What is the meaning behind 'Redefining Simplicity'?

Within Oliver IT, this slogan buzzes around softly but audibly. And then I ask myself the question: Is this a marketing slogan or is this the ambition of the company and its employees?

On our website you can read that 'Redefining simplicity' stands for our philosophy, namely that IT should be simple for end users!

How do we do that? Well, we at Oliver IT deliver solutions for often complex business processes, especially within the logistics and service & maintenance sector, by developing web- and mobile apps. If the outcome of such complex business processes needs to be simple for end users, you will understand that there is a long way to go to get there.

But how do we do that?

When developing software, we always use the 'process of the customer' as a starting point. This process then determines the solution. We involve the end users by conducting interviews and workshops. Based on these interviews, we map out the business processes by means of a process plate.

The big advantage of a process plate or process model is that you can easily see where you can realize optimizations in the process.

"Fewer process steps simply means simpler"

We make the current process visible with an AS IS situation and outline the future situation with a TO BE situation. In this way we show how a process can be set up more efficiently. We then work out the solution in so-called 'Functions' and 'Use Cases'. This makes it easier for both the customer and our programmers to understand what the application will look like and how it should work.

Our goal is to deliver powerful and simple applications. Based on the idea that 'the process' determines the solution, we always test our findings against Oliver IT's 'Technical Conscience'. We ask the question: "What is the best solution?" In doing so, we take into account our client's long-term vision versus the expected technical developments.

"We make applications for the users and not for IT managers"

By this we mean that we do not act on the basis of a feature checklist being ticked off by an IT department. On the contrary, we create apps that simplify a process and thus make work easier for the user. This then results in satisfied users.

"You should never be lazy designing a UI!"

That's sometimes said jokingly.

Once we start building the app, it should be user-friendly. After all, user-friendliness leads to an easy use of the app, which in turn results in an optimal user experience. In other words: "Business processes remain complex under the bonnet, but the user shouldn't notice that". That's why we have a great focus on the design of a good User Interface.

My colleague Willem Janssen has written an interesting blog about this: 'Business Case for user-friendly applications'.

"Open communication in the Management Phase"

When the application is put into use, the Management Phase starts. The customer expects us to keep the application in a good working condition for a longer period of time. That is why we communicate beforehand how we can achieve this, when updates or even upgrades are needed to guarantee the quality of the application. In this way, we keep our customers satisfied and prevent them from being confronted with surprises.

Returning to the question I asked in the introduction, this is the right answer: "Redefining Simplicity is much more than a marketing slogan, it stands for the ambition of Oliver IT and its employees! The ambition to simplify business processes is in Oliver IT's DNA and is included in every action.