Headlines July
Corona: 1 in 3 companies in the Netherlands did not have a continuity plan
More than a third of Dutch organizations entered the corona crisis completely unprepared. They had no business continuity plan in place to continue key processes in a crisis situation. Another seventeen percent are not sure whether there was such a plan internally. This is evident from research by Capterra. Software consultancy Capterra asked more than 2,000 senior managers, business leaders and owners of SME organizations about their experiences during the corona crisis . Nearly half (48 percent) of them had to install headlong software to keep their businesses running during the crisis. Many were ill-prepared for that.
Recovery of processes
Of the Dutch companies that participated in the study, less than half (47 percent) had a continuity plan ready. Such a plan describes how to approach the recovery of the entire business process. This concerns a plan for workspaces, telephones, workstations, servers, applications and network connections. 36 percent of the companies had no continuity plan available and 17 percent were unsure. According to Capterra, the lack of such a plan can lead to large losses and even shutdown. The researchers label the corona pandemic as an unpredictable crisis in which such a plan is important.
Priorities
Many companies had to make important decisions in a short period of time during the crisis, disregarding the long term. This means, among other things, that there is little priority to further digitize business operations. About a third of Dutch respondents say that adjusting their business operations for digital business is not important or that they are neutral about it. This share is even higher in Germany, Australia, France and Italy. What is now a priority is retaining employee productivity and retaining customers. In the Netherlands, more than three quarters consider this to be more or less important. This priority is also reflected in the type of software that companies purchased during the corona crisis: mainly remote desktop software (54 percent), video conferencing software (36 percent), chat software (34 percent) and collaboration software (28 percent).
Source: https://www.computable.nl/artikel/nieuws/beheer/6961772/250449/corona-1-op-3-bedrijven-had-geen-continuiteitsplan.html
Provinces want to get rid of concession public transport company Keolis because of fraud
Public transport company Keolis loses the right to provide bus transport in parts of Overijssel, Gelderland and Flevoland, if it is up to those provinces. The provincial authorities have investigated the tender procedure and found that Keolis has deliberately provided incorrect information. "Acting with integrity and sticking to the rules are basic principles that should not be tampered with," the provinces write in a press statement. The provinces now want to withdraw the concession in the IJssel and Vecht region for the next three years, with a value of 900 million euros. Keolis has until the end of the month to defend himself against the intended decision.
Electric buses
The company has already ordered electric buses in China. One of the components of the concession was 'zero-emission transport'. The electric buses were needed for this. The purchase of the buses was also allegedly fraudulent . Secret agreements have been made to be able to win the contract. Keolis said in early June that it discovered irregularities itself and reported these to the client and the Public Prosecution Service. Several employees who would have been involved were also fired. The course of events led to an investigation by the provinces. The province of Overijssel says it has not taken legal action on request, because Keolis has already gone to the Public Prosecution Service after suspicions of irregularities. The province awaits the outcome. "Keolis has started an investigation itself and has informed the client about the provisional findings on its own initiative. Keolis has also reported the findings to the Public Prosecution Service. Keolis distances itself from any unethical behavior and takes appropriate measures. The measures contribute to the restoration of confidence. "
'Big disappointment'
In an initial reaction, Keolis says that the decision of the provinces comes as a great disappointment. "We have been confident about a good outcome, precisely by offering openness and a focus on recovery. We believe that all necessary steps have been taken for recovery," said the company. Withdrawal of the concession has major consequences for public transport. Because according to the provinces the traveler should be able to rely on the bus to drive, they are now working on emergency measures. The first part of the concession would commence on December 13 for the Veluwe and in Midden-Overijssel, for Lelystad on September 4, 2021 and IJsselmond on December 10, 2023.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2339876-provincies-willen-af-van-concessie-ov-bedrijf-keolis-vanwege-fraude.html
MediaMarkt is very disappointed: customers bought an expensive Apple iMac for 2.19 euros
Due to a price error at MediaMarkt, several people bought an Apple iMac computer for 2.19 euros instead of 2190 euros last week: an incredibly good deal for a computer of normally more than 2000 euros. MediaMarkt is not happy and wants customers to return the computers or to pay the price difference. Several Brabant customers also bought the dirt cheap computer online. They will have a lot of trouble with that, they think at legal consultancy Aliter Melius. A few years ago, employees also handled the case around the cheap bed of Leen Bakker, which was bought by eight hundred people. “But an important difference is that the computers are actually delivered in this case. We do not yet know exactly how many computers are involved. But about ten people have already reported to us, ”says one of the lawyers. According to him, the number of customers who report to the consultancy is increasing.
