Anna Edstedt

I'm Anna Edstedt, Head of Communication at Consid Sweden. I share insights on tech branding, strategic messaging, and driving digital impact through storytelling.

[annaedstedt]

Peter Hellgren’s Vision for a More Digitalised World

By Anna Edstedt

There’s a particular kind of clarity that comes from years in the trenches. Not just building companies, but shaping industries—questioning assumptions, watching patterns, learning from every misstep. Peter Hellgren, CEO of Consid, has spent the better part of his career doing exactly that.

What stands out about Peter isn’t just his business acumen or growth record—though, yes, those are impressive. It’s his belief that digitalisation isn’t just a tool for efficiency. It’s a force for change. For inclusion. For resilience. For impact far beyond code.

And in a world that’s rapidly digitising—but not always thoughtfully—his perspective matters more than ever.

Digitalisation: A Means, Not an End

If you ask Peter about the purpose of digitalisation, he’ll probably pause for a moment. Not because he doesn’t have an answer—but because he has many.

Efficiency? Sure. Growth? Of course. But those are just the first layers.

At its heart, Peter sees digitalisation as a way to level the playing field. To make public services more accessible. To help small businesses compete globally. To empower people—especially those who have been historically left out of digital progress.

It’s not about adopting tech for tech’s sake. It’s about asking the bigger questions:

What are we solving?

Who benefits?

Who might be unintentionally excluded?

What does better actually look like?

Sustainability and Social Responsibility

One thing Peter often emphasizes internally is that digital growth has to be sustainable—not just environmentally, but socially.

At Consid, we don’t just chase green certifications. We actively look at how our work impacts local communities. Are we helping reduce energy use? Are we supporting digital literacy? Are we designing systems that serve all users, not just the most tech-savvy?

Under Peter’s leadership, initiatives like Q by Consid, our gender equality platform, and partnerships with organisations like Save the Children have grown steadily—not as side projects, but as integral to our mission.

Because the future he envisions isn’t just digital—it’s equitable.

Growth with Grit

Since founding Consid, Peter has led us through some of the most volatile chapters in modern business history. Financial crises. The pandemic. Supply chain shocks. Talent shortages.

And through it all, he’s held one thing steady: focus on people.

That includes clients, of course—but more importantly, our teams. Culture isn’t just a buzzword here. It’s a strategy. A reason we’ve repeatedly been named one of Sweden’s best employers. A foundation that allowed us to expand across markets without losing our soul.

Peter often says, “Growth isn’t about speed. It’s about sustainability with direction.” And that approach shows.

Looking to the Future

So where is this digital world heading, according to Peter?

He doesn’t pretend to know everything. But there are a few trends he watches closely:

AI with accountability – harnessing automation while staying human-centric

Ethical design – building products that consider long-term impact

Resilient systems – especially for public services and infrastructure

Cross-border collaboration – sharing knowledge beyond national silos

And perhaps most importantly—creating space for young minds to shape what comes next. Mentorship and future-focused leadership are baked into the way Peter thinks.

A Global Voice in a Local Company

This November, Consid will join business leaders from around the world at the 2025 Go Global Awards in London, hosted by the International Trade Council. It’s a space to connect, reflect, and imagine—together.

As a nominee, we’re proud. But we also see this as an opportunity to listen. To hear how others are approaching digital challenges. To explore new partnerships. To align our vision with others who care deeply about what technology is for, not just how it works.

Peter will be there, of course. Not to give speeches. But to connect. To ask questions. To learn.

Because leadership, as he often reminds us, isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying curious enough to keep asking better ones.

Final Thought

Peter Hellgren’s vision for a more digitalised world isn’t flashy. It’s thoughtful. Measured. Human.

And maybe that’s exactly what this world needs—leaders who don’t just chase transformation, but guide it.

[annaedstedt]

Employee Development: Lifelong Learning at Consid

By Anna Edstedt

I’ve always believed that a consultancy is only as strong as the people behind it. Not just their current skill sets—but their capacity to grow. Because in tech, standing still is essentially moving backward.

At Consid, based here in Sweden, we take learning seriously. But we don’t treat it as a one-off training day or a tick-box exercise. It’s woven into our culture. Encouraged. Expected. Respected.

And yes, sometimes a little chaotic. Because real learning doesn’t always follow neat timelines or perfect plans. It’s messy. And that’s okay.

Why Lifelong Learning Matters (Now More Than Ever)

Tech moves fast. We all know this. New frameworks. New regulations. New user expectations. If we don't adapt, we fall behind—and fast.

But it’s not just about keeping up with tools. It’s about developing new ways of thinking. Creative problem-solving. Empathy. Leadership. Communication. Those things evolve too.

That’s why, at Consid, we encourage a mindset that says: “There’s always something more to learn—and that’s a good thing.”

What Learning Looks Like at Consid

It’s not one-size-fits-all. Some of our consultants love digging into formal certifications—AWS, Azure, UX standards, accessibility law. Others prefer peer mentoring, side projects, or even leading workshops themselves.

Some want to explore leadership paths. Others want to go deeper into code or architecture.

So we offer a mix:

Formal development plans

Internal knowledge-sharing sessions

Hackathons and lab days

Access to courses and conferences

Space to fail without fear

We also make time for learning—not just say we support it. That part matters. A lot.

Small Moments, Big Growth

There’s something powerful about the moment a colleague shares a shortcut that saves hours of work. Or when a junior developer finds a smarter solution than the senior expected. Or when a designer learns just enough front-end code to better collaborate with developers.

Those aren’t course-based wins. They’re culture-based. And they’re what fuel us.

Not Just for Tech Roles

Learning at Consid isn’t limited to our engineers or UX specialists. It’s company-wide. From HR to finance, project management to marketing—we’re all invited to keep stretching.

I remember one of our team members in admin who took it upon herself to learn basic automation with no-code tools. Within months, she’d saved her department dozens of hours per week. That kind of initiative doesn’t come from pressure—it comes from permission.

