- Can you tell us something about yourself?
My name is Marcus Meekel and I am one of the managing partners at BeSharp Experts BV. Together with my partner and our 3-year-old son, I live in the beautiful Amstelveen. My background is in Strategic Operations and Project Management. My professional journey began in the 1990s, where I worked for various international companies in diverse roles. My passion for change management and my insatiable curiosity led me to explore all aspects of a modern business. With this rich knowledge and experience, I knew it was time to start this business, together with my partners. While it’s naturally exciting, I have full confidence in a bright future!
- What are your main responsibilities within BeSharp Experts?
I am responsible for the daily operations in Finance, IT, and Operations, including project management for license optimization projects.
- What motivated you to join BeSharp Experts?
My experience with international startups has taught me a lot about business operations and has always motivated me to start my own business. The opportunity to work with experienced and talented people who complement each other gave me the confidence that we would be successful together.
- What challenges do you typically experience in your role?
One challenge we face is our rapid growth. Our methodology and approach align well with the market, and after successful project completions, demand—and consequently pressure—increases. For me, it’s crucial to always ensure the best customer experience, so I work on maintaining that guarantee. Customer experience is my top priority.
- What are some recent successes or achievements you are proud of?
We have kept operational costs low without compromising the quality of service and have optimized processes based on customer feedback.
- What role do you play in achieving the best results for clients?
From an operational standpoint, we take project management very seriously. We involve our clients in the planning and keep them informed of progress continuously, so they feel involved and do not have unnecessary work. We offer an integrated environment where clients can easily access planning, FAQs, manuals, and all relevant project information in one central, secure location.
- How do you see the future of BeSharp Experts in the consultancy industry, especially regarding Microsoft software?
We have now proven that there is demand for our services and that our customers respond positively to their experience with us. Our goal for the future is to be a long-term partner in license cost optimization, not only in the Netherlands but also globally. With my international experience and network, I see it as a great opportunity to expand our services and help companies worldwide optimize their license costs, especially given the increasing costs in this area.
- In what ways does effective project management contribute to maximizing Microsoft software investments for clients at BeSharp Experts?
There are several reasons why it’s important to plan a project well, both in terms of time and resources. A thorough plan clarifies all key milestones, and everyone knows what is expected of them. This ensures that you can start the negotiation process well-prepared and on time, without time pressure. This gives you enough time to negotiate, which will ultimately lead to the best result.
- How do you measure the success of projects at BeSharp Experts and how do you apply lessons learned to continuously improve processes?
The success of a project is measured by various factors, including achieving milestones, the end result of the project, and the customer experience. At BeSharp Experts, we place great value on customer feedback and make adjustments during the project as necessary based on this input. After the project, we send out a survey to measure our customers’ satisfaction and offer the opportunity for an evaluation session. All points discussed during these sessions are taken into account in the continuous improvement of our processes.