"At a birthday party, I 'just' say that I'm a consultant at ANVA," Sander says matter-of-factly. "That I help customers set up ANVA more efficiently. In recent years, I've done a lot of conversions from external packages to ANVA 4/5. And now I'm mainly working on the migration to ANVA 6."
That sounds very technical, but in practice it involves much more than just systems.
Sander gets energy from variety. From switching between customers, colleagues, and technology. From figuring out how something works and, above all, how it can be improved.
"Ideally, I'd have a day where I could work through my list," he laughs. "But I also really enjoy switching gears to help people and make sure they don't get stuck."
As a consultant, you often work independently at clients' premises. Yet it never feels like you're really alone. "You can always turn to your colleagues. Some of them have specific, targeted knowledge, so you can just give them a call to bounce ideas off them."
Within the consultancy team, there is one fixed day per month when everyone gets together. "That's when we have critical discussions about processes and solutions. And we also just have fun. We keep each other on our toes, but it's also very relaxed."
What does Sander consider typical of ANVA? It's not a tool or methodology, but rather the atmosphere.
“There is something familiar about working with ANVA. That is very pleasant. When necessary, we really work together as a family. It is hard work, but always pleasant and with a sense of ‘together we can do it’.”
And he notices this everywhere. Whether it's at the coffee bar, in meetings, or during internal events organized by the FIESTA committee, such as Board Game Night, the F1 racing tournament, and the Game Experience. "Even though we've grown quite large, the connections are still there. You know each other."
He has seen the organization change. "The culture has really improved in recent years. The atmosphere, the way of working. You can just be yourself. And the work you do matters too."
In his current role, Sander is closely involved in developments surrounding ANVA 6. Sometimes as a sparring partner for teams who want to know how something worked in ANVA 4/5. Sometimes as a consulting consultant. But above all as someone who is involved in migrations.
We are currently working on a migration path that follows the processes of ANVA 6, and is therefore much more future-proof than if it were based on ANVA 4/5.
That requires a different way of thinking. "It's important to start with a blank slate. Don't dwell too much on how things were, but look at how they could be. Sometimes that's difficult, but that's what makes it interesting."
Everything he does now touches on ANVA 6. "A lot is going to happen and change. It's just really nice to experience that up close."
In fourteen years, you work on many projects. Yet there is one that stands out for Sander.
"The conversion of Zicht, which went from DIAS to ANVA 4/5. That was a really great project. We completed it in 2021." It was one of those projects where everything came together: technology, collaboration, responsibility. "Those are moments you look back on with pride," he says, still feeling proud after all these years.
Sander started without any IT background. "I came from an ANVA class, a kind of traineeship where you could start without any IT knowledge." Now he programs in COBOL, works with SQL and Snowflake, and is immersing himself in AI.
"The conversion software was written in COBOL. When the creator retired, we tried to do it in another language. That didn't work well. So I looked into it," he says. It had to be done, so Sander did it.
At ANVA, you have a lot of freedom to develop yourself. If it fits within your role, you can really take the time to figure something out.
He also sees AI as a new layer in his work. "AI can really be a big help. You explain a problem and it helps you find a solution. That adds a new dimension to learning and development."
For the migration street, Sander works together with specialists and colleagues in a single development team. "We work independently and agilely. In the afternoon, we have a short meet-up to see how things are going."
But here too, it's not all work: "When we're at the office, there's also time to grab a coffee at the barista bar. We chat about the weekend and our hobbies. It's not just hard work, but also fun and collegial."
Sander doesn't have to think long about the advice he would give to (potential) applicants: "It's a really nice company where you have the freedom to develop yourself. You work hard, but there's also room and attention for yourself. It's a family-like organization with fun events. Nothing is mandatory, but I can definitely recommend ANVA as an employer."
And yes, even the little things count. "You're simply well looked after. From fresh coffee to delicious food in the afternoon."
At ANVA, you work on smart software for the insurance world. But always together. And always with room to grow.
