2021 shall focus on Nationwide Auctioning (One Clock). The program has already hit its stride. The first information sessions took place in October, and a support team has been launched. Eight buyers and seven growers make up the One Clock Support Team.
But what does a support team entail exactly? And what will they do? We asked Eva van Etten from Firma Jac. van Etten these questions. She is a member of the Members' Council and is part of the Support Team.
"Our assignment is to advise people on how the different parts of One Clock can be executed as successfully as possible. We will be thinking along about image auctioning, inspections and all other matters that come to the table," says Eva.
We used to work with Leading Teams. How do these differ? "A Leading Team works on a concept together with a company, it is about co-creation. A Support Team fulfils a different role. The company develops the concept, in this case One Clock. This has been established, as has the fact that it's going to happen. The issue with regards to how we can best approach this, that is the question put in front of the Support Team. As such, our role is advisory. It is eventually up the Management Board to make the decisions."
A diverse group
This is the first time that buyers will join in. "With the Leading team strong clock, we also had session with buyers, but those were more about gathering information," according to Eva. "Now buyers are actually part of the team. They can show us the other side of the coin. What are the consequences of certain choices for them? Buyers are our customers. They will have to work with the system as well. Which is why it is important that they get to provide input as well. In addition, we can always add extra expertise, if necessary. This is possible from both the buyers' side as well as the growers' side of things. Or, for example, an auctioneer can join in for a bit."
The Support Team is a diverse group. Eva: "I also hope that smaller growers and buyers won't be lost in the bigger picture. Which is why I am happy that smaller growers and buyers are also a part of the Supporting Team. It needs to work for everybody."
Due to the measures with regards to Corona, the Support Team has only been able to meet online. Steven van Schilfgaarde, CEO of Royal FloraHolland was present as well during the first meeting. He had the following to say with regards to One Clock: "We don't want Royal FloraHolland to simply dictate how things should be done, but to think together about the 'how'."