For a while he doubted a serious career as a FIFA soccer gamer after he took the title of Dutch champion for this in 2008-2009. 'Game Changer': Bart Nooijens chose to study multimedia design after all, and just before graduating, his father-in-law (also working at De Mandemakers Groep) pointed out a vacancy for a front-end developer at De Mandemakers Groep. He called to inquire about the position and ended the conversation with a graduation project in his pocket. Bart started with an assignment for Sanders Wonen and ended up not leaving the company.
‘’The pure code knocking is not my piece of cake’’
I studied at Avans University of Applied Sciences, communication and multimedia design. A broad direction in which I focused on creative technology. For me, design and programming went hand in hand from the very beginning. The pure "code knocking", as I always call it, is not my piece of cake. For me there must always be a visual part to it.
In my graduation project for De Mandemakers Groep there were different elements: front-end, marketing, but also UX (user experience). Such a combination suits me best and so after my graduation period I continued as a front-end developer. I did that for a number of years and then, together with Ramon Pigmans (Manager Tech), I started shaping OutSystems within De Mandemakers Groep.
With OutSysystems, we design applications and actually get to work from A to Z. The emphasis is on development, but we also make sure that data can be loaded, that the app is as user-friendly as possible and that design plays a role in our daily work.
Visual programming or Low-Code
We are currently working hard on ‘MijnVerkoopboek’, an application where, among other things, salespeople can find their catalog online for the right kitchen equipment. Every kitchen brand of De Mandemakers Groep has its own 'MijnVerkoopboek' and with this application the many physical sales books will disappear, we will be up to date faster and we will realize considerable cost savings.
In addition, a few years ago I developed a furniture app for logistics in which damaged goods are photographed and archived within the organization. This application was, quite appropriately, named "BART" (haha): Beelden Archief en Registratie Tool, in english: Images Archive and Registration Tool.
OutSystems was a new way of programming for me at the time, I refer to it as "visual programming", better known as a Low-Code development tool. In principle, anyone should be able to learn it but it's still really useful if you have a developer background. I started using it myself and have now obtained about 9 certifications for it.
"I have found a nice balance within the organization between digital & tech on the one hand and human care on the other"
You can go in many directions with OutSystems and within De Mandemakers Groep everyone knows where to find us with questions. By nature I like to help everyone and if you want you can tackle new issues every day here. Something which is tempting, but of course I make sure that my current tasks get priority first.
The part of 'helping others' is something I can also do well in my role as Emergency Response team leader within the organization. Hundreds of people work at De Mandemakers Groep every day, so it's good to know that there are some 70 in-house emergency response workers at the head office alone. People who respond immediately when help is needed in exceptional situations. Fortunately I do not have to take on the role of FAFS officer on a regular basis, but working together to create a safer working environment gives me great satisfaction. I have found a nice balance within the organization between digital & tech on the one hand and human care on the other. That suits me just fine.
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Our team of over 70 IT professionals is dedicated to creating digital solutions for the home and living sector. Find out how surprisingly digital De Mandemakers Groep is and how surprisingly fun Team Tech & Digital is.
