#DiscoverGoodChemistry

Between reliable systems and new ideas

A glimpse into the day-to-day world of workplace IT

“We have the flexibility to work from different locations, so I can either work in the office or from elsewhere.” Today, Julian Dahms, Service Owner and Architect at ALTANA Management Services GmbH in Wesel, Germany, is working in the office. A meeting with colleagues from BYK’s IT Governance & Business Solutions team is about to begin. They will discuss the IT requirements for handheld barcode scanners in production.

This project is intended to serve as a blueprint for supporting other divisions in the future. “It’s all about saying, ‘Hey, we’ve already established a process that works. Why not jump on board?’” says Julian.

The trust placed in me and my work makes me feel like I can really make a difference here.

Julian Dahms
CC Workplace/ IT, ALTANA Management Services

An employee holding a laptop in an open work environment, with colleagues in the background.

A Job with far-reaching impact

Julian has been with ALTANA Management Services since 2023. This is a company within the ALTANA Group that provides various services, expertise, and platforms for the entire group—ranging from IT and accounting to intellectual property. Approximately 180 employees work for this company in Germany, China, and the U.S.

Prior to this, Julian had already worked for the BYK division for five years. However, he has been familiar with the ALTANA Group for even longer. “I had been working for ALTANA as a service provider through my previous employer since 2011.” When the opportunity to make the switch arose, he seized it. Today, he is responsible for managing the service providers for the entire group in the areas of mobile device management and virtual desktop environments. This includes, among other things, monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimizing services and costs. “In doing so, I interact every day with various departments and people from all over the world. That makes my job very varied.”

Reliable systems that create freedom

Julian has always been fascinated by centralizing and automating processes through the interaction of hardware and software. “Developing, deploying, and further refining a globally used management system tailored to end-user requirements—for example, for our company smartphones—was the deciding factor for me in taking this job.” He is able to contribute his own ideas as well as optimize existing systems and adapt them to new requirements. Julian is well aware of the importance of these services: “At ALTANA, colleagues around the world rely on our systems every day to work productively. Only when these systems run reliably do we create the flexibility to meaningfully introduce new technologies and generate real added value for the business.”

Collaboration based on openness and trust

During his time at ALTANA, Julian has learned how important it is not only to think technically but also to understand the core business of each division to offer the right solution or introduce new software. The openness within his team and beyond is helpful in his day-to-day work. “I work closely with colleagues from different teams and regions. What I value most is the balance between professionalism and personal connection: being clear and focused on our work, combined with mutual respect, trust, and genuine camaraderie.”

That’s also what “Good Chemistry” means to him: exchanging ideas with openness, tackling challenges together, and supporting one another. “This combination, along with the trust placed in me, my work, and my ideas, gives me the feeling that I can really make a difference here.”