Stories
The story of Origin - Interview with Sigmundur Traustason
Nootdorp, 25th of February
Let’s start where it all began.
When asked about his earliest memory, Mundi didn’t need to think long:
“Carrying a server onto a plane in August 2001.”
Together with Gaukur and Jón, he moved from Iceland to the Netherlands to be closer to Inter IKEA Systems in Delft. At first, the server operated right from his living room in Leiden. Later, the team found the office in Nootdorp, and that’s where Global Accounts officially started to take shape.
In the early days, every retailer had their own personalised system. But as the network grew, it became impossible to maintain all the variations. One of the biggest strategic changes was the move to a single global core system, allowing local add-ons for IKEA franchisees. This created stability, scalability, and room for continuous improvement.
Technology also played a major role in the evolution. From MS DOS to Microsoft Windows, and eventually to full remote connectivity, it transformed how the team worked. In the beginning, every installation and update required physically travelling to the store. Sigmundur, Gaukur, and Jón were constantly on the road, rarely in the same country at the same time. Today, updates and support can be handled entirely remotely, which dramatically improved communication and efficiency.
Among many memorable customer moments, one story still stands out:
In Singapore around 2000, many workers manually cut paper lines from purchase orders and glued them onto paper to form incoming shipments. The new automated system replaced the entire process overnight. While it had an impact on jobs, it was also a major step forward in operational efficiency.
The foundation of Global Accounts was built not only by systems, but by people.
Besides the founding trio, one name stands out: Thanasis Malandrakis, who worked for ISS and was a great fan of the GA team, its solutions and way of working. He worked closely with the team until his retirement. Many long term colleagues, like Rob, Peter and Arnold, who are also still here, have also contributed enormously and continue to be part of the organisation’s DNA.
When asked about the culture of Global Accounts, Mundi is clear.
He attributes it to the Icelandic mentality: spontaneous, fast, open, non hierarchical. A flat organisation where communication lines are short and people feel like family. Like we operate in Iceland, a small island where everyone knows eachother. Despite growth and global expansion, that feeling has never disappeared.
Looking ahead to the next 25 years, Mundi believes Global Accounts should hold on to the strong triangle of collaboration, The IKEA retailers, Inter IKEA Systems, and Global Accounts. At the same time, the team must keep pace with rapidly evolving technology and embrace the opportunities of AI. Supporting franchise retailers and continuing to specialise systems will be essential. The world is moving fast; staying still is not an option.
Let’s start where it all began.
When asked about his earliest memory, Mundi didn’t need to think long:
“Carrying a server onto a plane in August 2001.”
Together with Gaukur and Jón, he moved from Iceland to the Netherlands to be closer to Inter IKEA Systems in Delft. At first, the server operated right from his living room in Leiden. Later, the team found the office in Nootdorp, and that’s where Global Accounts officially started to take shape.
In the early days, every retailer had their own personalised system. But as the network grew, it became impossible to maintain all the variations. One of the biggest strategic changes was the move to a single global core system, allowing local add-ons for IKEA franchisees. This created stability, scalability, and room for continuous improvement.
Technology also played a major role in the evolution. From MS DOS to Microsoft Windows, and eventually to full remote connectivity, it transformed how the team worked. In the beginning, every installation and update required physically travelling to the store. Sigmundur, Gaukur, and Jón were constantly on the road, rarely in the same country at the same time. Today, updates and support can be handled entirely remotely, which dramatically improved communication and efficiency.
Among many memorable customer moments, one story still stands out:
In Singapore around 2000, many workers manually cut paper lines from purchase orders and glued them onto paper to form incoming shipments. The new automated system replaced the entire process overnight. While it had an impact on jobs, it was also a major step forward in operational efficiency.
The foundation of Global Accounts was built not only by systems, but by people.
Besides the founding trio, one name stands out: Thanasis Malandrakis, who worked for ISS and was a great fan of the GA team, its solutions and way of working. He worked closely with the team until his retirement. Many long term colleagues, like Rob, Peter and Arnold, who are also still here, have also contributed enormously and continue to be part of the organisation’s DNA.
When asked about the culture of Global Accounts, Mundi is clear.
He attributes it to the Icelandic mentality: spontaneous, fast, open, non hierarchical. A flat organisation where communication lines are short and people feel like family. Like we operate in Iceland, a small island where everyone knows eachother. Despite growth and global expansion, that feeling has never disappeared.
Looking ahead to the next 25 years, Mundi believes Global Accounts should hold on to the strong triangle of collaboration, The IKEA retailers, Inter IKEA Systems, and Global Accounts. At the same time, the team must keep pace with rapidly evolving technology and embrace the opportunities of AI. Supporting franchise retailers and continuing to specialise systems will be essential. The world is moving fast; staying still is not an option.