Learning Through Mentorship

We’ve seen time and again that mentorship accelerates growth in both directions. Juniors get real-world insights. Seniors get fresh perspectives.

At Consid, we encourage cross-functional mentorship—not just within disciplines, but across them. A designer learning from a product strategist. A backend dev shadowing a frontend dev for a week. These little collisions? They change how people think.

The Role of Leadership

Leaders don’t just support learning here. They model it. They ask questions. Admit when they don’t know something. Show that curiosity isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength.

We talk about failure openly. We reflect on lessons. We let people test ideas that might not work. Because the best lessons often come from things that don’t succeed the first time.

Taking Learning Global

As we head to London this November for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council, I’m reminded just how much of our company’s success comes from our people’s growth mindset.

Being nominated is an honour. But more than that, it’s a chance to connect with others who believe, like we do, that the future of business lies not just in scale or innovation—but in people who keep learning, questioning, adapting.

That’s where real resilience comes from.

Final Thought

Learning isn’t always shiny. It’s sometimes slow. Uncomfortable. Frustrating.

But it’s what makes our teams better—not just technically, but humanly. And in a world where change is the only constant, the ability to keep learning isn’t just an asset.

It’s everything.

[annaedstedt]

The Future of Smart Cities: Digital Solutions for Municipalities

By Anna Edstedt

If you asked ten people to define a “smart city,” you’d likely get ten very different answers. For some, it’s about autonomous transport. For others, it’s clean energy grids, real-time traffic data, or high-speed internet in every corner of the city.

At Consid, we try to keep it simpler. A smart city, to us, is any place where digital tools improve daily life—for everyone.

And the key word there? Everyone.

That’s why so much of our work with municipalities here in Sweden revolves around inclusive, practical, and human-centered digital transformation. The shiny stuff is fun, sure. But real impact often comes from behind-the-scenes changes that make services faster, more accessible, and more sustainable.

Where Are Municipalities Starting From?

You might be surprised to know that many Swedish municipalities still rely on fragmented, outdated systems—legacy software, paper-heavy processes, siloed departments.

It’s not for lack of trying. Budget constraints, procurement rules, and the sheer complexity of public service delivery make digital innovation hard. But it’s happening. Gradually, steadily.

And as these local governments begin to modernize, they’re not asking “What’s the coolest tech?” They’re asking:

How can we make our services easier to access?

How do we help residents help themselves online?

How can we reduce our environmental footprint while improving efficiency?

Those are smart questions. And they deserve smart answers.

A Few Real‑World Examples

Let me share a few things we’ve worked on with municipalities around Sweden:

Automated Permit Systems: Instead of waiting weeks for paper approvals, residents can apply for construction permits, parking passes, or business licenses entirely online—with automated verification and status tracking.

Accessible Citizen Portals: We’ve helped build platforms that meet high standards for accessibility, including language options, text-to-speech, and intuitive design for users of all ages.

Digital Environmental Monitoring: Some cities now use IoT sensors and dashboards to track water levels, air quality, and energy usage in real time—helping them respond faster and plan smarter.

None of this makes headlines. But it changes lives.

The Infrastructure Behind the Buzzwords

Smart cities are built on more than apps. They require:

Strong cloud architecture (scalable, secure, compliant)

Data governance that respects privacy and enables collaboration

Interoperability, so systems across departments actually talk to each other

Cybersecurity that grows with complexity

We’ve spent a lot of time helping municipalities get these foundations right. Because without them, even the flashiest interface collapses under pressure.

People Over Platforms

Perhaps the most important part of smart city development isn’t technology at all—it’s change management.

We’ve seen brilliant tech projects fail because staff weren’t properly trained, or because residents didn’t trust the new system.

That’s why we embed stakeholder engagement in everything we do. We bring citizens into testing phases. We run workshops with frontline municipal staff. We adapt, iterate, and listen.

That’s not just good UX. It’s how you build digital trust.

Looking Ahead

What’s next for smart cities in Sweden—and beyond?

Predictive Services: Using data analytics to anticipate citizen needs before they’re raised.

AI-assisted governance: Not replacing people, but helping public servants make faster, better decisions.

Mobility-as-a-Service platforms that combine public transport, e-bikes, and car-sharing into one seamless experience.

Sustainability dashboards that track real-time progress toward climate goals.

We’re not there yet. But the pieces are in motion. And at Consid, we’re proud to be helping connect them.

A Global Conversation, Not Just a Local One

In November, we’ll be in London for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council.

Being nominated is an honour—but more importantly, it’s an opportunity. To sit with peers from around the world and ask: How do we build smarter cities, not just more digital ones?

Because a smart city isn’t one full of gadgets. It’s one where people feel served, seen, and supported.

And that’s something worth building.

[annaedstedt]

What Makes a Consultancy Sustainable – Our Triple‑P Approach

By Anna Edstedt

Sustainability. It’s a word that gets used so much it risks losing meaning. But at Consid, we’ve always tried to approach it not as a checkbox—but as a mindset. Something that guides our decisions, even when no one’s watching.

We don’t claim to have all the answers. But over the years, we’ve found a model that works for us. One that keeps us grounded while still allowing us to grow. Internally, we call it our Triple‑P Approach—People, Planet, and Profit.

It’s not revolutionary. But it’s real. And more importantly—it’s sustainable.

People First (Always)

Everything starts here. Because without a healthy, supported, diverse team… nothing else works.

At Consid, we invest in our people like they’re the core product. Because in consulting—they are.

That means:

Career development that adapts to individual goals

Flexible work that respects real life

Honest leadership that doesn’t hide behind buzzwords

Mental health support that isn’t performative

And beyond the workplace, we actively support inclusion programs, coding camps, and partnerships with organisations like Save the Children. Not because it looks good in a report, but because it creates ripples. And those ripples matter.

Planet: Tech Without the Waste

Tech has a footprint. Servers use energy. Code consumes power. Devices end up in landfills.

We can’t pretend otherwise.

