Leadership
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EU Cloud Sovereignty Framework, definitely not a Sleeping Pill
Let’s be honest: most EU policy documents read as if they were written by a committee of lawyers who drank too much espresso and then fell asleep at their keyboards anyway. Pages full of “having considered that” and “with reference to Article 42, paragraph 3, subparagraph b,” where after 10 minutes, you still don’t know…
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Why Slow Data Still Makes Businesses Rely on Gut Feeling
We have spent the last decade building structured, data-driven systems. Our operational environments are now filled with automation, dashboards, and real-time alerts. In logistics, finance, and IT, decisions are increasingly made by algorithms or are at least heavily supported by them. And yet, when it comes to day-to-day tactical decisions, we still fall back on…
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Smart Grid Strategy: Turn Energy Data Into Decisions
You’ve got the tech. But do you have the tactics? Across Europe and beyond, organizations are investing heavily in smart grid infrastructure—smart meters, IoT sensors, digital substations, and AI-powered analytics. The promise? Real-time insights, predictive maintenance, and optimized energy flows. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Many smart grids are just data collectors. Not decision-makers. The…
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Enough: Time to Stop Doing these Stupid Things at Work
Last Tuesday, a group of colleagues and I spent 15 minutes brainstorming. That short session gave us a painfully clear list of things we do every day that add little to no value. Result: a list of everyday habits that look busy, sound professional, and quietly destroy productivity. So: we’re done. Here’s what needs to…
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How I Embrace Failure: The Unseen Path to Success
Looking at my experience, my failures stand out in my memory. It is a biological principle to take painful moments (like a failure) and store these in a prominent place in our memory to prevent a repeat. But these fiascos are also valuable lessons. In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, the road to…
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ESG Reports: Why Sustainability Needs Action, Not More Dashboards
In the realm of sustainability policies, it is time to address the stellar work accomplished so far, particularly by external consultants and ESG dashboard creators. We have witnessed a sudden influx of consultants embracing the “green” label in the last two years. Truth be told, we seem to have more reports than trees, and to…
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Do you have a digital twin or an imaginary friend?
n the realm of interconnected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), the term “digital twin” often finds its way into discussions. You might have come across this concept in your favorite podcast, a blog post, or the latest cutting-edge technology update. It’s apparent from the various sources you’ve encountered that a digital twin holds…
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PowerWeb Lecture: Building IOT Capabilities for energy transition and digital twin at scale
Abstract: The energy transition in the Netherlands will effectively migrate energy towards less reliable sources like wind and solar. Next to this, the production of energy will be more and more decentralized, and gas will be replaced by alternatives for domestic heating. The increased usage of electric vehicles, heat pumps and home batteries will have…
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I busted 12 Myths about IoT
Internet of Things (IoT) is for many technology enthusiasts the single most important thing that has ever happened. The impact of this technology on our lives is growing close to mythical proportions. Working in this industry for years has made me encounter some of the myths and irrational expectations of IoT. Some of these myths are…
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What can we learn from the Amish view on technology?
Is that new? I want to try? Have you seen this new feature? I want that too. We are all addicted to innovative technology, gadgets, and new features. Is this a good thing? I recently listened to the BBC show The Digital Human. They talked about the attitude of the Amish People towards technology. And…
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Legacy IT and Technical Debt: What Should We Do With Our Cauliflower Automation?
If, like me, you have been working in IT for a while, you may recognise this: An organisation has a system that has been built a while ago and is up and running. However, after a while, the requirements change. Users discover that they want something extra, or that a specific piece of functionality needs…
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Data Platforms and Data Lakes: Data Mesh puts Business Back in the Lead
The current method of providing data services using data lakes often leads to highly specialized, siloed teams of data engineers and business analysts. The result is complexity, limited flexibility, and a long time-to-market for data products. This can be prevented by allowing decentralized DevOps teams to develop business-driven functionality on top of central data services.…
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Data is the new Uranium
Inspired by the tweet of Filippo Valsorda I want to debate the analogy “Data is the new oil”. I think this analogy is incorrect since data has a lot of properties that are not similar to oil. Below, I will explain why I think “Data is the new Uranium” is a more accurate analogy. Data is very…
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How I Use the Dark Side for Innovation
In my post about the Rebel’s Manifesto, I mentioned the Dark Side. That triggered a few questions. How would you actually use the “dark side” in innovation? Is frustration useful? Can irritation lead to better ideas? Or is this just a convenient excuse to behave like Darth Vader with a product roadmap? This article sheds…
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Who is responsible when Artificial Intelligence fails?
I am a heavy user of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. I often do not realize I am using them and, like most of us, never think about the things that can go wrong. All day long we use Siri as our voice-controlled personal assistant. We rely on systems like Waze for navigation, which not only…
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23 Things Engineers Say, and What They Really Mean
Engineers are a special kind of people. They play a vital role in building our disruptive, digital world. They design systems, solve complex problems, automate processes, and occasionally explain why something “should work” while everybody is looking at a broken screen. Engineers also have their own way of communicating. Over time, I noticed that what…