As the summer of 2024 has come to a close, it's an excellent opportunity to reflect and assess. We had a conversation with our managing director, Ronald IJzer, to gain insights into Vivochem's achievements and milestones this year. During the interview, he also delves into current trends and provides valuable insights into what we can anticipate for the upcoming months and beyond.
Can you share something about Vivochem’s year so far?
The year so far has surpassed our expectations; we are performing better than we had predicted. We are experiencing healthy growth that aligns with the trends of recent years. We observe the market starting to normalise again after the coronavirus pandemic, and the upward trend in sales that we have witnessed in recent years continues this year.
What are themes that have been important in recent months?
Lately, one of our main focuses has been investing in our people. We believe our team is our greatest strength, and I am incredibly proud of the talented individuals working with us. Thanks to our strong team, we have successfully navigated the first months of the year. Not only are we achieving good results, but we also see high levels of employee motivation. Particularly noteworthy is the strong sense of ownership displayed by our people. They feel accountable and are highly motivated to perform their best in their roles.
We are also actively working on enhancing collaboration within the BÜFA Group. Last month, we had another productive meeting with our colleagues from Germany, during which we made significant progress in strengthening our joint efforts and combining our strengths. Our aim is to provide even better service to various sectors by working closely together to develop innovative and sustainable solutions.
What milestones has Vivochem achieved recently?
Finishing our new build project in the first half of the year was a major achievement. We also made substantial investments in digitalisation. For instance, we are increasingly utilising AI to enhance administrative processes. Additionally, we intend to automate further to improve workplace safety and minimise monotonous tasks for our employees as much as possible.
What topics have become more important in recent years and why?
Water treatment is becoming increasingly important at Vivochem. With FerSol, we offer a unique and innovative product for water purification, allowing us to make a real difference. Therefore, we are committed to focusing even more on this in the coming period. Our goal is not just to sell products; we aim to solve challenges our customers face, such as combating odours and biofilm.
Can you tell us something about developments regarding sustainability?
In recent years, the importance of sustainability has grown for both our company and broader society. While it has always been a core value, it is becoming even more critical. We have recently made substantial progress in sustainable mobility. For instance, we have transitioned to using only electric cars and have invested in the necessary infrastructure for charging them. We have installed charging stations and utilise solar energy from our solar panels to power the vehicles. Additionally, we have placed an order for our first electric truck, which is scheduled for delivery early next year.
What are the goals for the rest of this year and beyond?
We remain committed to sustainability, with the upcoming delivery of our first electric truck next year being a significant milestone. In addition, we will continue to invest in automation and digitalisation processes to ensure efficient and safe operations. These goals demonstrate our dedication to continuous improvement.
Can you tell us something about continuous improvement?
Continuous improvement is an essential part of our business strategy. No matter how well we perform, there is always room for improvement. We apply this principle by constantly investing in our people and processes so that we can work smarter and more efficiently. We strive to automate monotonous and repetitive tasks as much as possible so that our people can focus on the work that makes a difference. This ensures better results and a more engaged and motivated team.
What themes do you expect to become more important in the coming years? And how does Vivochem expect to respond to these changes?
I anticipate that sustainability and water treatment will become increasingly important. To address this, we intend to continue investing in innovative solutions that align with these growing trends. We recognise water as one of the most crucial global megatrends, and we can make a positive impact with our expertise and products, especially FerSol. By making targeted investments in these areas, we aim to strengthen our position and contribute to a more sustainable world.
Thank you for your time Ronald.
