller, and on a working day I could really chat with all my colleagues. The joint Enable U is much larger, but here too, colleagues are open to a chat. Of course, we discuss content and technology, which is very interesting with so much knowledge in-house, but also other matters that interest me. It is really a great atmosphere.
I stay in shape by running, which I do that with Hardlopen Amsterdam. It is challenging, fun, and enjoyable. I also enjoy playing badminton at BV Zeeburg. I live in Amsterdam, where my partner Miriam and I share an apartment on the site of an old warehouse. It is beautifully located on the IJ and very central, just a 10-minute bike ride to Central Station. I love going to the movies, the theater, and museums. And I still have a soft spot for books — I really enjoy reading 😊
I hope we will keep laughing together. Because besides the serious work, we also have a lot of fun together.
