Saskia du Bois-Schütz (36) is the founder and owner of consultancy and concept development agency i-Inspire, based in Delft.
“Starting up my own business was really incredibly simple. Register with the Chamber of Commerce and off you go. Then came all the questions, but even finding the answers to those was also relatively easy. In my mind, far more of the government’s services should be placed online. Seeing something in black and white on an official website gives me confidence in its reliability. Far more than when I speak to someone on the telephone. More far-reaching digitalisation would also be good for government efficiency. I am convinced that it would lead to far greater cost savings.”
Use of data
“If it were up to me, anything the government saves through digitalisation should then be spent on the use of open data – information about trends, the labour market and potential clients and partners, for example. Making data of that kind available to businesses improves the business climate, and creates more opportunities for businesses to develop new innovations, together.
At present, if I want to collect even simple data, I have to hire in a student or even take on a new member of staff. It seems such an outdated concept.”
Social media
“The sharing of information raises privacy issues, of course. The same applies to approaching potential new customers. In the past, I used mailshots. But the new privacy legislation severely restricts the possibilities open to me. To some extent I now have to rely on flyers, a real step back in time because they have to be printed on paper. Surely that can’t be the intention? The only other alternative is social media. Social media can make, but just as easily break you. I would prefer to steer well clear of it, but there is really little choice.”