Three iMacs simultaneously
One of the buyers even bought three iMacs at the same time. MediaMarkt wants him to still pay more than 6500 euros, but he refuses because MediaMarkt has not canceled the order and because the computers have already been delivered. “All these customers bought the computer from MediaMarkt last week and received it one or two days later. After that, MediaMarkt wrote to the customers that they should return the computer at their own expense or transfer a residual amount. ” In some cases, the department store has already initiated a collection procedure, according to correspondence in the hands of Omroep Brabant.
Number 'to count on two hands'
MediaMarkt says in a response that the number of iMacs sold with the wrong price 'can be counted on two hands'. "As soon as we found out that the price was not right, we contacted the buyers. We were able to find a solution with almost everyone because the customers also understood that this was too good to be true," says a spokesperson for the retail chain. .
Source: https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/3229877/mediamarkt-baalt-flink-klanten-kochten-peperdure-apple-imac-voor-219-euro
Tens of thousands of Bol.com packages may be delayed due to robbery
Due to the armed robbery yesterday at the Bol.com distribution center in Waalwijk, thousands of customers may have to wait a little longer for their order. The online store ships several tens of thousands of packages every day, but due to the robbery and the on-site investigation, the logistics processes were temporarily shut down last night. The company is trying to make up for the delay as much as possible today. Yesterday morning, several armed robbers invaded Bol.com's distribution center in Waalwijk, on Packageweg. They threatened two security guards of the property, who only raised the alarm hours later. It is still unclear why that took so long. Nobody was injured. The perpetrators are still fugitives, police said. A spokesperson could not go into the matter further, because the criminal investigation is in full swing. The police are calling on witnesses to report .
Extra capacity
It is unclear whether the robbers took their belongings. For Bol.com, the primary concern was the health and safety of employees at the distribution center, a spokesperson said. "We are very shocked." The affected employees immediately received help from a specialized team yesterday. Customers who expect a Bol.com package today that may arrive later due to circumstances have been informed. "We try to deliver the packages as quickly as possible, with extra capacity," said the spokesperson.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2341274-bezorging-tienduizenden-bol-com-pakketjes-mogelijk-vertraagd-door-overval.html
More than a third of Dutch organizations entered the corona crisis completely unprepared. They had no business continuity plan in place to continue key processes in a crisis situation. Another seventeen percent are not sure whether there was such a plan internally. This is evident from research by Capterra. Software consultancy Capterra asked more than 2,000 senior managers, business leaders and owners of SME organizations about their experiences during the corona crisis . Nearly half (48 percent) of them had to install headlong software to keep their businesses running during the crisis. Many were ill-prepared for that.
Recovery of processes
Of the Dutch companies that participated in the study, less than half (47 percent) had a continuity plan ready. Such a plan describes how to approach the recovery of the entire business process. This concerns a plan for workspaces, telephones, workstations, servers, applications and network connections. 36 percent of the companies had no continuity plan available and 17 percent were unsure. According to Capterra, the lack of such a plan can lead to large losses and even shutdown. The researchers label the corona pandemic as an unpredictable crisis in which such a plan is important.
Priorities
Many companies had to make important decisions in a short period of time during the crisis, disregarding the long term. This means, among other things, that there is little priority to further digitize business operations. About a third of Dutch respondents say that adjusting their business operations for digital business is not important or that they are neutral about it. This share is even higher in Germany, Australia, France and Italy. What is now a priority is retaining employee productivity and retaining customers. In the Netherlands, more than three quarters consider this to be more or less important. This priority is also reflected in the type of software that companies purchased during the corona crisis: mainly remote desktop software (54 percent), video conferencing software (36 percent), chat software (34 percent) and collaboration software (28 percent).
Source: https://www.computable.nl/artikel/nieuws/beheer/6961772/250449/corona-1-op-3-bedrijven-had-geen-continuiteitsplan.html
Provinces want to get rid of concession public transport company Keolis because of fraud
Public transport company Keolis loses the right to provide bus transport in parts of Overijssel, Gelderland and Flevoland, if it is up to those provinces. The provincial authorities have investigated the tender procedure and found that Keolis has deliberately provided incorrect information. "Acting with integrity and sticking to the rules are basic principles that should not be tampered with," the provinces write in a press statement. The provinces now want to withdraw the concession in the IJssel and Vecht region for the next three years, with a value of 900 million euros. Keolis has until the end of the month to defend himself against the intended decision.
