We’ve been building our business for many years, but who are the people who make it. What drives them and what makes their hearts beat faster? Meet Centix.
Let's introduce... René Dautzenberg
René Dautzenberg works at Centix as a consultant. He previously worked at industrial giant STORK, where he was, among other things, responsible for leading the implementation of Centix Asset Management. As a result, he has been familiar with Centix for quite some time and understands very well how it is used in practice. This practical knowledge is highly valuable for Centix customers. “The strength of Centix is that it employs people who really know their craft. They understand how things work on the shop floor.”
When he joined Centix two years ago, a whole new world opened up for him. “Developing software is also a production process: from the initial preparation phase to testing and implementation. The process is very comprehensive. Every detail matters – every zero, full stop and comma. It’s quite impressive how this works within Centix and how such an extensive process can remain so stable. I’m proud of my colleagues, who work at a very high level and truly know what they are doing.”
What does your working day look like?
“Sometimes I have meetings scheduled with clients. At other times, something may come up at a client’s site that needs my immediate attention. I also regularly deal with complex challenges and issues that need to be resolved. A large part of my time is spent working on new functionality that we want to add to the software. During breaks, we often go for a walk. Occasionally, I visit clients, which is always enjoyable. It reminds you why you do the work and how the software is used in practice. I particularly enjoy getting a behind-the-scenes look at new clients who choose to work with us. It’s also interesting to see how a customer’s business processes work, how they run and how we can support them.”
What are the highlights of working at Centix?
“I really like the journey I joined – the international rollout and the strong focus on the industry. I’ve also been involved in making the onboarding process more efficient. In my role, with my knowledge and experience, I’m able to do more for our industrial clients, which is something I really enjoy. These are great developments, and it’s difficult to single out just one highlight. Seeing Centix literally grow here in Urmond, Centix’s second home base, has also been a great development. We started with just one person – myself – and now there are three of us. I consider it a privilege to be able to help shape Centix. Before I joined, Centix was still very much a Montfoort-based company. Now they also have Limburg,” he says with a wink. “And speaking of highlights, the team outings are always a success too!”
“And speaking of highlights, the team outings are always a great success too!”
What is your background / education?
“I studied Applied Physics at the University of Applied Sciences in Heerlen. At the time, I was an intern at STORK. I ended up staying there for about 18 years and held various roles, including project leader and operations manager. After that, I was mainly involved in national innovation projects, sometimes with an international dimension. During that time, I came into contact with Centix – initially for Asset Management and later for a workshop solution that monitors the overhaul process. Moving to Centix eventually felt like a logical next step for me.”
Where do you come from?
“I live in South Limburg. I was born and raised in this region. For eleven years I lived in Germany, just across the border, and for the past eight years I’ve been living in Voerendaal, which I really enjoy. What I especially like is that the landscape here isn’t so flat – it’s beautiful and varied, with many hills. It’s also very centrally located: you can reach both Germany and Belgium quite quickly.”
What do you like to do when you're not at work?
“When the weather is good, you’ll often find me in the garden. I enjoy growing vegetables and have been creating a Japanese garden for the past seven years. Japanese culture and architecture really appeal to me.
I live with my girlfriend, and we both enjoy travelling. If possible, we take one trip within Europe and one outside Europe each year. We never choose all-inclusive holidays; instead, we prefer travelling to less obvious destinations. For example, we’ve already been to North Korea. You hear all kinds of stories about countries like that, but you never really know what it’s like unless you go and see it for yourself.”
“In my spare time, I also spend a lot of time walking and cycling. I’m also the secretary of our neighbourhood association, which takes up quite a bit of time because we organise various events for the community throughout the year. We live in a small village, so it’s nice to create some entertainment and bring people together.
I also enjoy going to performances such as cabaret and theatre. My taste in music is very diverse, preferably not mainstream – everything from Mongolian throat singing to classical music. A bit of variety in life is always nice.”
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