Posted on July 18, 2022
Looking to the future is an exciting exercise, but it can also be daunting. Today, organizations must consider how to shift strategies to help them become future-proof and prepared for the unexpected events that are becoming the standard of our time. This past year has been filled with challenges for Damen Services, an organization that regularly moves team members around the world to support their customers. Their business has grown significantly since it started in the 1970’s, but some of the more dynamic shifts have occurred because the world in which we all live and work requires change, now more than ever.
Think Global, Act Local
The continuing circumstances of the global pandemic has made it extra challenging for Damen Services to travel to work sites to support clients and lead major projects. For them, the past years have highlighted that while they are a global operation, they can find themselves struggling to support customers when travel channels close. In response, they are stepping up their promise to provide customers with the care and quality they have come to expect from Damen Services, but from local and regional Damen teams. With the opening of four new service hubs in 2021, and an active strategy to continue expanding Damen’s local presence, they are improving their ability to be where customers need them, when they need them. The expanding service network uses local and regional teams and suppliers whenever possible to support customers and their local economies.
‘We are headquartered in the Netherlands, but much of our work is happening in other countries, on other continents. By decentralizing our operations, we are offering customers a more personalized, convenient and economical option.’ States Rutger Blaauw, Director of Damen Services. He continued, ‘Additionally, one of the pillars of our business is sustainability, and while we will still need some team members to travel, we are consciously working on reducing our footprint by locating ourselves amongst our clients.’
Innovation & Digitalization
Technology adoption in the maritime industry is picking up, with vessel owners and operators finding that maintenance, communications and operations can be streamlined and made more efficient and cost effective through technology, data, and connectivity. Long ago, Damen Services anticipated the potential of technology to improve customer experience through simple means such as providing on-demand information to customers through the MyDamen web portal and remote support through SeaView smart glasses, or even video chat. Technology has helped us connect with our customers around the globe, regardless of distance, but the impact technology can have on operations and maintenance in the maritime industry goes far beyond web portals and long-distance support.
“By decentralizing our operations, we are offering customers a more personalized, convenient and economical option.”
Damen Services is developing a future in which maintenance is no longer based on running hours, but is instead predictive and based on a vessel’s actual health status. They have already successfully released Triton and Damen Maintenance Management Solutions (DMMS), two complimentary platforms that process data to help crews and owners leverage on board sensor data to improve day-to-day operations and provide insight into optimal maintenance scheduling. But, the innovative teams at Damen Services are not ready to stop there. They are continuing to develop and expand on Triton and DMMS to develop new capabilities while improving upon and expanding current offerings. Predictive maintenance and optimized operations seems like a far off idea, but with Triton and DMMS, they are closer than one might think.
Damen Services Cares
‘We care for the environment and develop systems and propositions that enable ourselves and our customers to operate more sustainably, we care for our customers and work with them to ensure we are supporting their needs and providing positive experiences,’’ said Rutger Blaauw, Director, Damen Services in a recent team meeting. He continued, ‘‘and critically, we care for our team and for each other, because each one of us is what it takes to serve our customers and move Damen Services forward.’’
When asked about his statement, Mr. Blaauw followed up, ‘’Damen Services is a caring organization. Once a vessel is in the water we are the team that works with the customers to ensure they get the long-term service and support they need to keep their assets healthy. Our business works because we have a strong team that gives their time, energy and care into day to day work. Ensuring successful results and lasting customer relationships.’’
Damen Services is comprised of a tight-knit group that works hard to foster lasting relationships with their customers. From hand carrying parts around the world to ensure timely delivery, to taking emergency calls in the dead of the night, customers who have worked with this organization, regardless of how long, will tell you that Damen Services truly cares.
It is a challenging time for the world, with unprecedented changes to the environments in which we live and a pandemic that isolates us and separates us from the activities, work, and communities that make us feel whole. The team at Damen Services is working hard to step up to meet these challenges, to support their clients, the environment, and each other. All of this to make sure we all can look forward to a bright future.
