5 questions for Silke Geerts

Silke Geerts is Manager Digital Advisory at Deloitte SME Accountancy & Advice. Deloitte is among the largest providers of professional services in accountancy, tax, consulting and financial advisory services.

"As Manager at Digital Advisory, I have a broad affinity for SMEs in the Southern Netherlands, particularly within the technical, manufacturing and construction sectors. With a background in technical business administration, Operational Excellence, IT and compliance, I approach each project with a clear vision: everything is process driven. Data is generated and one wants to do something with it. The next decisions are based on today's wisdom and tomorrow's insights.

My colleagues and I not only help you select the right software for your processes, but also ensure that you can use the data effectively through dashboarding. Although my focus is specifically on certain industries, I am part of a larger team that supports a wide range of SMEs. Together with SMEs, we work toward targeted solutions that contribute to more efficient work processes and lead to sustainable growth."

SMEs are the most important driver of our economy. As an ambitious entrepreneur or as an ambitious DGA of a family business, SMEs contribute to the innovative power, employment and economic prosperity of our country. The impact that SMEs make on our society aligns seamlessly with Deloitte's mission: 'making an impact that matters'. Together we realize the growth and change ambitions of your organization and the people behind it, with our fiscal and financial advice and with our knowledge of mergers, acquisitions, digitalization and innovation.

At Deloitte SME Accountancy & Advice we work together with SMEs towards Sustainable Growth. For example, Silke Geerts works with SMEs in Digital Advisory to realize their digital business goals. In today's time, an efficiently designed digital business can make all the difference in the market. With insight into the data, you can make data-driven decisions and know exactly what is happening under your hood.

It's about (1) having the right software in place that can generate the right data. And that you (2) have the right tools to make that data insightful as well, so you can (3) then make actual decisions on it."

Most often an SME comes to us with one of these two questions: 1. I'm looking for a software package to digitize because I still do business with paper. 2. I'm successful, but actually I don't know how my business is doing at all.

"I have two motivations for why I am involved in 'sustainable business': the social responsibility we bear for future generations and the economic benefits it brings. Companies that implement sustainable practices will save costs in the long run because they operate more efficiently and faster, I believe. This allows entrepreneurs to spend more time on developing their business, rather than just in their business.

For me, it's mostly about "doing the right thing. This idea of meaningful impact is also reflected in Deloitte's mission. We strive to create truly meaningful and progressive change, not only on a global or national scale, but also regionally and within our own communities.

As a 36-year-old mother of 2, I find myself in a generation that - in my opinion - is searching for exactly what that 'sustainable business' means. There is often a general picture of what one wants to achieve with it, but in my opinion it is crucial to continually examine and understand whether your own perceptions also match reality. So this collectively is my reason why I am drawn to platforms like shiftLimburg, where we can learn and grow together in our understanding of sustainability. And also why I am engaged in sustainable business."

"To accelerate the transition to a more sustainable society, I believe a combination of common sense and pragmatism is essential. First, simplified explanations of regulations, eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, and making the definition of 'sustainable business' clearer would contribute greatly.

In addition, I believe there is a need for an open attitude for learning new methods and sharing effective strategies when it comes to sustainable business. It is not only about innovation, but also about collaboration and learning from what has already been proven successful. We should discover how everyone can and has done their part.

Specifically for SMEs, at least from my Digital Advisory role within Deloitte, I try to take into account the core values that drive these companies. What motivates SMEs to get into a particular action? When sustainability is represented in a way that aligns with these core values, such as a no-nonsense and hands-on approach, it becomes not only relevant but also recognizable and personal and tangible and attractive."

"At Deloitte, we strive to go beyond meeting the standard business needs of SMEs, such as preparing financial statements. We engage in a broader conversation to understand what - according to this interview topic - sustainable business specifically means for entrepreneurs and how we can best support them in doing so. Our added value lies in forging deeper connections.

Deloitte once began as an accounting firm focused on SMEs, and this origin is still a source of pride within our SME Accountancy & Advisory practice. We actively connect with SMEs to discover where they stand, what challenges they have, and how we can help them move forward. Digitization is just one of the themes we help companies transform, giving them deeper insight into their operations.

Despite our global scale, Deloitte remains accessible and visible locally, with a deep understanding of the no-nonsense culture that many SMEs have. Our presence in 13 regional offices, spread across the country and not just concentrated in Amsterdam, highlights our commitment to providing regional support.

Back to Limburg for a moment: In Limburg, our advisors speak the same language as local entrepreneurs, which is essential to truly understand their concerns. This local understanding allows us to extend our national impact to the regional context, something we often hear back from our clients.

This is how we contribute to a more sustainable, smarter and healthier Limburg. And I'm proud to be able to propagate that from a digitization perspective."

"My advice to other companies, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial employees (like myself) is to be open to sharing and to asking questions. Don't be afraid to make yourself vulnerable. Sometimes the solutions are simpler than initially thought.

From digitization and what it can contribute to sustainable business: the right software is already there; it's not rocket science. The challenge often lies in navigating the plethora of options. Look for support in the environment and the network.

Remember, too, that you are not alone. Simply asking a question often makes greater leaps forward than continuing to struggle alone."