After graduation he started his career in industry as computer network architect at Philips in Eindhoven and Sunnyvale, California.
[3] In 1996 he moved back to industry, starting at the telecom company KPN in corporate R&D strategy.
At the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the 1990s Wagenaar set up a new research program into "the impact of electronic communication and EDI within trade and transport chains, which resulted in a large number of publications.
In addition, he developed the concept for the management simulation game called "Port of Rotterdam", which became very popular in the business community.
"[4] In the Netherland Rene Wagenaar and Hans Strikwerda are recognized as "pioneers in the field of implementing shared service centers in public administration.