At Albert Heijn Asten, everything is about efficiency. Supermarket manager Luc Verberne has been at the helm of this busy store since 2016. With his background in business economics and years of experience on the shop floor, he knows better than anyone how important it is to connect data and practice.
"You have to make choices based on facts, not feelings," Luc says. This insight led AH Asten to choose R&R years ago, and later R&R Insights - a tool that turns data into actionable insights.
"At the touch of a button, I can see the expected results."
Luc Verberne
Albert Heijn
"Six years ago we were still stuck with spreadsheets," Luc says. "The planning was cumbersome and inefficient. We knew it had to be different." After a selection period comparing several WFM tools, AH Asten chose R&R. When R&R Insights was introduced, it brought a new dimension to operations.
With R&R Insights, Luc has up-to-date data that allows him to shift gears at lightning speed. "With one click of a button, I can see the expected results. That makes everything so much easier." This not only helps with planning hours, but also with larger strategic decisions. "When we stopped selling tobacco, of course we knew that would do something to sales and to productivity. By using Insights, you can see exactly what the impact will be. This also allows you to see what knobs you can turn to achieve the desired results."
"We were able to increase our productivity by 2%. That may seem small, but on an annual basis it's huge."
Luc uses R&R Insights to make decisions based on facts rather than feelings. "Previously, we only saw the impact of using more or fewer hours after the fact. Now we can schedule extra hours in time to deal with the rush and see the impact immediately." During weekly meetings, he discusses with managers where last week's bottlenecks were, such as busyness on Friday evening or Saturday morning. R&R Insights can be used to calculate what extra hours can be put in at those times. Based on that, a decision is made to put in 10 or 20 extra hours. This gives managers more responsibility and makes decisions less dependent on Luc's direct input.
"We also made a lot of adjustments in the store last year and had a store remodel. In addition, R&R Insights gave us insight into which hours were lost and what the impact was on the bottom line. It also showed the status of productive hours and where opportunities for improvement lay. By tinkering with this and in combination with store adjustments, we saw an immediate effect on productivity through Insights. "We were able to increase our productivity by 2%. That may seem small, but on an annual basis that's huge."
"We used to steer by revenue, but now we look at efficiency. Where do hours really add value? Insights makes that visible."
Luc Verberne
Albert Heijn
Luc explains that the move to a more data-driven approach improves not only efficiency but also the financial bottom line. "We used to steer on turnover, but now we look at efficiency. Where do hours really add value? Insights makes that visible."
This enables AH Asten to make smart choices even in challenging times, such as staff shortages. Through historical data, Luc knows that certain goals are achievable with a certain number of hours. "If fewer people are available, we can prioritize without the quality of our service suffering," he says. Less urgent tasks are pushed forward a week while maintaining efficiency.
"When in doubt, just try it. You'll see how much insight you gain and how much peace it brings to your schedule."
Luc Verberne
Albert Heijn
For Luc, it is clear: R&R Insights has become indispensable. "It provides an overview, saves time and helps us make better decisions. It's just really nice to be able to make your decisions based on facts and data," he says. His advice to other supermarket managers? "If in doubt, just try it. You'll see how much insight you gain and how much peace of mind it brings to your planning."
Luc emphasizes that entrepreneurs considering Insights can take a big step forward with it. "The information should come to you, instead of you having to look for it. If you have to look for information, there is a risk that you don't have time for it and make choices based on gut feeling. Of course feelings also play a role, but with facts and data you can either get confirmation afterwards or better anticipate in advance. That way you know what to expect and the impact of the choices you make now."
According to Luc, Insights offers a solution for every issue: "Every supermarket has its own challenges, whether they are high sickness costs or low productivity. Insights shows exactly which knobs you can turn to address those problems. It gives you insight and opportunities; what you do with it is up to you."
With a keen eye for numbers and a practical approach, Luc proves that technology can be a gamechanger - not only at headquarters, but especially on the store floor.
