AN INTERVIEW WITH OTO HAUSMANN

“The ONE TRUTH system is what is still quite lacking not only in retail, but actually in all companies. Albert Czech Republic now has this system and the whole company is guided by one truth.”

No project comes without some major or minor obstacles. This is especially true for a collaboration of this magnitude, as was the case with the Albert and Logio partnership. What were the biggest challenges that you, and by extension the whole team, had to overcome on the project?

I jumped into the whole project about a year after it started, and I have to say that the challenge at the beginning was to change the reputation of a rather unfortunate project into something that was worth working on and that all participants were proud of. The second challenge was also to keep a certain level of commitment and focus from the team, and last but not least, perhaps to change people’s mindsets into the mindset of winners. It may sound like a cliché, but when you work on something this challenging and you get through it, it’s a huge boost of new confidence if you can realize it. And that was much needed for all of us.

When you say Albert, everyone thinks of something a little bit different - what comes to mind first for you? Could you identify the feelings it evokes in you?

I would definitely have to say courage. And that goes for everyone who has been involved in the project. Courage on the part of Albert to go into the CR solution with Logio and give us a chance, even though their “sisters”took the safe route of the mother recommended solution. The courage to accept, develop and share our original vision. It was also Etnetera’s courage to help us with the software and believe in a partnership approach until the end. The courage of our team to not give up despite repeated setbacks, or conversely the courage to honestly say we can’t do something yet. I haven’t formally studied Albert’s corporate values, but I think there must be teamwork and enjoyment in them because it was felt throughout their actions. This similarity in the human and corporate values of everyone involved brought us closer together.

It was definitely the biggest project I have ever managed in my life. And my feelings? The first thing that pops into my mind is the feeling of a job well done by a large number of people at Logio, ETNetera, Atreu, U-Slun and of course Albert.

This benefits both Albert and, of course, in the long run, the customer, who has more time for the people at Albert.

The platform now available to Albert is in many ways a revolutionary tool. This can sometimes be very theoretical - please take us through what has changed in practical terms for Albert customers? What do shoppers appreciate in store?

Goods are now more likely to be available to customers when they want to buy them. The freshness of goods has also improved. However, I think the things that are crucial are the things that, although not visible in store, have improved behind the scenes. This benefits both Albert and, of course, in the long run, the customer, who has more time for the people at Albert.

Of course, there are other projects running in parallel at Albert that are constantly improving and moving all the stores forward, so I believe that customers must have noticed the positive changes at Albert stores over the last few years.

The courage to be open and direct. To put down the ballast and speak plainly - me and the whole team. In short, to name things as they are.

You have spent 2 years on the project - can you tell us in retrospect what the project has taught you, what it has taken away from you or, on the contrary, what it has given you?

The courage to be open and direct. To put down the ballast and speak clearly – me and the whole team. In short, to name things as they are. For me, as a project manager, it was also great to work with the Project Manager for Albert, Jirka Habán. He, unlike me, has been with the project all the time and has been there for all the fluctuations. He’s a pro dedicated to Albert with his heart in the right place.

And in fact, the whole approach of Albert was a bit of an “eye-opener” for me. I thought at this level you just had to be a tough negotiator and shopper. I didn’t believe that they would give us this much room to fix and tighten things up at Albert, that even at this high level of play, you can play by decent rules. I appreciate that tremendously.

LOGIO 2021. SUPPLY CHAIN LOVE!

ZAJÍMAJÍ VÁS DALŠÍ ROZHOVORY?

An interview with Oto Hausmann, Logio
An interview with MAREK Kováč, Atreo
An interview with Ondřej Hobza, Etnetera