Rotterdam is a city where hard work and innovation intersect – we know, we’re from there!
It’s also where Snel.com came to life.
Embodying the entrepreneurial spirit of its home city, this web hosting provider has managed to blend innovation and sustainability while staying closely connected to its customers.
Recognized as a green host by the Green Web Foundation, Snel.com is committed to providing eco-friendly web hosting solutions as it continues to stand out from industry giants by staying true to its personal-touch approach.
Openprovider recently had the chance to sit down with Snel.com’s CEO, Mustafa Aslan, as part of its latest Customer Recognition Program feature.
The company website declares, “We are not just a server hosting provider; we are your hosting partner, and this distinguishes us from the impersonal hosting giants.”
During our conversation with Mustafa, it became clear that this business delivers on its words.
Fast start: The Birth of Snel.com
Snel.com’s journey began in 2010. Originally named SnelServer – Dutch for “fast server,” the name reflected the company’s mission to make delivering dedicated servers faster and easier, a bold idea at the time. “The concept of having a dedicated server instantly set up and ready to go was unheard of,” says Mustafa. “We saw an opportunity to streamline the process and make it as efficient as possible. Existing vendors weren’t addressing the need for speed and automation, so we jumped at the chance to fill that gap.”
By focusing on instant server setup, Snel.com quickly made a name for itself among ambitious businesses with a need for speed.
It grew aggressively, but change came with challenges. The departure of a lead developer was a major turning point for the organization. It forced Mustafa and his team to reevaluate both strategy and processes – they eventually found clarity in specificity.
“This disruption made us rethink how we did things,” Mustafa explains. “We decided to focus on what we do best: managed hosting and servers. By outsourcing tasks to experts where needed, we concentrated on our strengths. It was a defining moment for our business.”
Another challenge came when the market shifted to Virtual Private Servers (VPS). Mustafa acknowledges that Snel.com was slow to adapt: “We were slow to recognize the market shift, which left us behind,” Mustafa says. “It was a wake-up call. It taught us to stay agile and adapt quickly to industry changes, even if it feels risky.”
Despite these tough challenges in a very competitive market, The Snel.com CEO never wavered in his belief: “The passion for what we do and the commitment to our customers always kept me moving forward,” he says. “Seeing the impact of our work and the satisfaction of our clients made it all worthwhile.”
Getting the best out of people
As the company website demonstrates, this is a company very proud of its Rotterdam and Dutch roots: “In the beating heart of Rotterdam, where the ethos is centered on labor, we brought Snel.com to life. What drives us? The pursuit of innovative and sustainable solutions, without losing the direct connection with our customers.”
The growing pains experienced during the early years came with valuable learnings, and these challenges taught Mustafa and his team the value of adaptability. With strategic outsourcing, it quickly became clear that being leaner would be better.
“We initially thought handling everything in-house was cheaper,” Mustafa says. “But when we looked at the big picture, outsourcing was not only more cost-effective, but also better executed.”
Outsourcing has enabled the in-house team to dedicate more time to driving operational sharpness across the board, to reach new levels of customer service excellence. Snel.com counts upon a tight-knit team of experts who have been in the hosting world for decades. But despite its success, this is a business that appears remarkably grounded and connected to its customer base on a human level. “Many of our competitors were being acquired by larger hosting companies, which allowed them to develop rapidly. We wanted to remain independent and continue doing things in our own unique way,” says Mustafa.
He firmly believes that the Snel.com’s customer service sets it apart. “The most important thing is great support, proactive support. We call it ‘9+’ support – we’re not happy with an 8 out 10. It must be above 9.” He argues that great service always has an eye on the future: “It’s about delivering support to solve the issue and to avoid it happening again in the future.” Addressing root problems saves resources having to be used to fix repeat issues – everybody wins.
But 9+ support isn’t the only way that Snel.com is contributing to a more resource-efficient future.
Being successful and sustainable
Along with its duty to customers, Snel.com is also clear about its environmental responsibilities.
“As a hosting provider, we recognise the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and implementing sustainable practices,” says its website. “We believe that it is our responsibility to contribute to the preservation of our planet and reduce the impact of our operations on the environment.” To this end, it seems that it’s in the right city to realize these ambitions.
An award-winning pioneering heat pump project in Rotterdam is currently preventing extra combustion of gas in the city, improving air quality, and lowering CO2 emissions – Snel.com is one of the beneficiaries. It now uses residual heat from its data center to fuel the electricity in its office. But it’s not just the company that benefits from these green activities as a certified green host, Snel.com’s customers also get a green host check for their websites.
It appears that Snel.com has the foundations in place to enjoy long-term sustainable success, but Mustafa is well aware that the business world never stands still. “It’s very difficult to leave comfort zones,” he says. “Reaching the comfort zone was probably a long and difficult journey, but the second danger is staying there.”
To keep moving forward, Snel.com brought in a mentor to help structure their processes and goals, a person with no emotional attachment to the organization who was not afraid to ask the uncomfortable questions. “This external support has been crucial in keeping our team proactive and engaged,” he adds.
As it approaches 15 years in business, Snel.com has a clear vision and appears comfortable in itself. “In the past, we were concerned we couldn’t keep up with bigger companies,” Mustafa says. “But by focusing on our strengths and setting clear goals, we proved it’s absolutely possible to succeed on our own terms.”
Snel.com has been a valued Openprovider customer since 2014. It is also an Openprovider Member and is able to access cost-price domains and manage everything on one platform.
Check out how Openprovider Membership can help you become a successful and profitable reseller here.
