Versatility and focus
4Service does not have large, individual departments with demarcated work tasks. The company has focused on the opposite, namely cross-sectoral collaboration. This provides good opportunities for both a general overview and a focus on details. Marius Pedersen, group sales and marketing director, explains:
“Versatility is one of our greatest strengths. I like to say that my position is a bit like being a fire-fighter. There are new challenges arising all the time, but there are also plenty of opportunities to make a real difference.”
Thomas Brekke, sales director at Camps, agrees that versatility is a good description.
“If Marius is a fire-fighter, I'm a potato”, laughs Brekke.
“4Service has a large catchment area and offers many different services. Those of us who work with sales and marketing must therefore familiarize ourselves with the needs and challenges of the various customers.”
Pedersen adds:
“And that is precisely why versatility and breadth are crucial. The collaboration between operations, marketing and sales is completely unique. We bring out the best in each other and use each other's strengths. Regardless of our title or position, everyone supports everyone else.”
Collaboration has been especially important in a year where few things were normal. Fortunately, the ability to think innovatively, see opportunities and test different solutions has always been a key feature of 4Service.
“It doesn’t help to think of new solutions if you never dare to suggest them or try them out. Ideas must be met with positivity. In our culture, that quality is highly valued”, says Brekke.
Throughout 2020, the company has strengthened its relationship with existing customers, while simultaneously setting new sales records.
“In order to achieve this in the midst of a pandemic, it has been crucial to develop new collaboration models with customers and adapt our services to changing needs in the market”, Pedersen explains.
The marketing department also launched a new communication solution during the past year. The purpose was to meet the need for information internally. The concept "For each other" was rolled out and soon became an important slogan.
“In demanding times, we can really see the value of good and open internal communication. It creates unity and reassurance. We used different channels to reach everyone and we also set up a separate Instagram account, where colleagues could share miscellaneous items from their everyday work. In just six weeks, that account gained the most followers in the entire industry”, says Pedersen.
New trends
The last 12 months have been a very unusual time at 4Service. The journey has included lay-offs, uncertainty, new contracts, smart additional sales, innovation and new services. Social distancing, quarantine and hand sanitizer became words used in everyday speech. When asked which trends were most relevant for the year, Pedersen is clear:
“Of course I have to answer cleaning. Not only did most things have to be washed more frequently and differently, the cleaning profession also gained a stronger position in society. As a company, both in operations and at the head office, we were equipped to offer our customers good solutions to new cleaning challenges.”
“For the group, 2020 was a roller-coaster year. At the same time, those of us who work with sales also experienced many ups and downs. This bodes well for the time after the pandemic”, he points out.
Another major trend that has been evident for a couple of years, is that the boundary between work and home is becoming increasingly blurred. Since most people were working from a home office in 2020, 4Service launched the concept of Middagshjelpen [Dinner help].
“It was our colleagues in Bergen who first saw the opportunity. In the discussion about how we should handle the challenges, they were quick to react and launched the new service. With easy ordering, payment and delivery at the door, the offer was very well received”, says Brekke.
2020 was also the year when 4Service started to think even bigger. Although many of the company's core services are provided inside commercial buildings, the associated neighbourhood is becoming increasingly important. Everyday life and work are intertwined, and 4Service shall be a premise supplier in this context.
“We shall contribute to building vibrant and well-functioning neighbourhoods, both conceptually and in the specific service deliveries. There must be a good interaction between those who work and those who live in the area”, Pedersen explains.
4Service has become an active contributor to the Oslo Metropolitan Area (OMA) network, the capital city's most important network for holistic and sustainable urban development. As a practical example of new urban development projects, Pedersen highlights the collaboration with the Oslo club VIF Hockey.
“We entered into a two-year agreement in October. Specifically, we shall deliver the best dining experience it is possible to have in a sports hall. But the surrounding district just as important. Together with a group of committed operators, we look forward to adding opportunities to an area with great potential.”
What does the future hold?
There are few absolute truths about the future, but Brekke is convinced that environmental projects and innovation will have a major impact, especially in the industrial sector.
“The large industrial groups are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment and sustainability. Hydrogen and CO2 projects are leading to, among other things, major remodelling of existing infrastructure. I think this trend will intensify in the years to come”, he says and adds:
“As a market leader, we are well positioned in terms of size and catchment area. We also offer documented and tailored quality solutions. Thus, we don’t have to compete to underbid on price in order to win exciting projects.”
Both Brekke and Pedersen believe that many people have felt a social deficit after so many months working from their home office. When society reopens, a new working day will take shape.
“The value of a well-functioning work environment outside the four walls of our home has become clearer. The breadth of our services makes us uniquely positioned to deliver a balanced working life in the new normal”, Pedersen adds.
“The need for new technological solutions has also increased recently. So, a positive consequence of the pandemic should be that so-called smart houses will now finally become really smart! And in that respect, we must be sure to play a leading role on behalf of all our customers”, Brekke concludes.
