Global business needs more than just new technology – it needs people who understand how to make that technology work across cultures, languages and continents. Through decades of implementing complex IT systems worldwide, Christophe Derdeyn has learned that sustainable growth comes from balancing technical innovation with human behavior. As technology evolves faster than ever, his insights on turning short-term fixes into lasting solutions become increasingly valuable for businesses facing digital transformation.
Cutting Through the AI Hype
When asked about current trends in IT, Christophe cuts through the usual AI panic. “I don’t believe that AI is going to take away everyone’s job,” he says. But that doesn’t mean things aren’t changing. His new development team already sees 34-40% faster results using AI tools. They feed in prompts, get initial code, and shape it into working programs. The bigger shift isn’t about replacing people – it’s about changing how they work. Take ERP systems, those complex business management tools that used to require experts who knew every setting and button. “Today it’s still important, but I expect in the next year or two years this is going to change,” Christophe explains. “You will need to know what the system can do, but you will not need to know which buttons to push.”
This shift means IT professionals need to step up their game. “Instead of what I call an order taker, you will need to become kind of a management consultant with a functional or technical background,” Christophe says. The days of simply implementing whatever the client asks for are ending. Now, IT pros need to dig deeper, asking tough questions about business processes and suggesting better ways to work.
Overcoming Quick-Fix Mentality
The toughest challenge in IT implementation? People’s tendency to grab quick fixes. Christophe sees it all the time – teams under pressure take shortcuts, slap on band-aid solutions, then move on to the next problem. While sometimes you need quick fixes in a crisis, the key is tracking these temporary patches and developing real solutions. “Our biggest challenge is human nature,” he notes. “It is an incredibly common reaction to just want a stop-gap solution and then forget about everything else.” The answer isn’t more technology – it’s better processes and communication.
When talk turns to security, Christophe points out an interesting paradox. While many companies still prefer keeping everything in-house, this often leaves them more vulnerable. “In the on-premise world, security is difficult to fully achieve,” he explains. The skills needed to properly secure modern systems are vast and constantly evolving. That’s why he often recommends cloud solutions from major providers. Their dedicated security teams and layered defenses often provide better protection than most companies can manage internally. “That’s not going to give you a 100% guarantee,” he admits, “but at least it will give you a much higher degree of security than if you run your own application and your own data center.”
Aligning Teams for Lasting Change
Currently, Christophe’s team is helping a global company consolidate 17 different systems into one unified platform. It’s not just a technical challenge – it’s about getting people from 130 countries to work the same way. “The complexity is not the system, the complexity is the people,” he emphasizes. This brings up one of his core principles, learned early in his career: “You want to make a project successful? You need to answer one question for every stakeholder – what’s in it for me?” Skip this step, and even the best system will struggle to gain acceptance.
After 30 years in the field, Christophe’s most important lesson is deceptively simple: trust, but verify. “I’m a person that has a lot of trust, and when you work with people, you need to trust,” he says. “But I found over the years that you need to trust but verify.” This becomes even more crucial when working with global teams. Different cultures, languages, and ways of thinking mean the same words can carry different meanings. That’s why Christophe emphasizes clear communication and regular verification to keep projects on track.
The future of IT isn’t about having the newest tech or the biggest system. It’s about understanding people, managing change, and building trust while maintaining oversight. As Christophe shows, that’s a lesson learned not from manuals or training, but from decades in the field. To connect with Christophe Derdeyn and learn more about his insights on global IT integration and transformation, visit him on LinkedIn.
