How long have you been working at Wout Monseurs?
I have been working for Wout Monseurs for 13 years and 11 months as team leader of the technical department.
Have you always had a passion for technology?
Yes, I've been involved with audio and video since I was young. My uncle had a lighting and sound rental company, and I regularly went with him to help out with jobs. He often asked me to repair things, and that's how it kind of got out of hand. I also worked as a freelance stagehand at various festivals for a while.
How would you describe Wout Monseurs as a company?
Wout Monseurs is a true Breda family business. We have had loyal customers for many years, thanks to our strong emphasis on service. The team is small and close-knit, which enables us to respond quickly and give our customers a lot of personal attention!
We therefore visit customers regularly, maintain telephone contact, and customers can always email us.
It's a pleasant, friendly team, and last but not least, we end the week together with drinks.
As a technical service team leader, what are your responsibilities?
That's right, as a team leader, I have many different tasks. For example, I ensure that stocks are maintained at the right levels, I maintain contact with suppliers, and I keep the Cloud printer monitoring systems up to date.
Our services are also often provided abroad. As soon as installation or maintenance is required for offices or ships, it is important that we have the right parts available in good time and can respond quickly to perform the service on time. That also requires a lot of logistics!
We also have an extensive European partner network for emergency printer service. But we make sure that we always have time to visit customers ourselves. A responsible, diverse but enjoyable job.
What gives you the most energy?
From complex problems. And of course, this doesn't mean replacing cartridges, but installing systems or replacing entire components within a device. This way, a device may be at the end of its life, but you can still breathe new life into it!
What is the biggest challenge in your job?
The biggest challenge is arranging installation and maintenance somewhere in Europe. This requires careful planning and good logistics. We have to ensure that the right parts are available at a specific location and on a specific day. You also have to deal with different cultures, which can be quite a challenge!
Our main task is to carry out all work as well and as quickly as possible. For example, ships cannot be left idle for too long.
How do technological developments impact your tasks?
Technically speaking, service hasn't changed much in recent years, but there are two important factors I need to take into account: changing customer needs and the devices themselves. Of course, we're here to ensure customer satisfaction!
How do you stay up to date with the latest developments?
I do this through internet forums, and of course I need to have my accreditations to demonstrate my knowledge. This also helps me stay up to date. It's also important to maintain your network with other technicians, and we share a lot of experiences about the profession.
Have customer needs also changed?
Certainly, it is constantly changing. Consider it a challenge to find the right solution to a question in our profession!
What is the greatest demand for technical development at the moment?
In recent years, there has been a noticeable demand for a pleasant working environment through more efficient working methods. This involves a great deal of digitization. The question is therefore not whether customers need to grow with us, but whether we can keep up with this development.
Furthermore, there is a strong shift towards hybrid working! This is extremely popular within companies, but it does require good online communication systems. You need smart systems. For example, a home office must be equipped with a well-secured laptop and a good cloud environment.
And let's not forget that a good working environment also means a nice cup of coffee and not too much stress!
How does sustainability feature in your current tasks?
You notice that companies are increasingly asking questions about this. Think of the disposal of toners and cartridges, power consumption, and emissions such as particulate matter. Recycling is constantly evolving, and our suppliers are also working hard on this.
We are therefore more concerned with providing insights through cloud systems. This enables us to provide information about printing behavior, security, and power consumption. In this way, we identify opportunities to save on costs and consumption and continuously improve in the area of sustainability.
What is the number one tip you would give companies for a future-proof workplace?
I have one important tip! Ensure more peace and quiet and a hybrid working environment. This will greatly increase productivity and make the workplace a lot more pleasant.
Do you have other passions you would like to share?
Of course, my kids! I am extremely proud of my two girls and I often go out with them. Noortje is Dutch Acro Champion and Merel is a top international gymnast. Fortunately, my son stays close to home, but he does have a large online network.
What do your children think of the home printing service?
That's nice. I haven't had a printer for a long time, but now that they're getting older, they need to print things. Sometimes they still use pen and paper, but then I point out that they can also print. Then I'm there to explain that you can simply do this via your phone. So I think the printing service is fine.