AS SO C I AT I O N PR ESI DENT THE FUTURES DIGITAL get more Affiliates, but this will be difficult, as we dont see a lot of new international moving companies starting in The Netherlands. We also see the traditional international moving company disappearing, with more relocation and move-management companies emerging. FF: What are the hot issues for your Affiliates at present? WvB: FIDI Netherlands believes that, in a rapidly changing world, we need to adapt as companies and as Associations, to continue to add value for our customers. Our clients are changing fast and we, as FIDI, need to adapt too. Its time to gear up as an industry and as an Association. FIDI Netherlands President Wiebe van Bockel gives us an insight into the Dutch relocation market ahead of the upcoming FIDI Conference I WIEBE VAN BOCKEL, FIDI NETHERLANDS PRESIDENT ts safe to say the moving industry is in Wiebe van Bockels blood. The Commercial Director at Voerman International Den Haag says he was born in a box, with this father being managing director of Steens International, a FIDI Affiliate from the 1970s up until the 1990s. It was sold to Scotpac, and later to Crown Worldwide Group, where Van Bockel worked for Crown Relocations, a brand of Crown Worldwide, before joining Voerman 15 years ago. Hes now President of FIDI Netherlands (FIDI NL), which has gained a reputation for being a forward-thinking Association always looking to evolve a trend that seems set to continue under Van Bockel. FF: What is special/unique about working as a mover in your region of the world? WvB: The Netherlands is a very efficiently run country and so is the moving industry. It is not a cheap place to live, but rates in our business are among the lowest in Europe and globally. This drives operational efficiencies and makes Dutch movers very competitive in the EU. I plan to propel the industry into the digital age 40 FF289FebMar19 pp40-41 President.indd 40 FF: What is the market like at the moment? WvB: We believe the mobility and removal market, globally, is in a state of chaos. There is a lot of consolidation and uncertainty in the market. Business models are changing fast because of technology and changing consumer and corporate behaviour. Its exciting to be part of a significant shift in our businesses, but I also understand that this is very difficult for people who have been working in this industry for a long period. We also see consolidation in the Dutch market, and that decreases the total FIDI membership. Our aim is to FF: What do you hope to achieve during your time as President of FIDI Netherlands? WvB: I want to make sure the industry moves forward together. In the end, it is people who make the difference and we are only as strong as our weakest link. We face some challenges, such as how we implement new technologies and share data; I want to speed up the process of innovation. We want to work with other Associations and help the FIDI office to make changes to stay relevant as an industry. I also plan to propel the industry into the digital age. FF: Why is your Association important to its members? WvB: We work and learn together. Training is an important part of it, which is why we started international export packers training and advanced training in 2017. In general, there is an eagerness among FIDI Netherlands 12 active members to learn from each other, and each member is prepared to do the work that is necessary to move forward. FF: If you had one message for the FIDI world, what would it be? WvB: Embrace the change happening and create a strategy/vision to stay true to your core values in a changing world. Make your choices and stay focused. A WARM WELCOME FROM FIDI NL Wiebe van Bockel says the FIDI family will be warmly welcomed to Amsterdam in late March, for FIDIs annual conference, describing it as the perfect opportunity to showcase The Netherlands to the network. According to Van Bockel, FIDI Netherlands is organising an event that is not to be missed on Monday 1 April. This party will be spectacular, he adds. We have a big tradition [to uphold] because of the last conference that was held in The Netherlands, in 1990, which still, today, is perceived as an iconic party in Studio 23 in Hilversum. WWW. F I D I . OR G 23/01/2019 16:42