Qualogy 1998 – 2023: 25 years of innovation and growth
It’s 2023 and Qualogy is celebrating 25 years of innovation, progress and success. In this blog, we experience Qualogy’s journey through the eyes of CEO, Paul Mehilal. He talks about the company’s challenges, highlights and future plans. Qualogy has proven its ability to adapt to market changes and always stay ahead, from a modest niche market player to a leading IT organization.
The beginning: a new vision for the IT industry
“When I started Qualogy 25 years ago, I was keen to combine the best of both worlds. The ambition was to be the best in one niche market, which was Oracle, but also to be a compact organization where everyone is seen and heard,” Paul says with pride. The goal was clear: deliver high-quality IT services while creating a nice work environment where employees thrive. This vision laid the groundwork for Qualogy’s success and has served as the company’s guiding principle for the past several decades.
“The company culture makes Qualogy unique; family-oriented, short lines of communication and a winner’s mentality.”
Over the years, Qualogy has adapted to changes in the market and technology. In addition to Oracle, Java, Data Science, Mendix, and most recently AI came our way, respectively. “We had to play chess on multiple boards and strongly guarded against becoming a ‘Jack of all trades,'” notes Paul. In addition, Qualogy has grown as an organization, with the challenge of maintaining the family feel. We succeeded in that. Qualogy offers a nice working environment where almost everyone knows each other personally.
“Technology is in our DNA. We follow technological changes closely and adapt where we see added value.”
Challenges along the way: economic crises and talent retention
In 25 years, we have experienced several challenges. Economic crises, such as the 2008 banking crisis, tested us, but we cruised through them fairly peacefully. “Prudent policies and a strong team have helped us,” explains our CEO. Our adaptive attitude has allowed us to effectively embrace and respond to changes in the market and technology.
One of the most important aspects of our approach is to closely follow trends and developments in the market. We are always looking for new opportunities and possibilities to expand and adapt our services to meet the needs of our clients. This has helped us stay ahead and add value in various sectors, such as finance, healthcare, government and more.
Photo: Paul Mehilal during Qualogy’s 5-year anniversary celebration in 2003.
“Focus on yourself as an organization then you can disregard the competition. A good vision, strategy on the market and a solid organization are enough to be successful.”
Another common thread in our history is finding and retaining good staff. In a competitive job market, attracting talented and motivated employees is a constant struggle. But through our focus on a personal corporate culture and creating a pleasant working environment, we have succeeded in fostering loyalty. We are proud to have so many jubilees who have been with Qualogy for 10, 15 or even more than 20 years.
“A compact but specialized organization, in which most competitors are of a different order of magnitude. That is a credit to our loyal management team and employees.”
No success without our people
There are several moments in Qualogy’s history that are most memorable for Paul. “I am especially proud of our colleagues. Qualogy is a compact but specialized organization. Most of the competitors are of a different order of magnitude and when you’ve still managed to gain prominence and level the playing field, that’s a credit to the loyal management team and the loyal employees.” Qualogy’s founder is convinced that the company’s success is due to the people who work there. Their commitment, passion and dedication have led to Qualogy’s prominent position in both the Netherlands and Suriname.
The subsidiary in Suriname is also a success story that we cherish. We have built a skilled IT team there over the past 16 years. Qualogy Caribbean has established a strong position by providing high-quality IT services to clients in the region and focusing on innovative solutions. And surely we are most proud of the long-term trust we enjoy as a reliable outsourcing partner for leading clients in the Netherlands.
We have worked hard to build a reputation as a reliable and knowledgeable IT partner. We are also continuously investing in employee development in Suriname, keeping them abreast of the latest technologies and trends in the IT sector.
“The role of the employees cannot be described in words. In particular, the loyalty within Qualogy is unprecedented in the IT industry. When you see how many jubilarians Qualogy has who have worked for Qualogy for 10,15 or more than 20 years, it’s heartwarming and that’s also where that family bond comes from.”
CEO and entrepreneurship
In addition to developments within the organization, Paul in his role as CEO has also evolved on a business and personal level over the past 25 years.
“Nobody is born a CEO, nor, to my knowledge, is there any specific training for it.” Paul says soberly, “But you learn along the way, and actually most from setbacks.” Leading twenty locally or four hundred across two continents is not the same. The different cultures in Suriname and the Netherlands also require a different approach. You have to keep practicing to become and remain a good leader. You learn the most important lessons from feedback from your colleagues, as well as self-reflection. He emphasizes that entrepreneurship and the role of CEO are at times opposite. In the former, you are open to risk, while as CEO you are primarily concerned with finding a safe course of action.
Because of a stable MT, after all these years you know what you have in common. 25 years ago I did not find delegating so easy. Now after all these years, almost 95% is managed autonomously within the various business units.
“I think as a CEO you have to be connective, trust your management team and employees and be able to put your ego aside from time to time.”
“Entrepreneurship is hard work and can be challenging and sometimes stressful. Especially at those times when things are tough, it is important to stay positive and motivated. I always kept my goals in mind, even when some setbacks came my way.
Working together and celebrating together
Looking back on our journey of growth and innovation, I am grateful for the people who have supported us and helped us get where we are today. Grateful for the support of our customers, partners and employees throughout these 25 years. Naturally, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary extensively this year. Throughout the year there will be festivities and in September we will enjoy an anniversary weekend in Istanbul with all our colleagues and their partners. Because that’s what we do at Qualogy; we not only work together but we also celebrate all the highlights together. I am looking forward to that immensely.
In addition, I look forward to the next 25 years. To all the developments and new technologies. But especially all the successes we will achieve as a team. The future is promising, Qualogy is ready for it!
The future: flexibility and innovation
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we also look to the future and plan ahead. The (IT) world is changing rapidly, so it is important that as an organization you remain flexible in your operations so that you can adapt quickly in the face of change. We continue to evaluate and adapt our strategies and processes to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape. This includes exploring new market opportunities and expanding our service offerings to meet our customers’ needs.
With a strong focus on collaboration, expertise and community involvement, Qualogy will continue to contribute to the growth and progress of both the Dutch and Surinamese IT sectors.
Future plans for Qualogy will at least include a transformation toward AI and machine learning. “The exciting AI revolution has now begun,” says our CEO. AI and automation will play a major role in Qualogy’s future. Our employees will be able to work more effectively and efficiently thanks to AI, while becoming directors of their programming.”
