In Carpi, in the province of Modena, there's a company dedicated to technology and relationships. Machines and people, a winning combination. Welcome to Data, a company that operates in the IT world with a human approach, building tailor-made solutions for professional firms and SMEs. Giampaolo Colletti interviews Simona Lugli, co-owner of Data for FARE INSIEME
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri e Francesca Aufiero
Irregular, but constant. Of varying intensity. Notice: the sound of the keys on a keyboard could resemble that of a ball bouncing on a volleyball court in one of those crowded gyms that also train for life. Within every shot there is concentration, rhythm, coordination. And perhaps it's no coincidence that Simona Lugli, now owner of Data Srl in Carpi – a town of seventy thousand inhabitants in the province of Modena with its eyes on global markets – learned the logic of teamwork on the hardwood floors of a gym.
«Sport has taught me so much. Since middle school, I played volleyball and did athletics. I participated in school competitions, won a few, and above all, I met people who are still my fantastic friends today», says Simona Lugli, who has never stopped believing in the value of relationships. And that way of experiencing sports – with grit, but also with balance and fair play – has become the compass that guides her business in the complex world of IT. Welcome to Data, a story built on trust and technology. This company was established over forty years ago in the Modena district, in the manufacturing heart of an area that has made know-how and concreteness its trademark. Today, it has 21 people, 600 active customers, and a turnover ranging between €2 and €2.5 million. It is a company that operates in the IT world with a human approach, building customised solutions for professional firms and SMEs, and providing management systems, cloud services, IT security, and ongoing technological support.
Company history. Simona Lugli joined Data in 1989 as an employee. She chose IT almost by chance – «after school, I wanted to graduate at the College of Physical Education (ISEF), but life took me elsewhere», she says – however, over time, she realised that this world was hers. Then, years later, came the biggest change. «Stefano and I had the opportunity to become owners. It was a challenging but also exciting transition. We acquired the company from the previous partners and plunged ourselves into this new entrepreneurial adventure. We attended training courses and learned a lot, but the most important thing was the trust of our group of colleagues. It's thanks to them that everything was easier.» Here lies the human value of technology. Because in the IT sector, where innovation is fast-paced and the language is made up of acronyms, cloud, servers, and security, Data has built a difference made up of people. «Technical skills are essential, but the real difference is made by the relationships of trust and collaboration that are established with customers and suppliers. In our work the key concept is win-win. In every relationship, there must be a mutual, balanced benefit. We do not accept situations that are not in line with our values of respect, collaboration, and sharing», says Lugli.
People and machines. At the heart of Data is a consultative and human approach, where technology becomes language and culture. Even cybersecurity, a priority today, is presented with simplicity and attention to detail. «We try to cultivate culture, even before selling solutions. We use social media and newsletters to raise awareness on topics like cybersecurity and backup, because awareness is the first line of defence.» From volleyball to the cloud: the lesson comes from teamwork. The transition to the cloud was a turning point for the company. «We went from licenses to fees, from on-premise to cloud management. This made work more flexible, but also more complex, because today we need to invest in security and ongoing training.» As in sports, digital requires training. And trust in your team mates is essential. Today, Data Srl is a recognised partner in the IT sector with solid collaborations with Sistemi, HP, Microsoft, and Google. But for her, true innovation isn't in the code or software, but in relationships. «Relationships are crucial. In times of change, we've always tried to maintain an open communication with the team. Tackling challenges together and listening to everyone's ideas has created a positive and collaborative environment. This is how we grow, as individuals and as a company», Lugli concludes. Data continues to grow as a team playing online: united, concrete, and with a single goal: making people feel good, inside and outside the company. Thus, in a company that speaks the language of digital, you can breathe the values of the Emilia region.
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