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Who are the people behind ARV Group? In this series, “In conversation with…”, colleagues talk about their work and collaboration. This time, we speak with two people who play an important role in the internal organization: Claudia van Empel, office manager at ARV Group, and Bram Verhoeven, senior consultant at ARV Consulting.
1. What is your first memory of starting at ARV Group?
Claudia: “Like the founders of ARV Group, I worked at Akzo Nobel. When the firm was launched, I moved over with them as office manager. I immediately threw myself into it completely and helped set up the administration, accounting, and invoicing. Gradually, we became more and more professional. A tremendous amount has changed over the past 25 years.”
Bram: “I already had a lot of experience in operations within the international food industry, including at Nutricia/Danone. Through my work I came into contact with ARV Group, and in 2012 I decided to make the move from the company side to consultancy. I was able to get started right away on operations and continuous improvement issues. For me, that was a real bullseye.”
2. Why did you choose to roll up your sleeves at ARV Group?
Claudia: “It truly felt like an adventure. From being a secretary in a department at a large corporation to a small firm. That was still the time of Excel files and manually creating invoices. As growth picked up, we continued to automate and digitize further. Today, we work with one integrated system for CRM, HR, sales, project management, planning, time tracking, and invoicing, linked to our accounting. The efficiency gains we’ve made over the years are enormous. And this also allows us to align well with what our clients need.”
Bram: “What appeals to many people at ARV also applies to me: the variety in clients, issues, and locations. In previous roles, I had already guided many change programs, and I could put that experience to good use here. In addition, I had great connections with colleagues, and the working methods, tools, and approaches fit perfectly with my way of working.”
3. What are your roles within the organization?
Bram: “About eighty percent of my time, I work with clients as a senior consultant. I spend the remaining twenty percent supporting colleagues. For example, managing best practices and assisting with project presentations, and developing internal work standards. This is how we show that we truly deliver on our promises. In this way, I serve as an internal point of contact and ensure that knowledge and experience within the team are optimally utilized.”
Claudia: “In addition to his work as a senior consultant, Bram is also our internal go-to person for colleagues. Within the organization, I have a fully internal role. Besides administration, invoicing, and payments, I handle HR and marketing tasks, such as our annual golf event, and I am responsible for the office in Arnhem.”
4. How does ARV Group distinguish itself in the market?
Bram: “We do work with best practices, but not with fixed templates or standard solutions. We fully tailor our approach to what the client needs. What sets us apart is our flexibility and our ability to truly deliver customized solutions. We combine in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing industry with practical experience in operations and supply chain. That also fits with how I work myself. Colleagues know they can always come to me and they often do. ‘Can it be done quickly?’ I hear regularly. Then my service-oriented side comes out: I’m happy to help, whether it’s for clients or colleagues.”
Claudia: “We started out with a small team of young consultants and really had to prove ourselves in the market. By now, we have grown into an experienced boutique firm, especially well known in the manufacturing industry. With XTR Operations, we are now again welcoming mostly younger colleagues. It’s great to see how the mix of experience and fresh energy strengthens each other, from strategy to execution.”
5. How do you see the future?
Claudia: “Even after 25 years, I still really enjoy working at ARV Group, in our pleasant office in Arnhem. We continue to develop constantly, so there are plenty of challenges ahead. It’s precisely that combination of familiarity and innovation that makes me come to work with pleasure every day.”
Bram: “I feel completely at home here and get a lot of satisfaction from the combination of my external and internal roles. With developments in the areas of data, BI, and AI, we are increasingly active both with clients and within our own organization. I am convinced that we will take a great next step here and further strengthen our services.”