IT environments that match the growth ambitions of entrepreneurs

For the cover shoot, Stefan Frerichs and Coen van den Berg naturally wore smart shirts, but the owners of Agerion IT prefer a casual look. "We are a serious IT partner for companies, but we maintain a relaxed, informal approach," says Stefan. "We believe that IT can be simple, no matter how complex the issue."

Text: Cynthia van der Waal • Photos: Bianca de Bie, Arno Hoogwerf, and Anouk Kooiman

"Keep IT simple is not just a slogan. It represents our way of working," Stefan continues. "Approachable, transparent, and without call-out fees and complicated contracts. Let's not make things more complicated than they need to be."

"Simplicity starts with insight," adds Coen. "Insight into business processes, employee needs, and IT-related opportunities for an organization. We have traditionally worked for large international organizations. In this market, a thorough understanding of complex IT infrastructures and processes is necessary to create a clear and manageable IT environment. Since 2020, we have also been applying this knowledge and experience to SMEs. It is very enlightening for entrepreneurs. We often only need an hour to uncover the initial valuable information needed for an efficient and secure IT environment."

And so it happened, because it is no wonder the IT company is on the cover of Hoeksche Zaken five years later. More and more entrepreneurs from Hoeksche are finding their way to Agerion. The company has proven itself as a reliable and committed IT partner for SMEs. Stefan: “We create understandable IT environments that align with the daily activities and growth ambitions of entrepreneurs. There is clearly a demand for that in the SME sector. Our team in Oud-Beijerland supports entrepreneurs by providing the right network environment, hardware, and software, and specializes in Microsoft 365. We also provide real-time dashboards, apps, and high-end cybersecurity, as well as VoIP telephony and internet. This way, we bring all of an organization's IT infrastructure under one roof, supporting everything from the office team to the production facility and even the associated retail formulas. Need to scale up? No problem. With our knowledge and experience, we can easily participate in large-scale IT projects. It's no coincidence that we strive for long-term partnerships with our clients. IT is always evolving, and so are we.”

"No matter how you look at it, IT is a crucial foundation of any organization. That is why our collaborations revolve entirely around trust and openness." According to Coen, this is a key reason why Agerion does not work with complex contracts. "Call us old-fashioned, but we still believe in the tried-and-true 'hourly billing.' You pay for what you use, and we are very transparent about that. People often crave predictability. For us, however, that does not mean a fixed monthly subscription, but true continuity, even when something goes wrong. If everything crashes, it does not 'suddenly' fall outside the regular contract. We do not view continuity as an excess, but as an essential component of every business. We cannot predict everything, but we are always there for our customers. We proactively manage that, without fine print, nightly rates, and complicated hassles."

Post-it

My eye falls on the Post-it notes on the wall of the meeting room. An IT company that works with handwritten sticky notes? The men burst out laughing. "The old-fashioned version of Trello," Stefan explains with a grin. "But effective, and that's what it is all about. No screen distractions, just interaction and connection during a brainstorming session. We like to be productive with the best ideas we can think of. Getting to the heart of the matter quickly. That's how our team works for our clients."

Coen adds: “We work with a great group of people. Enthusiastic, skilled, and engaged. We are not Google with hammocks in the office, but we do our best to make our people feel comfortable. We organize regular outings and exercise together twice a week with our 'neighbor' Sven Scholte. We always have lunch together at the office too. Bread on the table and we are ready to go, just like at home. That relaxed atmosphere suits us. Many colleagues also come from the Hoeksche Waard region and have a degree in Business & IT Management. We speak the same down-to-earth, business-savvy language, just like the entrepreneurs here. Direct, clear, and open, so you know what to expect from each other. That builds trust.”

According to Stefan, that is a key reason why more and more companies in the Hoeksche Waard region are choosing Agerion. "Companies can always count on us; we do what is necessary—straightforward—and we tell a clear story. We are also locally involved. We regularly organize networking events where we share our knowledge on current topics, such as cybersecurity and AI. And if we can do it locally, we do it locally. Think of Christmas hampers and business gifts. We will also soon be launching a pilot program to explore how we can also increase our social contribution."

The coming years will be all about controlled growth for Agerion IT. "We are focused primarily on further professionalizing our services and healthy expansion of our client base," Stefan emphasizes. "We do not want a swarm of a hundred people in the office. We are going to maintain personalized service. Fortunately, we can do that by using smart applications for our repetitive tasks and, for example, workplace management. We are also keeping our IT environment transparent and our organization agile. This way, we give our clients the right signals at the right time and maintain the flexibility to collaborate with our growth-oriented clients."

Would you also like to know how IT in your organization can be simplified? Contact the specialists at Agerion IT for a free, no-obligation introductory meeting.