“Digital workplace brings us closer to the customer”

Published on 26/05/2020 in Customer Stories

It’s no coincidence that HR specialist AGO Jobs & HR has been updating its digital systems for many years. It benefits efficiency, but above all it is a way of easing the burden on staff. “HR is a people business,” Tom Martin, Marketing & Facility Director, explains.

“Digital workplace brings us closer to the customer”

More info on how to streamline HR operations?

Go to the website

AGO Jobs & HR stands firmly in sixth place on the Belgian temporary employment market. However, their range of activities is considerably wider. “We describe ourselves as an HR Services Company,” Tom Martin explains. “In practical terms, that means we offer a range of services in the field of temporary employment, selection and recruiting, but also payrolling, testing & assessment and outplacement. We do this for all types of companies, from large to small, in widely varying sectors. And if you’re wondering where our name comes from (laughs)? AGO refers to the conjugation of the Latin agere: I act.”

Our sector is all about people. They are the focus, and digitalization needs to be a tool here, not an end in itself.

Tom Martin, Marketing & Facility Director, AGO Jobs & HR

Digitalization is a priority

How important is IT and digitalization for an organization like AGO Jobs & HR? To ask the question is to answer it. “It’s at the top of our agenda. It has been for many years, for that matter,” Tom Martin replies.“Our starting point is an important principle: 'Tomorrow is digital, but human first'. Our sector is all about people. They are the focus, and digitalization needs to be a tool here, not an end in itself.For us, IT has never been a way of cutting down on staff.

On the contrary. It is precisely a way of easing the burden on them, which then creates room for their core tasks.'Close to the customer' is our motto, where 'customer' refers both to our customer, that is the company, but also to the agency workers, the candidates. This human aspect is a constant throughout the whole process. So what we describe as 'Invisible IT Management' is very important. As digitalization is a constant focus of attention, processes are systematically improved, but the ‘customer’ should not notice any of these reforms.”

As digitalization is a constant focus of attention, processes are systematically improved, but the ‘customer’ should not notice any of these reforms.

Tom Martin, Marketing & Facility Director, AGO Jobs & HR

Using various channels

“The cornerstone of our IT policy is the ERP system that we developed ourselves back then”, Tom Martin stresses. “For various reasons, incidentally. It is a guarantee for our independence. We have all the know-how in house to be able to respond promptly. In our company, digitalization is a term that covers a very broad field. You just have to take a look at the various applications. For instance, our ERP system has a reporting module that is opened up to our customers. There is also a tool that that allows customers to set up an employee schedule themselves.

And we have another separate app that we developed to give the customer an overview of all the administrative information they need: hours worked, and invoicing, to name just a couple. There are lots of examples for candidates, too. The ‘MYAGO’ app enables smooth communication and we can build in more 'touchpoints' via email, text, push message, etc.

'Change Management' as DNA

AGO helps customers to fill vacant positions, but do they manage to do that themselves as a growing company? “It’s just as easy or difficult for us as for our customers,” Martin believes. “We follow the advice we give our customers.

Our approach to digitalization means that we attract certain profiles. Half of our staff are younger than 30 and 80% (!) have not yet turned 40. It’s a young generation that has ‘change’ written in its DNA, including and above all when it comes to the digitalization of the work environment. Standing still means going backwards, and moving forwards takes adjustment, change and reform. But as I just said: ‘human first’!”

AGO Jobs & HR

  • HR service provider active in temporary employment and selection & recruiting.
  • Established in Kortrijk in 1988, where the head office is still located. To date it is a family business.
  • Over 100 branches, scattered across the whole country.
  • A growing workforce, who now number over 500.
  • Annual turnover of EUR 300 million.

Perspective

Magazine and online blog for business leaders, brimming with new insights for a fresh look at their company.

Peruse the latest magazine! (French version)

Other articles of Perspective