What an ERP Business Consultant does

Who is Maud?

I am Maud and I never thought that after my studies on customer and purchasing behavior, I would end up in IT. At first glance, it seems very different, but it was a broad study that I filled in my own way. And it turns out to be very useful!

How did you end up with the team in Veenendaal?

With my studies, it turned out that I mainly had to do research for companies. But I much prefer to be hands-on. That's why I stayed on at Albert Heijn after my studies. I quickly advanced: suddenly I was in charge of an entire store. From the layout of the new building to managing 140 teenagers. Once that was running smoothly, I was ready for something new. Axelio was still in Barneveld at the time, and I got the advice through connections to go chat with them. It went super well! I might not have had the right papers, but there were important overlaps. The core business is of course Microsoft 365 Business Central, which I had never heard of until that day. But they were eager to give me a chance and the right training.

What do you do at Axelio?

I am an ERP business consultant. That sounds much more technical than it is; I mainly talk to our (future) clients. I advise them on the implementation of the ERP system of Microsoft 365 Business Central. I focus on the service module, authorizations, and some of our own extensions, such as Document Capture.

What different consultants work in Veenendaal?

In addition to ERP business consultants, we also have project managers, technical consultants, and support consultants. On a project, you need all those disciplines; together you have the knowledge. So it actually never happens that I visit a client alone. By the way, such a meeting with a client is often on-site. Very nice! You get a glimpse behind the scenes at companies all over the Netherlands, big and small. How special is it that you get to go to places you normally wouldn't visit?

For which clients do you do this?

Our clients are mainly in the trading and manufacturing sectors. Because we now collaborate with many locations within Axelio, we work for an increasing number of different clients. We all have our own expertise and can thus strengthen each other. A fun challenge, as we suddenly also get clients outside our own comfort zone.

What makes your job so enjoyable?

It's really the people. I come into contact with all kinds of people and I can help them as well. Additionally, I have learned a lot about the ERP system of Microsoft Dynamics over the past few years. This allows me to advise our clients better and better.

How can you grow in your role?

Ultimately, I would like to move towards a combination of ERP business consultant and project manager. I have already helped behind the scenes with setting up our internal tool for project management. That helps, because now I already know how it works technically. The nice thing is that there is a lot of room to grow at Axelio. Also in other areas; I spent three months abroad working on my personal development. In good consultation, I could take a long time off, allowing me to focus on what is important to me. There is also attention to that.

What is it like to work as a woman in IT?

There is actually no difference; we are just equal to each other. Although it does feel a bit like I have a lot of big brothers walking around here. We are one big family, but I know they take me very seriously in my work. For clients, it can also be nice to have some female energy at the table from time to time. Although I think it ultimately has everything to do with your personality and attitude.

Axelio has grown significantly. What advantages do you see from this?

We can now think much bigger because we are more people at different locations throughout the Netherlands. There is a larger part of the market to serve, and that creates many beautiful opportunities. The common factor within Axelio is Microsoft; together we can now combine all aspects of that better and better. The collaboration lowers the threshold to leave our comfort zone because we can connect with a company that specializes in it. That offers opportunities for more challenges, and I love that.

Why do you recommend others to work at Axelio?

We work with large companies, but the way we do it is very personal. You also find challenges here and there is the possibility to grow. Due to the wide range of clients we visit, but also because there is increasing collaboration within Axelio. You are not limited to the boundaries of just your own location, which gives a broad horizon.