Working at Spendlinq: digital transformation at the heart of procurement and finance

“From an independent position, Spendlinq guides organisations that are looking for the right (technological) solution to support people and processes,” says Sanne van Eijsden, Director Professional Services at Spendlinq. “Whether it’s strategic, technological or operational support – we act as a driver of digital transformation and make sure the result lasts.”

Spendlinq focuses on designing, implementing and optimising Source to Pay processes. Our consultants do this at Dutch organisations across a wide range of sectors, from healthcare and government to industry and business services.

A profession on the move

“At Spendlinq, we see every day how digitalisation is fundamentally changing the field of procurement and finance”, says Source to Pay consultant Ruud Hoeben. “Things are moving very fast right now. Smart applications, from AI to machine learning, virtual assistants and predictive analytics, are accelerating the way organisations set up their procurement and finance processes.”

Spendlinq doesn’t just help organisations understand what’s going on, but also choose what actually works. “We help clients deal with the challenges this brings. What’s hype, and what genuinely adds value to your organisation? That’s where our strength lies – and our independence plays a big part in it”, says Ruud.

According to Sanne, technology is only one side of the story. “The human factor remains crucial. Digital transformation is also about changing behaviour. How do you get people in the organisation to move with you and embrace the new way of working? We pay a lot of attention to that in every project, with change management as a fixed part of our approach.”

Compliance and security are other important focus areas. ESG regulations are forcing organisations to demonstrably improve their sustainability performance – including in the supply chain. And as data flows grow, good security only becomes more important.

Staying ahead in knowledge

To advise and guide customers well, Spendlinq actively invests in developing knowledge. Sharing knowledge within the team plays a central role. “We regularly discuss ongoing projects with all consultants. Even if you’re not on an assignment, you’re often still involved to bring in your specific expertise”, Ruud explains. “That keeps the work varied and educational.”

Spendlinq has an (internal) knowledge base and actively uses ‘lessons learned’ from previous projects as input for new engagements. “We see all the knowledge we gain as an asset. It not only increases our added value for customers, but also supports the growth of our people,” says Sanne.

Spendlinq also continually invests in maintaining contacts with software suppliers. “We want to know exactly what’s on their roadmap, what their vision is on technological developments and how they translate this into their solutions”, says Sanne.

We use this knowledge to make clients aware of their options during a software selection. “We also increasingly want to be a connecting party between technology providers and end users. For example, next year we’re organising the Linq’26 event to actively bring together insights from the market”, says Ruud.

Learning and growing in practice

Spendlinq gives professional development structural attention, both in subject matter and in personal skills. “Our consultants take training in tooling and technology, but also in soft skills such as project management, change management or delivering training”, says Sanne.

Mentoring also plays an important role. Sanne: “Our senior consultants have many years of hands-on experience, which they use to guide junior colleagues. We actively look at development opportunities and make sure colleagues take on tasks in projects that help them grow into their next role.”

For Ruud, you can really see this in day-to-day practice: “You don’t just work on your own assignment, you also see a lot of what’s happening on other projects. And if you run into something, there’s always someone willing to think it through with you. That open culture makes the work not only a great way to learn, but also enjoyable.”

A close-knit team with room for initiative

It’s one of the things that makes Spendlinq such an interesting employer for Ruud. “We’re a close-knit team with a lot of ambition, but we also look out for each other. You know what every colleague is doing – both inside and outside work. You’re taken seriously and get the chance to genuinely help shape the direction of the company.”

According to Sanne, that’s exactly the intention. “Our people are the heart of our company. We give them plenty of room to take initiative and responsibility, and we support them with ‘coaching on the job’ and targeted training. What we share as a team is enthusiasm, commitment and the drive to really move our customers forward.”

Spendlinq is growing and is looking for enterprising consultants who have already earned their stripes in the Source to Pay domain, or who want to step in with the right mindset. “Our ambition is to be the first name organisations think of when it comes to the digital transformation of their Source to Pay processes. We’re achieving that ambition together – with our people and thanks to them.”

Source: Consultancy.nl