But what we can do is reduce harm. That’s why we work with clients to make smarter architectural choices, build efficient code, and push for sustainable hosting providers. It’s why we support green IT certifications. And it’s why we’ve moved toward circular office practices—everything from reducing e-waste to rethinking travel policies.

One small example: when we help a municipality optimize their citizen portal, we consider the energy usage of that service at scale. It’s invisible to most users. But the impact adds up.

We also look at what we build. Are we solving real problems, or just adding to digital clutter?

Profit That Doesn’t Compromise

This is the part people often hesitate to talk about. But let’s be honest—no business survives without profit.

What makes it sustainable is how it’s earned.

For us, profit comes from:

Long-term client relationships

Fair pricing that reflects value, not just billable hours

Efficient, scalable delivery

A reputation built on trust, not volume

We’ve never been interested in short-term wins that burn out teams or erode client trust. That kind of growth isn’t growth. It’s sugar.

Sustainable profit means being around not just next year, but next decade. And bringing people—and the planet—along with us.

A Balancing Act That’s Never Done

None of this is perfect. We wrestle with trade-offs. We make mistakes. Sometimes we say no to business that doesn’t align, even when it stings. Sometimes we try a new policy that doesn’t work.

But the point is—we try. Consistently. Iteratively. With intention.

And that’s where real sustainability lives. Not in the policies, but in the day-to-day decisions.

A Moment to Share, Not Show Off

In November, we’ll be in London as a nominee at the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council. It’s an honour to be recognised—not just for performance, but for principles.

The event isn’t about who’s the biggest. It’s about who’s building wisely. About connecting with others who care about the future of business in a rapidly shifting world. A space to learn, to share, to evolve.

We’re proud to be there. Proud of what we’ve built. But we’re also aware of how much further we still need to go.

Final Thought

Sustainability isn’t a finish line. It’s a way of showing up.

At Consid, we hold onto our Triple‑P approach not because it’s trendy, but because it gives us a compass. Something to measure ourselves against when the next tough choice comes along.

And it always does.

[annaedstedt]

How We Adapt During Economic Downturns (IT Sector Insights)

By Anna Edstedt

If there’s one truth every business leader comes to accept—reluctantly, eventually—it’s that the good times don’t last forever. Markets tighten. Budgets shrink. Hiring slows. Confidence wavers.

In the tech and consulting world, economic downturns tend to ripple fast. Projects get postponed. Innovation budgets get slashed. Some companies freeze. Others fold.

And then there are those who adapt.

At Consid, based here in Sweden, we’ve been through a few cycles over the years. Booms, busts, bubbles. We’ve weathered them not because we’re immune, but because we’ve built muscles for resilience. I’d like to share a few of those with you—not as prescriptions, but as perspectives.

We Focus on Core Value, Not Flash

In lean times, clients don’t want the shiniest tech. They want results. Real ones.

We’ve learned to double down on core value delivery. That means streamlining proposals, being brutally honest about what will move the needle, and resisting the urge to oversell.

Sometimes that looks like:

Recommending smaller pilot projects instead of massive overhauls

Choosing mature technologies over bleeding-edge experiments

Adapting scope to match tighter timelines and budgets

It’s not glamorous. But it builds trust. And trust is what keeps projects moving when everything else slows down.

We Diversify Smartly, Not Desperately

Economic pressure can push companies to scatter—to chase any revenue at all costs.

We’ve done the opposite. During slowdowns, we’ve said no more often. No to projects that didn’t align. No to opportunities that would stretch our teams thin. No to tempting pivots that lacked long-term logic.

Instead, we’ve focused on deepening relationships in sectors that endure: public services, education, healthcare, infrastructure.

These are sectors that don’t stop needing technology—even in downturns. They just need it delivered more efficiently.

We Invest in Our People, Even When It’s Hard

This one feels counterintuitive. Shouldn’t a company tighten up during uncertainty?

Yes—and no.

We absolutely manage costs. But we never cut back on what matters most: our people.

We’ve kept learning budgets intact. Prioritised internal mobility. Launched mental wellness programs when stress ran high. And kept our hiring bar strong, not desperate.

Because when the upturn comes—and it always does—we want to emerge with a stronger, more capable team. Not just a leaner one.

We Communicate Clearly. Constantly. Even When There’s Not Much to Say

People can handle bad news. What they can’t handle is silence.

At Consid, we’ve made it a habit to keep communication flowing—even when it’s uncomfortable. We talk about pipeline challenges, tough quarters, delayed decisions.

We don’t sugarcoat. But we don’t panic, either.

Because in the absence of real communication, people make up their own stories. And those are usually worse.

We Revisit What We Thought We Knew

Downturns are great teachers—if you let them be.

Every time the market shifts, we take a hard look at our assumptions. What services are really delivering value? Which internal tools are bloated? Which processes aren’t helping anymore?

It’s not fun. But it’s freeing.

And sometimes, the best innovations don’t come from greenfield projects. They come from fixing what’s already there.

On the Global Stage

This November, we’ll be attending the 2025 Go Global Awards in London—hosted by the International Trade Council. It’s not just a celebration of growth. It’s a gathering of businesses who’ve endured, adapted, evolved.

Being nominated isn’t just about what we’ve built during the good years. It’s about how we’ve stayed standing through the hard ones. How we’ve kept delivering, kept supporting, kept believing in what we do.

And how we’ve helped others do the same.

Final Thought

Resilience isn’t something you write into a strategy deck. It’s something you practice. Quietly. Relentlessly. Especially when things are hard.

At Consid, we’re not fearless. We just prepare well. We stay honest. We move with care. And over time, that’s made us not just survive downturns—but emerge from them stronger, steadier, more sure of who we are.

[annaedstedt]

How Cloud Architecture Enables Scalable Public Services

By Anna Edstedt

Scalability used to be a word mostly tossed around in big tech boardrooms. Now? It’s something even small municipalities and public sector agencies have to think about—whether they want to or not.

Demand for digital public services keeps growing. People expect faster access, better availability, and zero downtime. And underneath all those expectations is one quiet, powerful force: cloud architecture.

