Delta Source’s dev teams have been building strong software for medium and large companies for more than 10 years. The switch from start-up to scale-up is celebrated with brand new branding. Although the logo gets an update, the mission remains unchanged. This is evident from an engaging chat with the leading team. Read on and meet the down-to-earth founders!
Hello Daan and Mark! Delta Source started small and driven in 2012. How did you guys get started?
D: “Mark and I were on a project team together as Application Architects. We shared the same passion for business software and the same hands-on approach. Outside of work hours, we both shrugged off our own IT projects.”
M: “Daan and I noticed that there was a lot of talent abroad for complex software projects. We were convinced to use nearshore differently than most companies do. Not outsourcing repetitive work, but giving technical challenges and responsibilities.”
D: “Because we wanted to do it right, we invested extensively in the startup and our network. Many contact moments, close follow-up … Step by step the ties with Bulgaria became stronger, the assignments bigger and the results nicer. In 2016, the time came to say goodbye to consultancy and really position ourselves 100% as Delta Source with dev teams as a service. Joeri Leemans, with whom I had worked in the past, joined us a little later as Software Architect and 3rd managing partner.”
Hi Aleksander! You manage the Bulgarian team. How did you end up at Delta Source?
A: “Delta Source has a strong connection with the Technical University of Plovdiv. An acquaintance of mine who works there as an assistant suggested I meet Mark and Daan. However, I was not looking for a new job, as I had just started as a junior IT professional. After some pleasant conversations, I changed my mind. What won me over? I was valued as a developer from day one and completely immersed in the quality way of working that Delta Source stands for. As the years passed and the number of Bulgarian colleagues grew, I took on more and more of a management role. Since 2021, I have been a full-time manager of Delta Source Bulgaria. At the time, I thought it would not be necessary, as my schedule would quickly become empty. Did I misjudge that for a moment, I haven’t been bored for a moment.” (laughs)
Is Delta Source still sailing the same course as when it started?
D: “We still focus on mission-critical software, or challenging software projects. That focus is unchanged. When we started nearshore, it was not an unheard-of concept in the IT world. Even though there were a lot of prejudices about it. That’s why we set the quality bar high, and we still do. Our employees are super-talented developers you can build on, which is pleasant work for customers and for colleagues.”
M: “Our mission since inception has been ‘we craft the software you actually need’. Delta Source does not stand for standard solutions, but for technical customization. Today we are surrounded by a larger team and there are more projects running, but at the core we are still doing the same thing with at least the same drive.”
How do you stay connected to ongoing projects and collaborators?
A: “When I started at Delta Source, there were two Bulgarian developers; by the end of 2023, there will be 30 of us. We take the time and space to properly and thoroughly guide, welcome and familiarize new employees. That approach pays off, because I can count on one hand the number of software engineers who have left here in more than a decade. Our daily morning and afternoon call also ensures that we are very involved in each other’s projects. We know exactly what we are working on, jump in when necessary, or take a fresh look at a tough case. As a manager, I regularly check in with my people. Short one-on-ones to check how the projects are going and how they are doing personally are invaluable.”
D: “It is impossible to be and remain involved as a manager for every project on a day-to-day basis. We have full confidence in our staff. Of course, we are always available for questions or concerns. I may speak for myself as well as for Joeri, Mark and Aleksander when I say that we are accessible and understanding. We are not managers who pore over strategy or finances in a separate office, you can just find us among the developers.”
On more than 10 years of building, implementing and optimizing, no doubt some nice words land in the mailbox. Which compliments are you most proud of?
D: “Last year at an event, an employee of our customer came up to me. He explicitly thanked Delta Source because their business software is now always and everywhere up and running. For us that goes without saying. No bugs, no delays, no maintenance breaks. But that is not so obvious. Then I am proud that we were able to achieve that for this customer.”
M: “I am pleased when former colleagues refer to us when their network is looking for an IT partner or when their friends or acquaintances are looking for a software company to work as a developer. Although we are no longer colleagues, the ties have remained good. Very cool!”
A: “We Bulgarians are perhaps just a little less organized by nature than the Belgians? (laughs) They don’t take clear agreements or quick results for granted here. When I notice that Delta Source’s short lines of communication and qualitative realizations are appreciated, I am proud.”
Finally, what is at the top of Delta Source’s bucket list?
M: “Gee, I have to think about that. Boundless dreaming is not so much in our nature. We are rather down-to-earth …” (laughs)
A: “Then I will answer first! This summer there is a lot going on for the Bulgarian team. During our Summer Camp, there is especially a lot of fun on the agenda. Ideal for the team atmosphere! Later this summer we will move into a new office. Now when it is full house, we are short of chairs. In the new office, there will be no shortage of space and inspiration. I can’t wait!”
M: “Now that we are past the start-up phase, I dream for Delta Source of self-managing teams. And bringing Delta Source Academy, which we already offer today to promising Bulgarian IT professionals, to Belgium also seems like a good idea to me. We are ready for the future, absolutely!”
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