Behind every success is a strong team. This is no different at CreditDevice. One of our star performers is Joke Roelofs. She recently celebrated ten years of service. High time therefore, for a spotlight.
Without Joke Roelofs, CreditDevice would not be the company it is today. In her decade ‘on sales’, she was a key driver in growing a diverse client portfolio. “In the beginning, it sometimes felt like I had to get a steam locomotive going. Over the years, more and more great software products and talented people joined. Now CreditDevice is a high-speed train. Customers know how to find us well and we have achieved this together,” says Joke, who has worked in credit management for 35 years.
It was CreditDevice founder Hans Geluk who approached her in 2012 for a sales position. Joke made a flying start and , possessing a large network, brought in her first client Allianz in week 1. Many more followed. FromSMEs to multinationals.
How do you feel about that diversity?
“Nice, although I always used to think that elephants don’t dance with mice. Yet big players knew how to find CreditDevice even when we were small. That’s saying something. Although we work just as hard for everyone. Big or small: a customer is a customer.”
What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
“It ‘s great to investigate how credit management is set up at a company and figure out what could be done better. I love it when our software products ensure that processes are streamlined, increase efficiency and save money .”
“Thus, we realised an automation hit for software provider Unit4. “Cash flows have been improved through the deployment of the Credit Management Software and the efficiency of the team has increased,” Ronald Pfeiffer, manager global services at Unit4, informed. That’s what we do it for. For PreZero, we not only made credit management more efficient, but also sparred to take the company further in terms of O2C. Rick Dijkers, credit manager at Prezero, says this is greatly appreciated.”
I like to think with customers.
What has changed over the years?
“In the distant past, nothing was automated and I used to visit customers with a modem under my arm to connect it and explain how to request a credit report.
In that sense, digitalisation has obviously made everything more efficient. Furthermore, instead of being product-centric, the market is now more focused on an integrated approach. The question now is how credit management helps customers achieve their goals. We think broadly, in processes, and develop products that respond to that.”
What do you see as the main trends?
” Automation continues to push forward. We are on top of technologies like machine learning. Our software is also getting smarter and smarter. I love the dynamics of these new developments.
Although I am a family woman who privately enjoys the good life with good food, parties and holidays, I also remain a born work aholic. I love thinking with clients.”
What do you still want to achieve?
“Staying with CreditDevice until my retirement. I enjoy watching the company grow even further and following developments in credit management far too much.”