At Consid, here in Sweden, we’ve spent years helping public institutions modernise their services. And if there’s one lesson we’ve learned, it’s this—without a strong cloud foundation, even the best-designed services can buckle under pressure.

Let’s talk about why that is.

What Is Cloud Architecture—Really?

Stripped of jargon, cloud architecture just means building digital services that live in flexible, remotely hosted environments—think AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud—rather than on local servers.

But the point isn’t just where something runs. It’s how it runs.

Good cloud architecture is about designing systems that can grow, shrink, heal, and adapt automatically. Like a living organism that expands when traffic spikes and contracts when things are quiet.

That elasticity? That’s the magic. Especially for public-facing platforms.

A Real Example: Online Application Portals

Imagine a city launches a new online portal for housing applications. It works beautifully on launch day.

Then comes deadline week. Thousands log in at once. If the backend isn’t designed to scale, you’ll see timeouts. Frustrated users. Angry phone calls.

We’ve helped clients move from single-server setups to cloud-native platforms that auto-scale—meaning the system adjusts in real time as usage increases. No manual intervention. No downtime.

That’s not just convenience. It’s digital dignity for citizens who rely on these services.

Security and Compliance Aren’t Afterthoughts

Public agencies operate in a high-stakes environment. Sensitive data, strict privacy regulations, and complex approval processes.

A lot of people still think cloud = risk. But the truth is, when done right, cloud can be more secure than traditional setups.

With proper encryption, role-based access, and geographic controls (e.g. ensuring data stays within Sweden or the EU), cloud services meet—and often exceed—compliance standards.

At Consid, we build in those safeguards from the beginning. Not layered on later like bubble wrap.

Costs That Align with Usage

One of the biggest pain points in public IT is overpaying for infrastructure that’s either underused or outdated. Cloud changes that.

Instead of investing in fixed hardware that might sit idle, cloud systems bill based on usage. So when things are quiet, costs drop. And when demand spikes, you pay more—but only when needed.

This kind of dynamic budgeting has made cloud especially appealing to municipalities and government agencies trying to do more with less.

Flexibility That Future-Proofs Services

Digital services don’t stand still. Policy changes, user needs shift, new integrations come up.

With a cloud architecture, you’re not boxed into a rigid system. You can:

Add new features without reworking the entire backend

Integrate third-party tools quickly

Test and roll out updates with minimal risk

And most importantly—you can evolve with your citizens.

Why It Matters Now

Public trust in digital services isn’t just about functionality. It’s about reliability. Can citizens count on your platform to work when they need it most?

That’s where scalable cloud architecture earns its keep—not during quiet times, but in moments of pressure.

And with cyberattacks, traffic surges, and system updates all happening more frequently than ever, resilience is no longer optional.

On the Global Stage

This November, Consid will join other leaders at the 2025 Go Global Awards in London, hosted by the International Trade Council. These aren’t just business awards. They’re a gathering of minds from every sector—exploring what it takes to thrive in a connected, rapidly evolving world.

We’re honoured to be nominated. And we’re proud to share stories like this—where technology quietly but powerfully supports public good.

Because that’s the future we believe in: digital services that serve everyone, not just the tech-savvy.

Final Thought

Cloud isn’t just a trend. It’s infrastructure for a new kind of public service—one that scales with need, adapts to change, and never forgets the human on the other side of the screen.

At Consid, we don’t just build systems. We help institutions serve better. And cloud architecture is one of the most important tools we have to do that well.

[annaedstedt]

Balancing Growth and Profit: Insights from 25 Years of Expansion

By Anna Edstedt

If you’ve worked in business long enough, you’ll know that growth is often celebrated like a trophy. Headlines shout about funding rounds, office openings, revenue spikes. But behind every graph that points up, there’s another, quieter story—about decisions made, risks taken, and lines that weren’t crossed.

At Consid, we’ve grown steadily for over 25 years. Not explosively. Not chaotically. Just… deliberately. We’re still headquartered in Sweden, but now we operate across borders and industries. And yes, the numbers are strong. But what we’re proudest of is how we got here.

Because profit without purpose feels hollow. And growth that burns people out—or compromises quality—just isn’t worth it.

Slow and Steady Wasn’t Always Fashionable

There were times, especially in the early 2010s, when it seemed like every consultancy around us was chasing hypergrowth. Rapid hires, mergers, expansion at any cost.

We made a different choice.

Peter Hellgren, our CEO, often talks about sustainable ambition. Growth, yes—but with margin, with balance, with a long-term view.

There were years we could have doubled in size overnight. But we didn’t. Because we believed it was more important to grow right than to grow fast.

Profitability Is a Discipline

Let’s be honest: profit doesn’t always make headlines. But it makes resilience possible.

Profit is what lets us reinvest in our people. What gives us space to experiment. What protects us when the economy shifts—which it always does.

We’ve had projects fail. Clients vanish. Tech trends swing wildly. But we’ve never compromised our stability chasing short-term glory. That kind of discipline isn’t flashy. But it builds trust—with employees, clients, and communities.

Growth That Aligns With Values

We’ve never expanded just for the sake of more dots on a map. When we open a new office—whether in Umeå, Hamburg, or Helsinki—it’s because there’s local potential, local talent, and a clear way we can add value.

Growth, for us, means:

Creating meaningful jobs in new regions

Supporting causes and initiatives tied to those communities

Ensuring our quality and culture stay consistent as we scale

Because if our core values don’t travel with us, what are we really exporting?

A People-First Approach

One of the biggest myths in consulting is that you can scale endlessly without rethinking how you treat your people.

We’ve worked hard to prove otherwise.

As Consid has grown, we’ve doubled down on employee development, internal mobility, and mentorship. We’ve kept our culture human, our leadership accessible. And we’ve made space for people to evolve—not just professionally, but personally.

That kind of growth doesn’t show up in quarterly reports. But it shows up in retention, in creativity, in the way teams support each other under pressure.

