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Sharing industry evolutions and company updates.

Guiding a product development project course at KU Leuven

November 4, 2025

Update

Guiding a product development project course at KU Leuven

Last week we were invited by prof. Jochen De Weerdt to kick-off our yearly product management project course at KU Leuven! In this hands-on course, we'll guide the Business and Information Systems Engineering students in the process of defining and developing their very own software solution. Over the next few months, they'll explore the entire software development journey - all the way from initial user interviews until AI assisted coding, using the latest tooling like Cursor.

Completing a major performance optimization for a Laravel application

November 1, 2025

Update

Completing a major performance optimization for a Laravel application

For one of our clients, we recently completed a major performance optimization initiative for a Laravel application. Through extensive analysis using Sentry tracing, K6 stress testing, and a dedicated performance environment, we first identified the key bottlenecks across the system. Subsequently, we implemented some infrastructure-level improvements —output structure caching with JIT compilation and Laravel Octane with Swoole for concurrent execution and script preloading— that significantly improved performance without refactoring the entire codebase.

Implementing a major refactoring of a data-intensive IoT product's cloud architecture

October 8, 2025

Blog Post

Implementing a major refactoring of a data-intensive IoT product's cloud architecture

Evolving existing architectures means working within constraints of previous choices. We share our approach to tackling architectural changes for a client with data-intensive IoT hardware and cloud infrastructure. Learn how we handled highly dynamic workloads with unpredictable spikes, optimized microservices under strain, and achieved a zero-downtime migration to a more efficient system.

Connecting AI microservices with a back-end API running on Azure

September 22, 2025

Update

Connecting AI microservices with a back-end API running on Azure

For one of our enterprise clients, we recently built a system that integrates an AI microservice with their backend API running on Azure, ensuring seamless connectivity between new AI capabilities and the existing software stack. At the core of the architecture, Azure Service Bus acts as a task manager, enabling the AI engine to pick up jobs from the backend API. It processes them in an iterative loop, sending follow-up messages back to the bus until completion. Document intelligence is used for document preprocessing, streamlining inputs before they reach the AI engine. To provide full visibility, we monitor LLM calls with Langfuse, use Azure Blob Storage for data handling, and expose a custom API for debugging and health checks.

Celebrating the end of intern season with an after-work padel tournament

August 19, 2025

Update

Celebrating the end of intern season with an after-work padel tournament

Two weeks ago, we celebrated the end of intern season at Panenco with an after-work padel tournament! A big thank you to all for all your hard work and dedication over the past weeks —we're wishing you all the best of luck with your final year of studies! We're also excited to have welcomed Joren Renders, who is joining us for the remainder of the summer months. If you're a student interested in a software engineering or product management internship, don't hesitate to get in touch for a coffee!

How we transform API specs into MCP servers for agentic communication

July 30, 2025

Update

How we transform API specs into MCP servers for agentic communication

Over the past months, we've actively started using MCP to streamline the development of agentic workflow patterns for our applications. Amongst others, we are leveraging FastMCP in this process.Building with MCP greatly boosts the modularity and interoperability of agentic tools. It provides a unified message-passing layer, ensuring predictable and efficient communication across all our agents and services.

Protecting privacy at scale: PII de-identification using GCP DLP API

July 25, 2025

Blog Post

Protecting privacy at scale: PII de-identification using GCP DLP API

Handling personal data responsibly is increasingly critical. For a client project, we needed to anonymize large volumes of CSV files containing PII before analyzing them with LLMs. We leveraged Google Cloud's Data Loss Prevention API to automate the de-identification process at scale, ensuring strict privacy compliance while maintaining workflow efficiency.

Streamlining image selection workflows with Vision AI

July 15, 2025

Update

Streamlining image selection workflows with Vision AI

For one of our clients, we developed a custom image selection workflow powered by Vision AI that automatically analyses and categorizes product images at scale. This solution reduced manual review time by 80% and improved consistency across their platform.

From database frameworks to query builders: evolving our data access patterns

July 4, 2025

Update

From database frameworks to query builders: evolving our data access patterns

Over the past year, we've shifted our approach to database access from heavy ORM frameworks to lightweight query builders for several client projects. The result? Better performance, more control, and easier debugging.

We've successfully renewed our ISO 27001 certification.

June 27, 2025

Update

We've successfully renewed our ISO 27001 certification.

We've successfully renewed our ISO 27001 certification. This confirms our continued commitment to maintaining strong information security practices across the organization.Thanks to our team for their consistent focus on protecting data and upholding high standards. Our clients can continue to rely on us for secure, compliant operations.

Refactoring a SaaS product from a custom UI component library to shadcn/ui

June 17, 2025

Update

Refactoring a SaaS product from a custom UI component library to shadcn/ui

For one of our clients, we recently completed a significant UI refactoring project, migrating from a custom-built component library to shadcn/ui. This transition modernised their design system, improved development speed, and enhanced maintainability.

Gaining insights into email engagement and conversion rates for SaaS products

June 12, 2025

Blog Post

Gaining insights into email engagement and conversion rates for SaaS products

Email communication is the unsung hero of SaaS user engagement, but choosing the right provider isn't straightforward. For a client's multilingual SaaS platform, we needed precise transactional emails and notifications with engagement tracking across user segments. We implemented a solution that provided deep insights into email performance and conversion patterns.

Welcoming 6 interns to the team for the summer months!

May 26, 2025

Update

Welcoming 6 interns to the team for the summer months!

