Balance

At Business Data Challengers, we're naturally keeping a close eye on organizational developments. We're also following the FD Gazellen Award, for example. It's currently receiving a lot of media attention; just yesterday, we heard something about it on BNR Radio. And that triggered us...

What was it about then?

It was said that of all the fast-growing companies selected for the FD Gazellen this year, there are 10 companies where the customer is NOT central.

You don't hear that often. Which companies are those?

I will name a few.
Freek Wessels, CFO at chocolate bar producer Tony's Chocolonely, for example, said that the customer comes third, because the farmers who grow the cocoa and the team come first.

Kees van Bergen of Ecotap. At Ecotap, they manufacture charging stations for electric cars. And according to Kees, his own employees come first, then the materials, and only then, in third place, the customer.

And how is that actually with you Business Data Challengers?

With us, there's absolutely no question of anything or anyone being given priority. Our philosophy doesn't assume different positions or layers. We want everything to be in balance: the people (our own staff and our customers), the product, social responsibility, ethics, technology, and knowledge—it's all important. We believe in equilibrium and balance. We believe that's a better, if not the best, approach.

Is that feasible?

Yes, we've been proving for two years now that it can be done. Our philosophy is being valued by a growing number of companies, including customers, partners, and collaborating companies. It's a shame we haven't been around for three years yet, because then we would have applied for the FD Gazellen!

Are you going to do that next year?

According to the guidelines, a company must have been in business for three years to participate. See the 2018 guidelines for more information.
We don't yet know the guidelines for 2019, but we'll be celebrating our third anniversary on September 1, 2019. So we'll probably have to wait until 2020.

 

Business Data Challengers