Looking Beyond Sweden

Today, we’re not just a Swedish company. We’re part of a broader ecosystem. And as we prepare to attend the 2025 Go Global Awards in London this November—hosted by the International Trade Council—we’re bringing that story with us.

Not just a story of success, but of sustainable success. Of showing that it’s possible to be ambitious and careful. Profitable and kind. Global and grounded.

Being nominated is an honour, of course. But more than that, it’s a chance to stand alongside other businesses asking the same questions we’ve asked ourselves for 25 years: What do we stand for? And what are we building, really?

Final Thought

Growth isn’t a strategy. It’s an outcome. And when it comes as a result of clear principles, long-term thinking, and a genuine commitment to people—then it’s something to celebrate.

At Consid, we haven’t always chosen the fastest path. But we’ve stayed true to our direction. And over time, that’s made all the difference.

[annaedstedt]

Esports & Culture: How ECEC 2025 Reflects Our Community Spirit

By Anna Edstedt

At first glance, a tech consultancy like Consid might not seem like the obvious player in the esports arena. But look closer, and it makes sense.

Tech, after all, isn’t just about lines of code or server configurations. It’s about people. Communities. Energy. Shared purpose. And, if you ask anyone who's experienced the Electric Consid Esport Cup—ECEC for short—you’ll know it’s all of that, and more.

ECEC 2025 is just around the corner. And as we get ready to open registrations, cheer on our teams, and celebrate the thrill of competition, I’ve been thinking about what this event actually represents—for us, for our colleagues, and for the wider culture we’re building at Consid.

Spoiler: it’s not just about winning.

Why Esports? Why Now?

For us, esports isn’t a gimmick. It’s a way to bring people together—across offices, across roles, and sometimes even across borders.

We launched ECEC a few years ago because we wanted to try something different. Something that could energise our teams, but also reflect what we value: collaboration, creativity, problem-solving under pressure… and a bit of fun.

Because while we take our work seriously, we also know that culture is built in the in-between moments. The matches. The banter. The shared snacks during game nights.

ECEC gives us that space.

What Makes ECEC 2025 Different

Every year, we try to evolve. This year’s tournament is set to be the most inclusive yet:

Open brackets for all skill levels—not just the elite players

Increased visibility for underrepresented groups in gaming

Non-competitive roles like shoutcasters, commentators, and organisers

Because building culture isn’t just about spotlighting the best. It’s about including the most.

And as a Swedish company that prides itself on equality and community, we’re leaning in.

Behind the Screens: What It’s Like to Join

You don’t need to be a pro gamer. You don’t even need to know the meta. If you’ve got the willingness to participate—or just to support—ECEC welcomes you.

In our Stockholm office, last year’s event turned into a full social evening. Partners joined. Pizza was ordered. People from dev teams and HR departments played side by side. And yes—some matches got wildly competitive.

But the best part? Watching colleagues encourage each other, even after a clumsy round or a last-minute loss. Because that’s the kind of culture we care about—one where it’s safe to try, to stumble, and to laugh anyway.

The Cultural ROI

Some might ask: “What’s the business case?”

It’s simple, really. A healthy workplace culture drives performance, retention, and innovation. But more than that—it makes the company worth working for.

ECEC helps us:

Build cross-functional relationships

Reduce workplace hierarchy, even if just for a night

Let people show up as more than just their job titles

In short, it humanises us.

Beyond Consid: Inspiring the Industry

We’ve had clients and peers express interest in how we run the tournament. Some are considering launching their own. Others want to join ours. And we’re open to it.

Because ECEC was never meant to stay behind closed doors. It’s a model for how companies—tech or not—can create cultural touchpoints that go beyond afterwork drinks or corporate retreats.

It’s an expression of who we are. And we think that kind of authenticity resonates.

Looking Toward London

This November, Consid will be among the nominees at the 2025 Go Global Awards, held in London and hosted by the International Trade Council. It’s an event where ideas and leadership intersect on a global scale. A space to talk innovation—not just in products, but in people.

Being recognised there is a privilege. But for us, awards are just milestones. The real work happens here—in the events, traditions, and experiments that shape our teams day by day.

ECEC is one of those.

Final Thought

Not every company needs an esports tournament. But every company does need ways to celebrate its people—on their terms, in their language.

At Consid, that language includes code. But it also includes play, connection, and community. That’s what ECEC 2025 is about.

And we can’t wait to press start.

[annaedstedt]

Employee Spotlight: Meet Our Top .NET Developers in Stockholm

By Anna Edstedt

Behind every seamless digital platform, every smart integration, and every smooth customer experience—there’s a developer (or more likely, a few) solving problems the rest of us never even see.

At Consid, we’ve always believed that the heart of innovation lies in people, not just technology. So today, we’re putting the spotlight on one of our most quietly powerful teams: our .NET developers in Stockholm.

You may not see them in the headlines, but the work they do powers municipal services, e-commerce sites, business tools, and internal systems used across Sweden and beyond.

And more importantly, the way they work—collaborative, curious, humble—says a lot about what kind of company we’re building.

So, What Does a .NET Developer at Consid Actually Do?

The short answer: a lot more than writing code.

.NET is a framework developed by Microsoft, widely used for building scalable, reliable, and high-performing applications. But in our Stockholm office, .NET is more than just a stack—it’s a toolkit for solving complex, real-world problems.

Our developers work on:

Digital self-service platforms for the public sector

B2B systems that integrate multiple data sources

Internal tools that help organisations run more smoothly

API layers that connect legacy databases with modern frontends

It’s a mix of new builds, optimisations, and clever workarounds—because not everything starts from scratch.

Meet Johan, Linda, and Ali

Let’s be real: developers often get lumped together as one amorphous group. But each one brings something unique.

Johan is the quiet strategist. He’s been with Consid for almost six years and has a gift for untangling legacy codebases that most people run from. He once likened debugging a client’s 15-year-old intranet to “doing archaeology with a keyboard.” He meant it as a compliment.

