Stories
Panos Triantafyllou about learning, building and growing together.
More than twenty years of learning, building and growing together
When Panos Triantafyllou joined IKEA Greece in 2004, his first assignment was a memorable one: preparing the opening of the new IKEA Athens Airport store. At the time, a small team from what would later become K3 Global Accounts was working side by side with the local IT team, installing Microsoft NAV, configuring systems and making sure everything was ready before the first customers walked through the doors.
More than twenty years later, Panos is still with IKEA. Looking back, he doesn't only see the evolution of technology, but also his own professional journey.
"I joined for the opening of the new store in Athens. Back then, Mundi, Gaukur and the team were here, working together with us on every detail. That's where it all started."
Learning by doing
"It's a great school. It's a big school. Every day you learn something new."
Over the past two decades, retail technology has changed dramatically. Systems became more integrated, businesses became more international and expectations grew higher every year. Looking back at where the organisation stood in 2004 and where it is today, Panos sees continuous development—not only of the technology, but also of the people behind it.
“We grew together."
A landmark in the journey
For Panos, the migration to Microsoft Business Central in 2019 remains the defining moment in his career.
"The Business Central upgrade is a milestone for us. A landmark, I would say."
The Greek organisation became the first large-scale pilot within the IKEA retail network. Unlike earlier implementations, this project covered three countries, multiple stores and a shared central organisation, making it the blueprint for many retailers that would follow.
"We expected to finish within eight months. In the end, it took much longer. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but we made it."
More than a supplier
According to Panos, that mindset changed the way projects were approached. Challenges were shared, decisions were made together and everyone worked towards the same outcome.
"Every partnership has its ups and downs. But trust was never the issue."
Technology changes. Relationships remain.
"We know you're there for us, and you know we're here for you. We support each other."
Looking ahead
After more than twenty-two years with IKEA, Panos still enjoys coming to work. Not because everything stays the same, but because it never does. There is always another challenge waiting around the corner.
He also looks positively at the next chapter for Global Accounts within XBSG and LS Retail. Looking back, however, he measures success differently: not by the number of projects completed, but by everything learned along the way.
Growing together.
When Panos Triantafyllou joined IKEA Greece in 2004, his first assignment was a memorable one: preparing the opening of the new IKEA Athens Airport store. At the time, a small team from what would later become K3 Global Accounts was working side by side with the local IT team, installing Microsoft NAV, configuring systems and making sure everything was ready before the first customers walked through the doors.
More than twenty years later, Panos is still with IKEA. Looking back, he doesn't only see the evolution of technology, but also his own professional journey.
"I joined for the opening of the new store in Athens. Back then, Mundi, Gaukur and the team were here, working together with us on every detail. That's where it all started."
Learning by doing
"It's a great school. It's a big school. Every day you learn something new."
Over the past two decades, retail technology has changed dramatically. Systems became more integrated, businesses became more international and expectations grew higher every year. Looking back at where the organisation stood in 2004 and where it is today, Panos sees continuous development—not only of the technology, but also of the people behind it.
“We grew together."
A landmark in the journey
For Panos, the migration to Microsoft Business Central in 2019 remains the defining moment in his career.
"The Business Central upgrade is a milestone for us. A landmark, I would say."
The Greek organisation became the first large-scale pilot within the IKEA retail network. Unlike earlier implementations, this project covered three countries, multiple stores and a shared central organisation, making it the blueprint for many retailers that would follow.
"We expected to finish within eight months. In the end, it took much longer. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but we made it."
More than a supplier
According to Panos, that mindset changed the way projects were approached. Challenges were shared, decisions were made together and everyone worked towards the same outcome.
"Every partnership has its ups and downs. But trust was never the issue."
Technology changes. Relationships remain.
"We know you're there for us, and you know we're here for you. We support each other."
Looking ahead
After more than twenty-two years with IKEA, Panos still enjoys coming to work. Not because everything stays the same, but because it never does. There is always another challenge waiting around the corner.
He also looks positively at the next chapter for Global Accounts within XBSG and LS Retail. Looking back, however, he measures success differently: not by the number of projects completed, but by everything learned along the way.
Growing together.