At ValidSign, they don’t like standing still. While the platform runs reliably for thousands of users every day, the organisation continues to grow steadily, and behind the scenes, work is underway on a fundamental renewal: the entire backend is being rebuilt. Managing Director John Lageman doesn’t see it as a mere upgrade, but as a necessary step to stay ahead of the curve.
ValidSign is running well. So why such a radical change?
John: “Because ‘good’ isn’t enough if you want to move forward. You can keep optimising what’s already there, but at a certain point, you have to ask yourself: is this still the foundation we want to build on for the next ten years?”
“We are growing rapidly as an organisation, and you have to ensure your foundation can keep up with that pace. We chose not to wait until we hit our limits, but to take that step forward ourselves. Not because we have to, but because we want to keep accelerating.”
What was the deciding factor to do this now?
“We want to be able to move faster. When legislation changes or customers need something, you want to be able to respond immediately. With the old setup, there was too much friction.”
“Additionally, we see what’s coming our way. Think of developments like eIDAS and the European eWallet. That requires a platform that is not only secure and compliant, but also flexible enough to integrate those developments quickly. We have now consciously created that space.”
What is actually changing under the bonnet?
“Essentially, everything you can’t see. We have built a completely new backend that gives us much more flexibility in how we develop the platform further.”
“This allows us to add new components, such as an App Store and AI functionalities, in a controlled and secure manner. Not as loose add-ons, but as a true part of the platform.”
“Furthermore, we’ve redesigned the infrastructure so we can guarantee performance and scalability for the long term. Whether we process thousands or millions of transactions, it shouldn’t make a difference.”
“And perhaps just as importantly: we can give customers much better insights. Reporting will become more visual and powerful, giving organisations real control over their signing processes.”
What will the user notice?
“Ideally, as little as possible. No hassle, no delays. But we are also realistic: with a change this big, some things might work differently than what people are used to.”
“Everyone develops their own way of working within the platform. You can never fully predict that. That’s why we’re making sure we are ready to help quickly if any issues arise.”
Does this step help with your growth ambitions?
“Absolutely. We are growing fast and expanding further into Europe. That simply means larger volumes and higher requirements. Your platform just has to deliver. This new foundation gives us that certainty and the room to keep growing.”
