
Fastly Changing World
The demand for solutions for rapidly changing work environments is exploding. Many companies are on the move with sustainability policies, focusing on use rather than possession and wanting to be adaptive to adopt new concepts with haste. Many organizations are also reconsidering the occupancy and utilization of the real estate portfolio. This is also seen by Reinier Nederhoed of Alvero Office Furniture Rental, who will share knowledge and practical experience at the WorkPlace Xperience on April 16 and 17 at the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam.
The role of data in a circular transition
It all starts with a good foundation: know what you have in terms of tables, chairs and cabinets. That sounds simple, but companies used to make only rough estimates of what interiors were available. Basic information ended up in a file that was far from adaptive. Alvero saw those same challenges in its own environment. Nederhoed: "For example, we saw rough estimates of available interiors in Excel sheets and asked ourselves how we could improve this process. This is because we knew that this does not fit with a rapidly changing world, in which the work environment must be especially adaptive. To trends, to developments such as hybrid working."

And so Alvero set about mining this potential for improvement. "We did that by developing our own system: Alvero Furniture Management (AMM). It first gave us the ability internally to be constantly up-to-date. We wanted to show the value of an active document that helps you respond to sustainability developments. With which you respond faster to new developments and pursue circular operations. And that lets you anticipate efficiencies and acceleration."

Reinier Nederhoed"A dynamic market, no doubt. As we move toward circular and healthy work environments, it is necessary to first have an understanding of what you have in place. That is what data-driven facility management gives substance to, but we come from a situation where this is not yet commonplace. We used to act from mainly gut feeling, but today we are in a different reality. Full of financial incentives and sustainability ambitions. Therefore, reason must prevail, not emotion."
More sustainable acting
According to Nederhoed, Alvero saw the same challenges as well as opportunities with customers. "We saw the potential of the system to not only act as an internal system, but to help our partners and customers fulfill their ambitions. Those ambitions are driving this movement toward data-driven facility management. "Many companies express a desire to act more sustainably, to minimize harmful greenhouse gas emissions and keep raw materials in the chain longer. For many, a red circle surrounds the year 2030, in which we use half as many primary raw materials and reduce CO2 emissions by more than half.
For many companies, then, there is a diversity of ambitions at play: financially driven, focused on sustainability, making the workplace healthier and working out future-proof workplace concepts. "During an intake we discover what ambitions there are and how far an organization is already. We start with a baseline measurement to clarify what objects are in house and how they fit into, for example, circularity goals. Each item is given a tag with RFID technology, a unique identity with data enrichment and is housed in a furniture management system, which houses the data."


Participation Workplace Xperience
This knowledge and practical experience is what Alvero is bringing to the WorkPlace Xperience, on April 16 and 17 at the Van Nelle factory in Rotterdam. The party is returning after a previous successful edition: "For us, the WorkPlace Xperience is a high-end event, where we meet like-minded people. The level of visitors as well as the conversations is high. We like to use that moment not only to present all facets of our solution, but especially to exchange views on the theme of data-driven facility management. A subject that will not be brightly highlighted at the event, but that we will give the attention it deserves." Above all, he hopes for a lot of interaction: "We'd love to hear considerations on whether or not to get started with data-driven facility management.

And like to think about solutions that future-proof business operations, to move from emotion to reason. We need that for acceleration. This is a development that will never stop. We like to go on that journey together." Looking to the future, Nederhoed sees another important opportunity in the form of a marketplace for surplus furniture: "This will ensure that companies are attracting the most circular and sustainable solution to themselves. The objects that are no longer used don't sit in the back of a warehouse somewhere or get stamped 'end of life cycle.' Instead, each object gets a new life, with all the profit that comes with it."

Interested in a demo, have further questions or want a quote?
Alvero Furniture Management fits perfectly into your organization's circular operations and contributes to efficient financial management. Want to know more about the AMM or would you like a demo? Call Reinier or send an email.