Linda leads our accessibility initiatives. Her passion is making digital services usable by everyone—including users with vision or motor impairments. She’s the first to ask, “Can this be navigated with just a keyboard?” even when it slows the sprint down a little. Because quality should never rush past inclusivity.

Ali joined us during the pandemic. Remote onboarding, brand-new team, high-pressure project. And he delivered—fast, clean code, collaborative attitude, and a sense of humour that made Teams calls feel human again. Now he’s mentoring junior devs and helping build a performance-testing toolkit for one of our biggest clients.

Three people. Three different stories. One shared mindset: thoughtful, thorough, and always evolving.

How the Stockholm Team Stays Sharp

Technology doesn’t sit still—and neither do we.

Our developers set aside regular time for:

Internal tech talks and demos

Experimentation with new .NET features (like minimal APIs and Blazor)

Hackdays where teams can explore ideas with no pressure to ship

And we encourage contributions to open-source when time allows. Because we’re not just using technology—we’re part of the community that shapes it.

Why Stockholm? Why .NET? Why Now?

Stockholm has quietly become a hub for complex, high-impact digital projects—especially in public infrastructure and financial services. And .NET, with its robustness and flexibility, fits naturally into that landscape.

But what really makes it work is the people.

At Consid, we hire for character as much as skill. We want developers who care about the why behind the code. Who ask tough questions. Who stay curious even when the requirements change for the fifth time that week (it happens).

Our Stockholm team embodies that ethos. They’re not just great developers—they’re great colleagues. And that’s rare.

Looking Ahead (And a Quick Bit of News)

In November, Consid will join some of the most forward-thinking companies in the world at the 2025 Go Global Awards in London, hosted by the International Trade Council. We’re proud to be nominated—not just for our business success, but for the kind of team culture that fuels it.

Because awards don’t happen without the people behind the projects. And our Stockholm .NET team? They’re part of that story, in every line of code they ship.

Final Thought

Developers often get the spotlight only when something breaks—or when something wows.

But at Consid, we believe in celebrating the day-to-day excellence. The solid build. The thoughtful refactor. The bug caught before it ever reached production.

So here’s to the Stockholm .NET team. You’re not just building software. You’re building trust.

[annaedstedt]

Digital Inclusivity: Serving Users of All Ages & Abilities

By Anna Edstedt

There’s something uncomfortable that needs to be said about the tech industry: for too long, we’ve built systems for the “average” user.

But what does that even mean?

When we assume everyone is young, sighted, fluent in English, digitally literate, or using the latest devices—we exclude far more people than we realise. And in countries like Sweden, where digital services are increasingly replacing physical ones, inclusivity isn't just a nice-to-have. It’s urgent.

At Consid, we’ve spent years trying to move past assumptions. And we’re still learning. But the shift toward digital inclusivity—designing systems that work for people of all ages and abilities—is one of the most meaningful changes in how we work.

Not Just Accessibility—Actual Inclusion

There’s a difference between complying with accessibility checklists and thinking inclusively from the start.

It’s one thing to make sure a screen reader works. It’s another to ask: will this service make sense to a 75-year-old who’s never used a smartphone? Or to a teenager with dyslexia? Or someone navigating a site with limited motor control?

We’ve seen websites that technically “pass” accessibility audits—yet still confuse users because of poor layout, unclear wording, or overwhelming interfaces.

Digital inclusivity requires more than compliance. It requires empathy.

Real People, Real Challenges

Take one of our public sector projects involving appointment booking for municipal services. Sounds simple, right?

But during testing, we noticed:

Older users were confused by calendar dropdowns.

People with visual impairments couldn’t tell which times were available.

Users with anxiety felt rushed by session timeouts.

These weren’t edge cases. They were real users. And when we adjusted the design—larger buttons, clearer feedback, a “slow mode” option—the completion rate jumped significantly. Not just for “vulnerable” groups. For everyone.

Because, as it turns out, inclusive design benefits all users.

Multilingual Interfaces Aren’t Optional

Sweden is increasingly diverse. Yet many digital platforms still offer content only in Swedish. Some provide English as a backup—but what about Arabic? Somali? Ukrainian?

We’ve partnered with clients to embed machine translation tools, yes—but also to write with simpler language. To offer help via icons and video. To design for understanding, not just fluency.

Inclusivity isn’t just about disabilities. It’s also about culture, literacy, and context.

Tools That Help (But Don’t Solve Everything)

We use tools like:

WCAG checkers

VoiceOver and NVDA testing

Contrast analyzers

Keyboard-only navigation simulations

These are useful. But they don’t replace user testing. And they definitely don’t replace sitting down with someone who says, “I can’t figure this out,” and watching where they struggle.

Sometimes, you need to hear the frustration to really understand it.

Designing With, Not For

One shift we’re making internally at Consid is to include more co-creation in our discovery process.

That means:

Inviting users with disabilities into early design reviews.

Testing prototypes in senior centres or community spaces.

Encouraging feedback even after launch, and acting on it.

It’s slower. It’s messier. But it’s better.

Because when you build with people, not just for them, the end result feels more human. More respectful. More useful.

The Bigger Conversation

As we prepare for the 2025 Go Global Awards in London—where Consid is proud to be a nominee—we’re reflecting on what it means to build technology that genuinely serves everyone.

This event, hosted by the International Trade Council, isn’t just about accolades. It’s a gathering of companies that see innovation as a force for good. And that includes pushing for more inclusive design—globally.

It’s a conversation we’re honoured to be part of. And one we’re committed to continuing, long after the awards are over.

Final Thought

Inclusivity isn’t a feature. It’s a mindset.

At Consid, we don’t always get it right on the first try. But we keep trying. We keep asking who’s being left out—and how we can bring them in.

Because in the end, a digital service is only as good as its ability to be used. By everyone.

[annaedstedt]

Local Stories: Consid in Eskilstuna – Challenges & Wins

 By Anna Edstedt

If you’ve ever spent time in Eskilstuna, you’ll know it’s not trying to be Stockholm—and that’s exactly the point.

