Orient Moves to the Netherlands

Druckversion

Orient Technologies is a subsidiary of SNBC, the Chinese printer company, and the two companies share the common aim to provide quick, efficient assistance to their customers, with a strong focus on quality customer service. In order to achieve this goal, in November 2007, two high-level Chinese engineers were relocated to the Netherlands for two years, to work with Orient and to support them in the development of their services. Previously, only one Dutch engineer was based in the Netherlands, and this could lead to a great deal of miscommunication between China and the Netherlands offices. The addition of two Chinese engineers to the Netherlands location has had a great impact for Orient, since communications with China have been greatly improved. In turn, this means that Orient are able to provide a service that is much faster and higher in quality.
 
The two Chinese engineers will focus primarily on POS and kiosk printer solutions. A particular benefit of their presence in the Netherlands has been their ability to highly customise individual products, from drivers for banking to paper outputs. Orient is now able to take on a much greater number of projects at once than before, and this is due to the improved output capacity provided by the two new engineers. Since the arrival of the two engineers, projects have been completed much more quickly and Orient is able to offer much more to the customer, since projects can be put into practice immediately rather than having to communicate back to the Chinese headquarters before commencing the work.
 
Orient Technologies and SNBC emphasised the great importance of the European market to their business, and now they are able to cater more closely to the needs of individual companies. In particular, according to Kevin Falkenburg, Sales Director of Orient Technologies, the mix of technical and commercial acumen now provided in the Netherlands location is absolutely optimal for Orient’s business model and further boosts customer service.
 
Kevin also explained that they had experienced major initial difficulties in bringing the two Chinese engineers into the Netherlands. National governmental rules appeared to be in opposition, with one stating that immigrants must be highly-qualified and must obtain a certain level of pay, while another stated that companies may not pay immigrants more than a certain (lower) level. Clearly, this poses a challenge for any company wishing to bring foreign expertise into its office! Orient Technologies and SNBC were greatly assisted in this matter by the Brabant Development Agency, which helped the companies to work through this legal complication and enabled the engineers to enter the country. The agency also helps Orient Technologies to find local engineers and support networks within the Netherlands. Happily, in spite of these difficulties, the two Chinese engineers told KIOSK EUROPE that they have adapted very well to the Netherlands and like it very much – they even go to work every day by bike!