As cloud services become bigger and bigger every year, it is something we consumers can hardly live without nowadays. The world was a totally different place 14 years back when the term ‘cloud computing’ was only just invented. The same year however, Voys developed a product that changed the telecom-universe radically: cloud telephony. Last year, Voys won the FD Gazelle award for the fastest growing companies for the tenth time in a row. That has to mean something, right? We spoke with Mark Vletter, Chief Connection Officer and founder of Voys, about the company, their growth and the challenges that it brings.
Growth
What started with a set of founders and a crazy good idea turned into a multinational with 155 employees. Last year, the growth rate was about 10%, aiming for an even higher number this year. As Voys grows, the company is starting to expand abroad. After successful expansions in South Africa in Belgium, the company is currently focusing on Germany, which is used as a test market. They’re trying out different pricing models, different models of growth, different modes of marketing, a different tone of voice and so on. In doing so, Voys is trying to reach a model where their technology will be optimized and has the potential to grow even further. When Germany is officially conquered, the company strives to expand itself to Spain, Portugal and possibly Austria.
Expansion
At the moment, Voys is a full telecom provider in 40 countries, with customers in over 50 countries. The current client base is still 80-90% Dutch, but about 15% of them are also internationally active. ‘In the Netherlands, the business model works’, says Mark. ‘The product is solid, as well as the product market solution and the customer base’. The main challenge now is; how to tell your story abroad? Different countries come with different regulations and legislations. Expanding internationally is more than translating your business model. It entails a thorough switch in the main language of the company. Moreover, each country has its own big incumbents. Whereas we have KPN and T-Mobile as the big telecom players, the competition in Germany might be a whole other story. It requires customization and a careful approach.
Entrepreneurship
When asked how Mark looks at growth opportunities, he replied: ‘Find a real big social issue; if you can solve the global food crisis, you’ve got something that will last a lifetime, and will really contribute to society. For us it is communication. If we can get the entire world connected to the internet and let them communicate on a level playing field that communicate as equals, then we make things happen.’ Mark approaches these opportunities as waves. ‘You can see the wave coming, but you don’t know when it’s going to break. Successful companies aren’t there when the wave breaks; they’re there just before it’s okay.’ Those who don’t get their timing right are the ones that fail.
Looking at Voys, everybody was calling back then, and everybody could feel that the internet was going to be a big thing. By using those so-called ‘certainties’ and combining both telephony and internet, cloud telecom was born. When asked about what Mark’s vision was on entrepreneurship, he came up with what might just be the perfect advice: ‘Don’t let fear determine your decisions. Step out of the comfort zone and do it.’
Find out more about Voys here!
