Interview with founders: Jeroen and Martin

GoSoniq was founded by Jeroen Hommes and Martin Koersen. They met at an automation company in Groningen, after which they went their separate ways. Although at first glance the gentlemen do not look alike, it is no coincidence that they are now starting a new company together. Important shared views form the start of their collaboration. In this interview, they discuss the origins of GoSoniq, the value for customers and employees, and their dot on the horizon.   

Jeroen founded Enshore in 2009 along with Aschwin. Enshore provides an ERP service with a focus on the digital adoption of business processes and the delivery of best-in-class support. He is also founder of Penetrationst.io and Enshore Security. 

Martin is Managing Director at The Cronos Group. Cronos is an organization that brings together technology and entrepreneurship to develop innovative ideas. They invest in talent and knowledge to enable the business world to benefit from the latest technologies.  

What makes GoSoniq a logical next step for you? 

Jeroen: "GoSoniq is actually a convergence of our current work experience. From Enshore, we support companies in using business applications (ERP/finance) after implementation. Salesforce is such a business application, only in a different scope. The challenge lies mainly in showing the world that we do this and that we are good at it. To make this happen quickly and well, we are leveraging the steps Cronos has already taken." 

Martin: "Salesforce partners often have their sights set on implementations, but an organization has no use for an enterprise application if they can't work with it. There's a huge opportunity there. But to really be of service here, you need a different way of looking and working. GoSoniq was founded on this belief." 

Jeroen: "In addition, Martin and I share an important view. We believe that establishing long-term relationships with clients is the highest you can achieve as a service provider. So not delivering hands but actually taking responsibility for the work you accomplish for a client. This is where we saw opportunities for GoSoniq." 

What contribution can Enshore and Cronos make to GoSoniq?  

Jeroen: "From Enshore, the emphasis is on providing the best support. We are committed to making the use of business applications as pleasant and easy as possible. Salesforce is just a new flavor in that. GoSoniq is Enshore but for organizations using Salesforce. We share the same core values and offer the same value to customers. Everything we have developed and learned at Enshore we will bring to the Salesforce services at GoSoniq. The knowledge we need to train support specialists to become Salesforce consultants comes from Cronos."  

Martin: "Cronos contributes to the knowledge and network within the Salesforce domain. With more than 380 Salesforce professionals, Cronos is one of the largest Salesforce players in the BeNeLux. With this we help GoSoniq to a flying start by bringing work and customers. Talent and entrepreneurs should be facilitated and not controlled. Enable people to do what they believe in and like. Then the sky is the limit." 

What is GoSoniq's contribution to the northern Netherlands?  

Martin: "We want to offer talent in the north the opportunity to work for large organizations across Europe. Working for big brands with challenging complexity, just from Groningen. The north of the Netherlands is beautiful. We believe that talent should be retained and given more opportunity to work from here. It would be great if we conquer a place in the Salesforce world with Groningen as our home base. Enshore's roots are a good start in this." 

What makes young talent want to join GoSoniq?  

Martin: "You really get the opportunity to discover a lot in a short period of time. You are in control. Our network makes it possible to work for clients with different degrees of complexity. Not only in the Netherlands, but also from our offices in Antwerp or Valencia." 

Jeroen: "I think opportunities we offer are important. We train you from 0 and get you ready within 12 months to move on within the company or to one of our sister organizations. Once you get the hang of it, you can continue to develop in a direction you like. You will work as a business consultant, solution architect, team lead or perhaps grow into managing partner of our next Salesforce company! " 

What do you hope to achieve with GoSoniq?  

Jeroen: "A self-managing organization with satisfied customers that offers opportunities to highly skilled ambitious people in the region. Too many people end up in jobs with insufficient room for creativity and ownership. The more alternatives we can create the better. Often I still see the norm of industrial thinking where people are a link in an assembly line. This starts at the start of your career. If you get used to this, you lose passion and have a job instead of fun work. 

Martin: "I concur with that. For me, it's about making the most of both employees and customers. Salesforce is a great platform, with the most appealing organizations as customers. So how cool is it that we can make sure they get the most out of it? Not with complicated talk, but by rolling up our sleeves and helping you with knowledge.  

When clients proudly tell us on a birthday that they work with us and the results it has produced. When we have a group of people working at GoSoniq who have fun doing what they do, develop quickly and reach their potential. Then we are well on our way."