Tim Hasenbosch has been a sales manager at Gereedschapbeheer since 2020. And with his 27 years’ experience in sales, this organisation is a perfect fit. “I used to sell big solutions to small problems. But now I sell a small solution to big problems,” says an endlessly enthusiastic Tim.
Gereedschapbeheer owes its origins to Edwin Meijer. Over 14 years ago, he developed the first version of the application on behalf of Cofely, which hundreds of business owners now rely on every day.
They were facing specific problems with inspecting and locating various tools. You need to be able to inspect them, keep track of when they’ve been inspected or are due for inspection, manage whether items are hired out internally or externally, calculate prices – and almost all of that was done via Excel. “Well, that just doesn’t work. And the great thing is that the software is so relatable to the customer. It’s really been written with the core need in mind.”
And despite the fact that Tim’s first choice was actually to become a psychiatrist, the commercial sector seems tailor-made for him. With a very open and honest attitude and infectious enthusiasm, you know exactly where you stand after a conversation.
Putting commerce on the map
Before Tim joined Gereedschapbeheer, there was effectively no field sales team or sales department. The company generated revenue mainly from its own customer base, word-of-mouth and the occasional bit of acquisition. With Tim’s arrival, everything changed. Everything was brought in-house and professionalised. “We’ve given it a DNA. We work together with our customers and want to help existing customers grow. We don’t just want to grow in breadth; above all, we want to go deeper,” Tim continues.
And those customers are companies that have an equipment department or a warehouse, and therefore often have equipment on the move.
This is because record-keeping is often poorly organised in such places. It relies on notes, WhatsApp or the experience and memory of that one warehouse manager. And in any case, these are often organisations with an inspector familiar with NEN3140.
Save money with software
By using software, you not only save a great deal of time searching for equipment. An alarming amount of it also goes missing. Equipment gets loaded onto a van, is passed between staff members or is left behind on a job site. “And then it’s so easy to decide just to buy new tools. The installer needs them and wants to get on with the job. The manager is often unaware of all the costs or has no choice. And that’s exactly where we come in,” says Tim proudly.
Thanks to a whole host of smart automation, manual tasks no longer involve administrative work. With the app, you can track where items are, and the web tool provides a clear overview of everything. This allows you to make items available in the warehouse based on GPS locations or receive notifications when something has been on a project for too long.
And since the integration with TrackJack in 2022, the range of possibilities within the package has expanded further. Not only do you know the latest locations of your vehicles and assets, but you can also receive updates when they enter or leave project zones, track time spent in zones (for post-calculation or loss tracking), and the owner or user can be updated based on your location.
The competition isn’t standing still
\ \And despite Tim’s unbridled enthusiasm, they are not yet the market leader. But that’s no problem, says Tim: “We have plenty of unique selling points. Within 24 hours, the applicant has a contract in front of them; we come round quickly to give a demo – that sort of thing. Demand is growing all the time, and as a result, competition is increasing. But we have very good ties with the EKH (Association of Certified Inspection Bodies for Lifting and Hoisting Equipment) and can now also carry out inspections both above and below the hook.”
There’s also a package on the way for the self-employed. Even as a self-employed entrepreneur, you have to carry out inspections and be able to prove that you’re certified to do so.
The schedule for 2023? It’s already well and truly full. Tim concludes: “It starts with letting the company name spread like wildfire. We’re keen to show what we’re capable of. Excel really isn’t cutting it anymore. That’s why people are choosing Tool Management.”