There’s something uniquely grounded about this city. Historically industrial, increasingly digital, and quietly ambitious. It’s a place where big changes don’t scream—they unfold steadily. And that, in many ways, mirrors our own journey at Consid.

When we opened our Eskilstuna office, we didn’t arrive with fireworks. We came with questions, curiosity, and a desire to build with the local community—not just operate in it.

And years later, we’re still here. Still growing. Still learning what digital transformation really looks like—on the ground, where lives and services intersect.

This is a look inside that journey.

Why Eskilstuna?

Some might have seen it as a risk. It wasn’t a “hot” tech hub on paper. But we saw potential—an intersection of public sector momentum, educational institutions, and a workforce eager for the next chapter.

The municipality had already made strides in sustainability and digital infrastructure. What it needed was a partner who understood not just code, but context.

And that’s where we came in.

The Early Wins (And Wobbles)

We started small—supporting public-facing projects that needed modernisation. Websites. Booking systems. Internal portals. Nothing glamorous.

But the impact was real. Suddenly, residents could interact with local government in more intuitive ways. Less paperwork. Faster response times. Better accessibility for citizens who weren’t always tech-savvy.

Of course, it wasn’t seamless. We underestimated how much legacy infrastructure we’d need to integrate with. Some of our early assumptions—about timelines, internal capacity, even browser compatibility—missed the mark.

But the beauty of Eskilstuna is its openness to collaboration. Mistakes weren’t punished—they were seen as part of the process. That trust helped us find our rhythm.

Building a Team That Feels Local

We didn’t want a satellite office. We wanted roots.

So we hired from the region. We partnered with local schools. We offered internships not just to future developers, but to young people who weren’t sure if tech was for them. Some stayed. Some didn’t. But every interaction added something.

Today, our Eskilstuna team includes developers, UX designers, and project managers who know the city well. They shop here. Raise families here. Pay attention to what the community cares about.

That connection shows in the work. Because empathy can’t be outsourced.

One Project That Still Makes Us Smile

There was a small pilot project—digitising a citizen feedback tool. Before, residents could fill out handwritten forms (or call) to report broken streetlights or suggest improvements. A basic civic feature, yes—but clunky and time-consuming.

We helped create a mobile-friendly interface, added geolocation, and integrated response tracking. Suddenly, people could report an issue and see when it had been resolved.

It sounds simple. But the sense of participation, of responsiveness—it changed the tone of local engagement. And the municipality got real-time data to help with prioritisation.

It was one of those projects that reminded us why we do what we do.

Part of a Bigger Picture

Our work in Eskilstuna is just one thread in the fabric of Consid. But it reflects something essential: the belief that digital transformation happens locally first.

Yes, we’re proud to be nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, taking place this November in London. Hosted by the International Trade Council, the event brings together leading innovators from around the world. And sure—it’s exciting to be recognised at that level.

But it’s the quiet wins—the broken light that gets fixed faster, the website that an elderly resident can navigate independently—that remind us what global impact actually looks like. It’s built, block by block, in cities like Eskilstuna.

What’s Next

We’re not done. New projects are on the horizon—some public, some private. We’re exploring green tech integrations. Thinking about how to use AI responsibly in local services. Asking how digital tools can serve everyone, not just the digitally fluent.

It’s ongoing work. And that’s what makes it meaningful.

Final Thought

You don’t need to be in a capital city to create capital ideas. Sometimes the most thoughtful, people-first innovation comes from places a little off the radar.

At Consid Eskilstuna, we’re not just delivering software. We’re growing alongside a city that’s finding its digital voice—one service, one citizen, one solution at a time.

[annaedstedt]

Career Tips: What Makes a Consultant Stand Out at Consid

By Anna Edstedt

Let’s be clear—consulting isn’t easy.

You need to be fast, flexible, and comfortable working in the unknown. You’re expected to solve problems with confidence even when no one’s told you the full story. And while all of that can sound overwhelming, for the right person? It’s exactly what makes the job exciting.

At Consid, we’ve spent years building a consultancy culture here in Sweden that values depth over flash, and long-term trust over short-term wins. And along the way, we’ve noticed patterns. Habits, attitudes, and choices that separate great consultants from the good ones.

This article isn’t a cheat sheet. It’s more like a glimpse into what we look for—and what we try to nurture.

1. You Don’t Need to Know Everything—But You Do Need to Learn Fast

Let’s kill a myth early: no one starts out knowing everything. Not even close.

What stands out is curiosity. The consultants who dig into a new tech stack on a Friday night just to understand it better. The ones who ask “why?” when others are nodding along. That hunger to learn, paired with humility, creates trust fast—internally and with clients.

At Consid, we actively encourage lifelong learning. Whether it’s through online certifications, mentorship, or just “fail safely” moments during projects.

2. Communication Isn’t Soft—It’s Strategic

You might be a fantastic developer. But if you can’t explain why you’ve chosen a specific architecture—or if you freeze up when a client asks a direct question—it’s going to hurt the relationship.

Great consultants communicate clearly. Not with jargon, but with empathy. They know how to adjust their tone based on who’s listening. And they’re not afraid to say, “I don’t know—but I’ll find out.”

This might sound obvious. But it’s rarer than you'd think.

3. Be Adaptable, But Keep Your Backbone

The best consultants bend—but don’t break.

Clients change their minds. Projects shift direction. That’s normal. But standing out means knowing how to pivot without losing your sense of what’s right for the product, the team, or the user.

At Consid, we’ve seen consultants respectfully challenge a senior client’s assumption—and win respect for it. Not because they were stubborn, but because they were thoughtful.

That balance—between flexibility and professional integrity—is priceless.

4. Business Thinking Goes a Long Way

Tech alone doesn’t impress clients. What matters is what the tech does—for their users, their business model, their goals.

Consultants who take the time to understand the industry context always stand out. Whether it’s healthcare, public services, or e-commerce, understanding the “why” behind a feature earns trust quickly.