We're excited to welcome six talented interns to the team for the summer months! They'll be working across software engineering and product management, diving into real projects and gaining hands-on experience building impactful products. Looking forward to a great summer of learning, collaboration, and growth!

Wrapping up our product management course at KU Leuven

May 15, 2025

Update

Wrapping up our product management course at KU Leuven

Yesterday, we wrapped up our product management course at KU Leuven, a hands-on program designed for students eager to explore what it takes to build software products. Big thanks to all the students who joined us — your ideas and questions made every session inspiring. We can't wait to see the products you'll build in the future!

Growing our presence in Antwerp to be close to our clients and attract more talent

May 13, 2025

Update

Growing our presence in Antwerp to be close to our clients and attract more talent

We're growing our presence in Antwerp, being closer to some of our clients and attracting more talent! Feel free to pay us a visit at any time — at our Leuven HQ or at our hub in Antwerp. Both locations offer plenty of creative space for workshops and brainstorm sessions. Interested in joining our team? We're actively hiring in both cities.

Building a test clock: a smarter way to test time-sensitive features at scale

May 7, 2025

Blog Post

Building a test clock: a smarter way to test time-sensitive features at scale

Testing time-sensitive features like scheduled jobs, session expirations, and billing cycles is notoriously difficult. Waiting for real time is inefficient, and hacking system clocks introduces risk. We built a custom test clock solution for a client using GCP Scheduler, PubSub, and Event Arc, enabling fast, reliable testing of time-dependent workflows without the wait.

Leveraging Text-to-Speech AI to navigate children with learning disorders through this platform

May 6, 2025

Update

Leveraging Text-to-Speech AI to navigate children with learning disorders through this platform

For one of our clients, we've been developing a learning platform for children aged 6-14. Because reading text-heavy exercises can be a real challenge for children with dyslexia, we integrated Google's Text-to-Speech AI into the entire platform, introducing a "Speech Assistant" button next to every piece of text: instructions, questions, answer options. These kinds of small changes can have a massive impact! By combining the capabilities of AI with thoughtful product design, we create an inclusive learning experience to let children reach their full potential. ‍

Assisting this startup with their cloud architecture, leveraging infrastructure-as-code (IaC)

April 18, 2025

Update

Assisting this startup with their cloud architecture, leveraging infrastructure-as-code (IaC)

We recently had the pleasure of supporting ReqCon in enhancing their cloud infrastructure with a tailored Infrastructure-as-Code approach. Our short but impactful engagement focused on improving scalability, maintainability, and deployment efficiency—laying solid foundations for their next stage of growth. Always proud to empower ambitious teams with the right tech foundations.

Streamlining deployments with Pulumi

July 24, 2024

Blog Post

Streamlining deployments with Pulumi

For years, we've implemented Infrastructure as Code workflows when building cloud applications. Starting with simple YAML configurations, we matured to using Terraform and Pulumi with great success in deployment speed and reliability. We share why and how we approached IaC, and why we chose Pulumi over Terraform for recent projects.

Smart robotics: integrating computer vision and speech

June 11, 2024

Blog Post

Smart robotics: integrating computer vision and speech

Incorporating AI services like computer vision and speech into robotics is transforming how robots perceive and interact with the world. In healthcare, robots can now visually detect changes in patients' conditions and verbally report observations to medical staff, improving response times and patient care through intelligent automation.

Simplifying time management in IoT applications

April 24, 2024

Blog Post

Simplifying time management in IoT applications

IoT application developers face critical challenges balancing timeliness and completeness of sensor data, while managing battery life. This article explores PhD research on novel middleware and programming concepts that automatically adjust data collection timing and sensor transmission rates, extending battery life by 34% while maintaining application requirements.

Virtualizing building floor plans to install sensor devices

April 18, 2024

Blog Post

Virtualizing building floor plans to install sensor devices

We conceptualized and built a virtualized floor plan feature for a client to install and configure sensor devices in buildings. By mapping sensors onto floor plans, we significantly improved data visualization, centralization, and hardware location management. The feature enables immediate visual identification of alerts and streamlines device management with an intuitive user experience.

Grafana in action: transforming time series data into decisions

April 16, 2024

Blog Post

Grafana in action: transforming time series data into decisions

With exponential growth in data from cloud and IoT, sophisticated analytics are essential. Grafana offers a plug-and-play solution for visualizing time series data across multiple sources. We use it extensively to monitor application performance, infrastructure, and IoT deployments—from livestock monitoring to smart EV charging—transforming complex datasets into actionable insights.

Building custom add-ons into Gmail and Outlook: challenges and lessons learned

April 3, 2024

Blog Post

Building custom add-ons into Gmail and Outlook: challenges and lessons learned

To enhance user experience, Gmail and Outlook allow integration of add-ons and add-ins. We worked on both and found them significantly different. Google uses a widget-based CardService while Microsoft allows React but requires complex authentication. Our Microsoft add-in ended up with 5x more code than the Google version for the same functionality.

Using Terraform for microservices orchestration and deployments

March 25, 2024

Blog Post

Using Terraform for microservices orchestration and deployments

As a digital product studio, managing infrastructure is as crucial as writing application code. We leverage Infrastructure as Code tools like Terraform to streamline deployment across AWS, Azure, and GCP. This article explores our best practices for structuring Terraform code, managing state, and integrating it into CI/CD pipelines for seamless microservices orchestration.

Let's build. Together!

We'll be happy to hear more about your latest product development initiatives. Let's discover how we can help!