Meet the Expert, Remi Appels

Ask anyone what happened on 9 January 2007, and they might not know the answer, but for Remi Appels there is only one correct answer: the launch of the first iPhone by Steve Jobs at MacWorld in San Francisco. Since then, his interest in mobile technology has never wavered. An interview with Remi Appels (37), Solution Lead Mobile Apps at Sopra Steria.

What exactly does a Solution Lead Mobile Apps do?

As Solution Lead Mobile at Sopra Steria Netherlands, I am the expert and point of contact for everything related to mobile development. This means that I am responsible for developing and guiding a future-oriented mobile development strategy and helping to positioning Sopra Steria as an authority in the field of mobile technologies. I also spend a lot of time with our clients advising them on mobile and app development.

How did you get into IT?

Even when I was at secondary school, I enjoyed building websites and figuring out how to get as many people as possible to visit them. This interest led me to choose a technical degree. During my Media Technology studies at the Hogeschool Rotterdam, I was particularly interested in the subjects that involved creating applications with a visual interface for the end user. But it was the launch of the first version of the iPhone and the iOS development course that really got me hooked. That was when I really thought: yeah, this is really cool. Now you can make applications that fit right in the user's pocket. Since then, that interest in mobile development has never left me.

How long have you been working at Sopra Steria?

 After graduating, I set up a company with two fellow students to develop apps and websites. After that, I worked as a freelancer for a while. Then I ran into a former classmate who told me that he worked at Ordina (Ordina was acquired by Sopra Steria in 2023) and that he mainly worked for large clients. That really appealed to me, so I applied and started working as a mobile software developer. That was in 2014 and I have never regretted it for a moment. I have since progressed to my current position as a Solution Lead and I really like it. The nice thing about this position is that you are not only involved with the client in a hands-on way, but you are also part of the leadership team and busy securing contracts, tenders and developing new solutions.

Can you give one or more practical examples of your work?

Through my work at Sopra Steria, I have had the opportunity to work on many great mobile projects. These include mobile apps that help employees of the Dutch railways, the police and the Ministry of Defence in their daily work, as well as apps for users of the ANWB (Royal Dutch Touring Club) and the health insurance company CZ. The app we developed for CZ allows people to quickly submit claims, check their deductible and also check their reimbursements via the personal search assistant.

What project are you most proud of?

One of the most special development projects was for a start-up called Happitech. In collaboration with the client, we developed a software development kit (SDK) for both iOS and Android based on various studies and algorithms. This technology allows users to measure medical values related to their heart rate by placing a finger on the camera lens of their device. This allows patients to take scans at home to detect arrhythmias.

What makes your work so much fun?

Developments in mobile never stop. Devices get better every year, and there is always new hardware, such as fingerprint or facial recognition for login. But the development possibilities are also constantly increasing. Every year a new framework is released that allows you to develop mobile apps in a more advanced way. In terms of content, I particularly enjoy working with colleagues on a client assignment. How do you get from an idea to a solution, and what steps are involved? It's even better when you can be successful with the end result. For example, the app we developed for CZ was voted the best Dutch health insurance app.

How do you keep up with new technologies and tools in the mobile app industry?

I attend conferences like AppDevCon, Fluttercon and DroidCon, where all the new mobile solutions are presented. I also participate in the FlutterHolland Meetup group, for which we have been able to host a few meetings at our office in Nieuwegein. I also read a lot of articles on the online platform Medium.

Which programming languages and frameworks do you prefer for mobile app development and why?

Since the vast majority of users have an iOS or Android device, I prefer a single solution that can be used for both platforms. Flutter, with its Dart programming language, is the framework I currently find best suited for this purpose. I particularly like Flutter's architectural decision not to translate to the native UI components of Android and IOS. This ensures a stable and consistent user experience for end users and is highly efficient for developers and testers.

What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in IT?

DO IT! IT is never boring and is constantly changing, so there is always something new to learn. This makes the work challenging and fascinating, as you can constantly expand your knowledge and skills. Solving complex problems and seeing the results is very satisfying, especially when you can do it as part of a team. And being mobile adds an extra dimension because the application you are developing is as close to the end user as possible, allowing you to make the user experience very personal.