BY Ayomide Ogunsiakan · 8 MIN READ
Broekhuis has experienced significant growth in recent years, which has led to an increase in the demand for software development solutions. Three years ago, the teams for internal software for Broekhuis employees and customer-oriented software were merged. This resulted in a need for additional talent and Tunga provided a flexible solution.
Tunga’s personal approach and matching skills were exactly what Broekhuis needed to bring in talent to complement their existing software solutions team. Among them was Awele Okolie. Upon meeting Awele, for the first time the Broekhuis team had positive expectations. In the words of Broekhuis’ Product owner, Chinouk Berghuis-Kreuze “My first impression of Awele was very positive. I quickly had the idea that she could help us further. No shortage of knowledge!”
“We encountered the problem of having to purchase a certificate for each user (at least this was advised by another party). Awele indicated that with her solution no certificates are required at all. We really like that Awele thinks along with us and always comes up with a better solution. Awele continues to surprise us with her knowledge and skills!”- Product Owner, Chinouk Berghuis-Kreuze
The challenge Broekhuis faced was retrieving information from another system that was stored in an API. They needed to pull that data into their application, but because they worked with low-code Power Apps, the approach wasn’t as straightforward as it might be in a conventional development stack.
Before Tunga’s developers, Awele and Emmanuel joined the team, the consultants working on it had tried embedding the API directly into the application. On the surface, that seemed like the logical thing to do, but it came with a huge downside—it would have required Broekhuis to purchase additional licenses for every user accessing the app. That meant significantly higher licensing costs, which wasn’t a viable option.
When Awele and Emmanuel joined the team, they took a different approach. Instead of embedding the API directly into Power Apps, they used Power Automate’s HTTP connector, allowing only the developers to retrieve the data. Once accessed, the data could be cascaded across the organization, enabling all users to access it without needing additional licenses. This approach not only eliminated unnecessary licensing costs, but also ensured a seamless, scalable, and efficient way to retrieve and integrate data.
That validation was a key moment. It’s one thing to pitch a new solution, but there’s always a bit of pressure to make sure it actually delivers on its promise. Seeing it work in real time and having Broekhuis confirm that it met their needs made all the difference. It was a real proof of concept—a moment of, “Yes, this works. We solved it.”
“When I first pitched the idea to the product owner, she was initially skeptical because the previous team had insisted that additional licensing was necessary. They even suggested switching to a different tech stack, which would have significantly increased development time. I took the time to explain why our approach was more efficient, emphasizing that it would save both time and costs. She quickly saw the value in it and escalated the idea to management.” – Awele Okolie, Senior Developer, Tunga.
A great solution is only as effective as the willingness to embrace it. Broekhuis’ openness to new ideas played a crucial role in the success of this implementation.
Despite the product owner’s initial skepticism, she immediately saw value after Awele took the time to explain why her approach was more time and cost-efficient. By removing the need for extra licenses, Awele’s solution made data retrieval easier and saved a lot of money.
In no time, the solution was implemented allowing them to test it and see results firsthand. Once they confirmed that Awele and the team’s approach worked seamlessly, it was easy to move forward.
At the end of the day, everyone values a solution that saves both money and time, and Broekhuis’ willingness to adopt a smarter, more efficient approach made all the difference in achieving a successful outcome.
This wasn’t a one-time solution. Broekhuis continued to rely on the Power Automate-based integration to retrieve data across multiple systems and build reusable forms throughout the organization.
To ensure the solution would scale with future needs, Awele and Emmanuel focused on building a low-code, reusable framework that any team member could maintain or adapt without rewriting everything from scratch.
When Awele first joined the team, Broekhuis had been working with a consultant and had been advised that retrieving data from their system would require purchasing additional licenses for every user. This approach would have led to significantly higher licensing costs.
Despite being new to the team, Awele challenged the recommendation. She proposed a smart API integration using Power Automate, one that reduced licensing fees and streamlined data access without compromising the user experience.
By focusing on business-driven problem solving, Awele framed her solution not just in terms of technical feasibility, but in how it aligned with Broekhuis’ goals, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and accelerating delivery.
At its core, this collaboration highlighted the power of strategic problem-solving in technology, where developers don’t just write code but act as partners in business growth.
The collaboration with Tunga has been smooth and effective, often bringing unexpected yet valuable solutions. Broekhuis appreciates seeing developers actively engaged in its operations, offering out-of-the-box ideas that drive efficiency and innovation.
Tunga doesn’t just provide highly qualified developers, it ensures they receive thorough guidance to succeed in their roles. For Broekhuis, it is particularly valuable that Tunga continues to create meaningful opportunities for hiring remote African developers. This initiative supports diversity, inclusion, and international collaboration, creating a meaningful impact on both business and talent development.
“It feels good to be part of this. The collaboration runs very smoothly and we can sometimes be surprised by the solutions that are offered. We especially like to see that the developers are increasingly involved in Broekhuis and come up with solutions that are out of the box.”-Product Owner, Chinouk Berghuis-Kreuze.
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