This is where cross-functional thinking comes in. Pairing with designers, analysts, marketers. Not just working in silos. It’s something we foster internally, across our offices—from Stockholm to Malmö and beyond.

5. Proactive > Reactive

Good consultants wait for instructions. Great ones spot issues before they become problems.

This might be a small bug that could turn into a legal issue. Or a content management feature that nobody asked for—but everyone needs. The point is: initiative makes a difference.

It tells the client you’re not just billing time—you’re invested.

6. Cultural Fit Isn’t About Personality—It’s About Values

At Consid, we value kindness as much as competence.

Do you help others without being asked? Do you give credit when it’s due? Do you share what you know freely?

These aren’t “nice-to-haves.” They’re essentials. They shape our workplace culture, which is one reason we’ve consistently been ranked as one of Sweden’s top employers.

Why It Matters—More Than Ever

The tech industry is evolving. AI, remote work, hybrid teams, sustainability reporting—it’s a lot to keep up with. Being a consultant today requires more than hard skills. It requires a mindset of contribution, adaptation, and quiet leadership.

And we’re proud to say our teams here in Sweden—and increasingly beyond—are rising to that challenge.

That’s part of what we’ll be bringing to the table at the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council this November in London. Being nominated this year isn’t just about our projects—it’s about our people. Their thinking, their ethics, their daily choices.

It’s a global stage. And we’re ready to represent what thoughtful, responsible consultancy looks like in real life.

Final Thought

Standing out isn’t about shouting the loudest. It’s about showing up—with integrity, curiosity, and care.

At Consid, we’re not just building systems. We’re shaping how consulting is practiced. And it starts with people who quietly do the hard things—really well.

[annaedstedt]

Tech Stack Trends: Why We Use React, .NET, AWS, Python & More

By Anna Edstedt

Every tech company has its favorite stack—the combination of languages, frameworks, and tools that form the foundation of its digital projects. But here’s the truth: the why behind those choices often says more about a company’s culture and priorities than the stack itself.

At Consid, we’ve carefully evolved our technology stack over time. It’s not about chasing the latest hype or sticking with tradition for comfort. It’s about what actually works—scalability, maintainability, and the freedom to build tailored solutions for clients in Sweden and beyond.

So if you’ve ever wondered, “Why React? Why .NET? Why AWS?”—this is our answer. Or, at least, part of it.

React: Frontend That Doesn’t Get in the Way

React has become something of a default in frontend development. It’s fast, component-based, and—most importantly—it scales with complexity without becoming unreadable.

For municipal websites or enterprise dashboards where user interaction is critical, React gives us:

Reusability: Build once, use across projects.

Speed: Faster page loads, better UX.

Community: A robust ecosystem of tools and plugins.

And since most of our frontend teams are cross-functional, the ability to build modularly just makes sense.

Is React perfect? Not at all. It can become bloated if misused. But with discipline and the right conventions, it helps us focus on design, not just code.

.NET: A Foundation That’s Quietly Powerful

For backend systems, especially those serving the public sector or clients needing enterprise-grade stability, .NET has been our go-to.

It’s mature. It’s secure. And, quite honestly, it just works—especially for:

Complex integrations with legacy systems.

Scalable APIs.

Data-heavy workflows where performance is non-negotiable.

The .NET ecosystem also gives us access to a pool of developers who understand how to build mission-critical systems without cutting corners.

It’s not trendy, but it’s reliable. And that matters when public services depend on uptime, not just innovation.

AWS: Flexibility at the Infrastructure Level

Some clients come to us already committed to cloud providers. Others look for guidance. AWS is often our first recommendation—mainly because it offers breadth and maturity.

With AWS, we’re able to:

Spin up environments quickly for testing or live deployment.

Leverage a wide array of services—AI, analytics, DevOps pipelines—without juggling vendors.

Maintain strong governance and compliance, particularly with EU regulations.

That said, we’re not dogmatic. We’ve used Azure, GCP, and even on-prem solutions where needed. But AWS continues to offer a balance of power and precision that serves most of our use cases.

Python: The Swiss Army Knife of Our Stack

Python is one of those rare languages that feels both accessible and deep. Whether we’re building machine learning prototypes, automating internal processes, or supporting clients with data science solutions, Python helps us iterate fast.

It shines particularly in:

AI/ML model development.

Data wrangling and analytics.

Backend tasks where speed-to-code matters more than performance.

And since Python has a huge global community, our developers can stand on the shoulders of others—without reinventing the wheel.

Other Tools That Support the Stack

Of course, there’s more behind the curtain:

TypeScript for stricter, safer JS development.

Docker for containerized deployments.

Kubernetes for orchestrating scale.

Contentful for flexible headless CMS use.

Terraform for infrastructure as code.

We’re not loyalists—we’re pragmatists. If it helps us deliver faster, better, and more securely, we’ll consider it.

But Why This Stack, Really?

It comes down to a few things:

Maintainability: We’re in it for the long run. Our solutions should be easy to hand off, iterate on, and grow with.

Talent: Sweden has an incredible developer community, and we want to work with tools they love and trust.

Client Fit: We choose tech that matches the problem—not the other way around.

Sustainability: Yes, even tech stacks affect energy usage. Efficiency matters.

Looking Forward

As our projects become more global and complex, we revisit our stack regularly. But we don’t chase trends. We track them—cautiously. And we adapt when it’s useful, not just when it’s shiny.

That mindset, we believe, is part of what led to our nomination for the 2025 Go Global Awards, happening this November in London. It’s an event hosted by the International Trade Council, bringing together companies who aren’t just growing fast—but growing thoughtfully.

It’s a space to exchange ideas. To reflect on what we’re building and why. And to connect with peers who understand that the real value isn’t just in code—it’s in what that code empowers people to do.

Final Thought

Tech stacks come and go. But the principles behind them—clarity, usefulness, sustainability—those stick.

At Consid, we’ll keep evolving. Keep questioning. Keep building with intent.

Because in the end, the best stack is the one you barely notice—when the tech disappears, and the solution just works.