Christiaens, 40 years IT specialists
Christiaens has been supplying integrated IT solutions, both in hardware and software, to small and medium-sized companies since 1982. Marc Christiaens is at the helm, together with the second generation, sons Alexander and Olivier.
Pioneers in IT
Marc Christiaens graduated in 1979 as a Civil Engineer in Low Voltage Electronics, and was then immediately able to start working at Colruyt's very young software department. "A real IT training did not yet exist, at that time the computer was only introduced to the companies", he says. "And actually I wanted to specialize in civil engineering after my study Civil Engineer, but my girlfriend, later my wife, thought that I would always come in with dirty boots (laughs)." Marc would benefit from his choice for electronics. After his job at Colruyt, he went to work closer to home, in Roeselare. But entrepreneurship emerged and in 1982 he decided to start his own IT company. “The introduction of the computer for accounting and other applications in companies created a huge demand for expertise,” says Marc Christiaens. "My first customer was Fibrolin, later Unilin and Quick-Step." Christiaens Computer Service was born.
From punch cards to ERP
Over the years, Christiaens Computer Service has built up a good customer portfolio from Passchendaele with mainly medium-sized and large SMEs in various sectors. "From the start we provided total solutions in the field of IT infrastructure and business software," says Marc. "So we are not just sellers or suppliers. Everything starts with a thorough analysis of the needs and wishes within the company. We are therefore largely an IT consultant, with a service that does not stop after delivery. We attach great importance to long-term relationships with our customers. "
Business software has changed beyond recognition over the years. In the early 1980s, everything had to be programmed from scratch and the data was on punch cards. Now ERP is fully established. Christiaens is a recognized Microsoft partner for business software. Marc Christiaens: "The basis for all our solutions is the Dynamics 365 Business Central package (formerly: Navision or Microsoft Dynamics NAV), which we adapt to the needs of the customer. To be certified by Microsoft, our employees have to be continuously trained. But year after year, we are gaining confidence again, and we are quite proud of that. For the cloud and infrastructure we also work with preferential partners, such as HP. "