Electric buses
The company has already ordered electric buses in China. One of the components of the concession was 'zero-emission transport'. The electric buses were needed for this. The purchase of the buses was also allegedly fraudulent . Secret agreements have been made to be able to win the contract. Keolis said in early June that it discovered irregularities itself and reported these to the client and the Public Prosecution Service. Several employees who would have been involved were also fired. The course of events led to an investigation by the provinces. The province of Overijssel says it has not taken legal action on request, because Keolis has already gone to the Public Prosecution Service after suspicions of irregularities. The province awaits the outcome. "Keolis has started an investigation itself and has informed the client about the provisional findings on its own initiative. Keolis has also reported the findings to the Public Prosecution Service. Keolis distances itself from any unethical behavior and takes appropriate measures. The measures contribute to the restoration of confidence. "
'Big disappointment'
In an initial reaction, Keolis says that the decision of the provinces comes as a great disappointment. "We have been confident about a good outcome, precisely by offering openness and a focus on recovery. We believe that all necessary steps have been taken for recovery," said the company. Withdrawal of the concession has major consequences for public transport. Because according to the provinces the traveler should be able to rely on the bus to drive, they are now working on emergency measures. The first part of the concession would commence on December 13 for the Veluwe and in Midden-Overijssel, for Lelystad on September 4, 2021 and IJsselmond on December 10, 2023.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2339876-provincies-willen-af-van-concessie-ov-bedrijf-keolis-vanwege-fraude.html
MediaMarkt is very disappointed: customers bought an expensive Apple iMac for 2.19 euros
Due to a price error at MediaMarkt, several people bought an Apple iMac computer for 2.19 euros instead of 2190 euros last week: an incredibly good deal for a computer of normally more than 2000 euros. MediaMarkt is not happy and wants customers to return the computers or to pay the price difference. Several Brabant customers also bought the dirt cheap computer online. They will have a lot of trouble with that, they think at legal consultancy Aliter Melius. A few years ago, employees also handled the case around the cheap bed of Leen Bakker, which was bought by eight hundred people. “But an important difference is that the computers are actually delivered in this case. We do not yet know exactly how many computers are involved. But about ten people have already reported to us, ”says one of the lawyers. According to him, the number of customers who report to the consultancy is increasing.
Three iMacs simultaneously
One of the buyers even bought three iMacs at the same time. MediaMarkt wants him to still pay more than 6500 euros, but he refuses because MediaMarkt has not canceled the order and because the computers have already been delivered. “All these customers bought the computer from MediaMarkt last week and received it one or two days later. After that, MediaMarkt wrote to the customers that they should return the computer at their own expense or transfer a residual amount. ” In some cases, the department store has already initiated a collection procedure, according to correspondence in the hands of Omroep Brabant.
Number 'to count on two hands'
MediaMarkt says in a response that the number of iMacs sold with the wrong price 'can be counted on two hands'. "As soon as we found out that the price was not right, we contacted the buyers. We were able to find a solution with almost everyone because the customers also understood that this was too good to be true," says a spokesperson for the retail chain. .
Source: https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/3229877/mediamarkt-baalt-flink-klanten-kochten-peperdure-apple-imac-voor-219-euro
Tens of thousands of Bol.com packages may be delayed due to robbery
Due to the armed robbery yesterday at the Bol.com distribution center in Waalwijk, thousands of customers may have to wait a little longer for their order. The online store ships several tens of thousands of packages every day, but due to the robbery and the on-site investigation, the logistics processes were temporarily shut down last night. The company is trying to make up for the delay as much as possible today. Yesterday morning, several armed robbers invaded Bol.com's distribution center in Waalwijk, on Packageweg. They threatened two security guards of the property, who only raised the alarm hours later. It is still unclear why that took so long. Nobody was injured. The perpetrators are still fugitives, police said. A spokesperson could not go into the matter further, because the criminal investigation is in full swing. The police are calling on witnesses to report .
Extra capacity
It is unclear whether the robbers took their belongings. For Bol.com, the primary concern was the health and safety of employees at the distribution center, a spokesperson said. "We are very shocked." The affected employees immediately received help from a specialized team yesterday. Customers who expect a Bol.com package today that may arrive later due to circumstances have been informed. "We try to deliver the packages as quickly as possible, with extra capacity," said the spokesperson.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2341274-bezorging-tienduizenden-bol-com-pakketjes-mogelijk-vertraagd-door-overval.html
Translated from Dutch to English with Google translate