Can you give us a little background?
Certainly, I have a history of over two decades in enterprise software and services. I initially kick-started my career in a technical startup located in Stuttgart, Germany, which is my hometown.
As my professional journey unfolded, I had the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders such as Informatica, Contentserv, and Tanium. I am known for being a passionate and outcome-driven professional with extensive experience in leading global direct/indirect sales organisations, creating high-performing sales teams and driving international revenue growth as well as executing innovative go-to-market strategies.
Over the years I specialised in implementing customer-centric solutions with my teams.
What made you choose to become part of the FoxInsights team?
There were a couple of good reasons which led to the choice I made. Firstly, I was at a career stage where I was seeking a more direct impact on the business and its success, and FoxInsights offered precisely that opportunity.
As the company is transitioning from a startup to a mature business, I feel that we’re now at an important stage to reach the next level. The task is to further scale the business, both with our customers and internationally, which is the perfect timing for me to implement a truly customer-centric approach across the organisation, introduce cutting-edge solutions, and expanding our presence in our partners’ operations.
I am thrilled to merge my experience with FoxInsights’ innovative market contributions. The company’s vision is ambitious – to become the primary platform for digitising the supply chain, from offerings to end customer delivery. This aligns with my belief in the power of digitalisation and data-driven decision-making. It’s an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of a significant digital transformation story, shaping the future in the energy, recycling, and mobility industries.
In summary, FoxInsights’ mission, its innovative spirit, its vision for growth, and its emphasis on building strong partnerships resonated with my career goals. This is why I chose to take on the role and become part of the FoxInsights team.
Joining a new organisation can be both exciting and challenging. How have your initial days been, and what aspects of the company culture have stood out?
It has indeed been an exciting transition. First, I must say I rarely received such a great welcome at a new job, and everybody is just lovely and passionate about what they do.
It is evident that the team values excellence and dedication, which aligns with my own professional ethos. The emphasis on collaboration and innovation is truly commendable.
The entire team’s commitment to exceeding partner expectations and maximising customer satisfaction is a testament to the company’s values. It’s been a great experience so far, and the journey just started.
Could you elaborate on your vision for building strong partnerships and collaborations within the industry?
One thing that really struck me is FoxInsights’ unique practice of referring to its customers as partners. I believe this signifies more than just a name; it embodies an attitude throughout the entire organisation, emphasising a collaborative approach to accompany our customers’ businesses to success.
This is my own guiding principle, leveraging the industry and use-case knowledge accumulated over the years to implement a genuinely end-to-end, partner-centric operational model. This mindset enables us to introduce additional services and support our partners’ journeys towards data-driven digital operational excellence.
As we embark on this journey, we will listen to our partners closely, understand their challenges and needs, and assist them in shaping the future of their operational business. We will think about new capabilities and proactive services for their customers, significantly enhancing satisfaction while increasing operational efficiency.
I feel that there’s a great story ahead to be written together with our partners and our innovative services, which will naturally accelerate our growth as well.
What advice would you offer to companies in the energy sector about navigating challenges and seizing opportunities?
In these times of unprecedented change and macroeconomic challenges, the ability to react swiftly based on real-time data is crucial. The degree of digitalisation and data-driven decision-making will be pivotal in their journey.
It is essential to bring traditional businesses onto a digital platform, proactively serving customers and optimising operational costs. Leveraging next-generation services and digital tools can help save costs, provide better and faster services, and address the challenges posed by a limited pool of qualified personnel.
My advice to the industry is clear: act now, embrace end-to-end digitalisation, and take control of your future success. Navigating challenges and seizing opportunities demands a proactive and innovative mindset. Also, staying closely attuned to emerging trends and maintaining a customer-centric focus is especially important. This way, you will be well-prepared to shape your future rather than being forced to react to external factors.
How do new customers hear about FoxInsights and how much has the business grown?
Our growth has been fuelled largely by referrals within our industry network. Our reputation for innovative solutions using smart telemetry and data analysis has spread organically across Europe, reaching new potential customers.
In terms of expansion, our business has experienced significant growth, especially in customer acquisition and geographical reach. We’ve seen an impressive increase in our partner base across various sectors, especially among fuel distributors and waste oil collectors, expanding our network to over 180 partners across Europe.
What sets us apart as a supplier is our commitment to providing comprehensive solutions tailored to our partners’ needs. We offer more than just products; we provide a holistic approach, ensuring that our services align perfectly with their objectives.
Our emphasis on partner-centricity, coupled with our cutting-edge solutions, enables us to stand out in the market and become the provider of choice for many businesses seeking innovative telemetry solutions enabling them to save time, money, and natural resources.
What was the best bit of advice you have been given in this industry?
In this industry, the most valuable advice I’ve received is to never overlook the human side amidst technological advancements. We’re in an era driven by data and innovation, but it’s crucial to remember that people are at the heart of these technologies.
Understanding the human elements behind the data—such as their needs, motivations, and desires—is what truly fuels impactful solutions. This should be considered as well as a starting point for adapting processes during any digitalisation project, which is often overlooked.
The alignment of innovation, adapting to new solutions and data analytics, often goes hand-in-hand with operational change, and that needs attention and care to be successful. This advice consistently reinforces the importance of empathy and communication, reminding us to put people first in our journey of technological advancement.
What do you enjoy most about operating in this industry?
One of the most enjoyable aspects of operating as a service provider is the dynamic nature of the challenges it presents.
Every day brings new opportunities to innovate, problem-solve, and contribute to the digital transformation of essential sectors like energy, recycling, and mobility. The fast-paced environment fosters continuous learning and adaptation, and being at the forefront of technological advancements is exhilarating.
Additionally, the industry’s impact on sustainability and efficiency aligns with my personal values, making the work not only professionally fulfilling but also socially responsible.
We all have quirky habits or office rituals. Can you share any you have?
Well, I must confess to being a bit of a coffee enthusiast, and it’s a habit that carries into my workday. When in the office, you’ll often find me making frequent trips to the coffee machine. This ritual also provides me with the opportunity to engage in casual chats with my colleagues, especially those I don’t interact with on a daily basis.
FoxInsights is all about data analytics, therefore we’re curious – what’s your favourite non-work-related app or digital tool that’s part of your everyday life?
Actually, I have two favourite apps that I use every day: Spotify and Instagram. I start with daily news and business podcasts, then shift to some lighter content and music as the day goes on.
On Instagram, I enjoy staying updated on the latest food trends, local happenings in my city, and discovering exciting travel destinations around the world.
With Sven’s ambition and determination, the future looks bright for FoxInsights. We look forward to catching up with Sven and the team again soon.
