At Albert Heijn Asten, everything revolves around efficiency. Store manager Luc Verberne has been at the helm of this bustling store since 2016. With his background in business administration and years of experience in the industry, he knows better than anyone how important it is to combine data with practical experience.
“You have to make decisions based on facts, not feelings,” explains Luc. This insight led AH Asten to choose R&R years ago, and later R&R Insights —a tool that transforms data into actionable insights.
“With the push of a button, I see the expected results.”
Luc Verberne, Albert Heijn
“Six years ago, we were still working with spreadsheets,” says Luc, “and planning was cumbersome and inefficient. We knew things had to change.” After a selection process in which various WFM tools were compared, AH Asten chose R&R. When R&R Insights was introduced, it brought a whole new dimension to operations.
With R&R Insights, Luc has up-to-date data that allows him to make decisions in a flash. “At the click of a button, I can see the expected results. That makes everything so much easier.” This helps not only with scheduling but also with major strategic decisions. “When we stopped selling tobacco, we knew, of course, that it would affect sales and productivity. With Insights, you can see exactly what the impact will be. That way, you can also see which levers to pull to achieve the desired result.”
“We were able to increase our productivity by 2 percent. That may seem small, but on an annual basis, it’s enormous.”
Luc uses R&R Insights to make decisions based on facts rather than feelings. “In the past, we only saw the impact of working more or fewer hours after the fact. Now we can schedule additional hours in a timely manner to handle the rush and see the effects immediately.” During weekly meetings, he discusses with managers where the bottlenecks were the previous week, such as the workload on Friday evening or Saturday morning. With the help of R&R Insights, they can calculate the potential benefits of adding extra hours during these times. Based on this, a decision is made to add 10 or 20 extra hours. This gives managers more responsibility and makes decisions less dependent on Luc’s direct input.
“We also made many adjustments to the workshop last year and renovated it. In addition, R&R Insights provided us with insights into which hours were lost and how this impacted our bottom line. It also showed the status of productive hours and where there was room for improvement. By tweaking things—and in combination with adjustments in the workshop—we were able to see an immediate impact on productivity thanks to Insights. “We managed to increase our productivity by 2%. That may seem small, but on an annual basis, it’s enormous.”
“We used to focus on revenue; today, we focus on efficiency. Where do those hours really add value? Insights makes that clear.”
Luc Verberne, Albert Heijn
Luc explains that the shift to a more data-driven approach improves not only efficiency but also financial results. “We used to focus on revenue; now we focus on efficiency. Where do those hours really add value? Insights makes that clear.”
This enables AH Asten to make smart decisions even in difficult times, such as when there is a staff shortage. Based on historical data, Luc knows that certain goals can be achieved with a specific number of hours. “When fewer employees are available, we can set priorities without compromising the quality of our service,” he says. Less urgent tasks are moved up by a week, while efficiency is maintained.
“If in doubt, just give it a try. You’ll see how much insight you gain and how much peace it brings to your planning.”
Luc Verberne, Albert Heijn
For Luc, it’s clear: R&R Insights has become indispensable. “It gives us an overview, saves time, and helps us make better decisions. It’s just great to be able to make decisions based on facts and data,” he says. His advice to other supermarket managers? “If in doubt, just give it a try. You’ll see how many insights you gain and how much more confidence you’ll have in your planning.”
Luc emphasizes that entrepreneurs who take insights into account can take a big step forward. “The information should come to you, rather than you having to search for it. If you have to search for information, there’s a risk that you won’t have time for it and will end up making decisions based on gut feelings. Of course, gut feelings play a role too, but with facts and data, you can either get confirmation afterward or plan better in advance. That way, you know what to expect and what impact the decisions you make now will have.”
According to Luc, Insights offers a solution for every problem: “Every supermarket has its own challenges, whether it’s high healthcare costs or low productivity. Insights shows exactly which levers to pull to solve these problems. It gives you insights and opportunities; what you do with them is up to you.”
With his keen eye for numbers and his hands-on approach, Luc proves that technology can be a game-changer—not just at headquarters, but especially on the shop floor.
