The Word of the CEO In a competitive world, you need to give yourself the means of exceeding yourself. Going beyond your expectations and target. So you can get one
![Kill the cost killer](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/shutterstock_39987355-900x600.jpg)
For many decades the position of purchase and supply managers has been overlooked. Yet, purchasing managers are much more than ordinary cost killers. Nowadays the economic context makes the purchasing
![The pros and cons of using WhatsApp for Enterprises](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whatsapp-for-Enterprise_pic-900x600.jpg)
Whatsapp and other messaging apps are increasingly part of the shadow IT in enterprises, and are often used by employees for business purposes. The biggest advantage of these messaging apps
![A fleet of electric cars by 2020?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1-900x600.jpg)
Beginning of May 2016, STIB/MIVB announced that its bus fleet would be entirely electric by 2030. Tests will start in 2018 with two lines. By 2030, 235 new buses will
![Why smart companies use external experts to reduce general expenses](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1445102451117-84e2b4f715c6-900x600.jpg)
Smart companies have always been on a continuous search for efficiency. Historically, it has been widely accepted to hire external consultants for services such as recruitment, financial expertise, marketing or
![What changes on December 9 for retailers](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Embedded-BI-900x600.jpg)
This December 9, new EU legislation introduce greater transparency in the expenses related to payment terminals Convinced that these higher costs are not inevitable, Bridgewater has set up an action
![The impact of the new government Michel on your company](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1462076537281-8b6ad187b75b-900x600.jpg)
136 days after the federal elections of may 25th 2014, the new government Michel was formed. Political parties N-VA, CD&V, Open VLD and MR wrote a coalition agreement. New taxesThere
![Less than 48 hours to cancel your contracts](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85-900x600.jpg)
The end of the year is approaching … If you are planning your budgets for 2015; you have less than 2 business days to cancel the contracts that expire on
![Workshop Bridgewater/KPMG: activity based costing & cost controlling](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1444653614773-995cb1ef9efa-900x600.jpg)
Join on us on the 16th of October for the 15th JCAL, with the topic: Innovation Which Innovation Strategy for Purchase & Supply Chain? Bridgewater and KPMG will lead a
![Bridgewater attends “Vakbeurs Facilitair & Gebouwbeheer”](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/11-900x600.jpg)
On 3, 4 & 5 September, all Facility Managers are expected in the Antwerp Expo for the first Vakbeurs Facilitair & Gebouwbeheer. At this event, they can meet with the
![Cost reduction in sight for company owners](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/3-900x600.jpg)
The four parties forming the coalition have agreed to reduce payroll taxes. Indeed, the employers’ contributions will probably decrease from 33% to 25%. This new rate is similar to the
![The end of paper meal vouchers in Belgium](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/02business-900x600.jpg)
As of October 1, 2015, it will become prohibited to offer paper meal vouchers to employees. The system of meal vouchers will continue to exist, but it will become fully
![Water and money savings at Colruyt Group](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/22-900x600.jpg)
The meat processing company of Colruyt Group (Vlevico) from now on purifies its waste water into drinking water and reuses it on site. A new station for the production of
![Lend and borrow employees](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1424894408462-1c89797f2305-900x600.jpg)
Flexojob is a French website that offers companies to possibility to lend or borrow employees. This concept answers a real need in time of crisis. Indeed, business is slowing down
![Tip of the week: optimize the working time on your computer](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/awhCbhLqRceCdjcPQUnn_IMG_0249-900x600.jpg)
Have you ever felt at the end of the day, not having shot much work as you expected? However, a whole day in front of a PC screen, this is
![Solar Roadways, how to power an entire country with solar panels](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/44-900x600.jpg)
Solar panels that you can drive, park, and walk on. They melt snow and cut greenhouse gases by 75-percent. That is the crazy idea of an American couple. A solar
![Balyo or the automation of forklifts](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2-900x600.jpg)
Good news for industrial logisticians ! An innovative French SME markets a forklift that goes all alone in the maze of a warehouse, without driver. BALYO has developed an automation
![The lack of motivation for a dismissal can cost you money](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/55-900x600.jpg)
Since January 1, 2014, the “unified status” is in effect in Belgium. This legislation makes the legal status of employees and workers very similar.Some problems, however, were eliminated only by
![Reduce recruitment costs using LinkedIn](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/33-900x600.jpg)
The professional social network reduces headhunter’s costs. It also allows the recruiter to reach a large number of potential candidates and enhance the image of his company on the Internet.
![When emails lead to burnout](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1431605695381-f4a9c3cdd150-900x600.jpg)
Today, most of the employees have to cope with the use of emails and communication technologies. However, these useful tools can quickly become stressful and lead to burnout. Burnout is
![Electrabel : nearly one million contracts lost in 24 months](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/4-900x600.jpg)
The bleeding continues. Going from 2.8 million in 2012 to 2,6 million in 2013, Electrabel has lost 200,000 electricity contracts. The situation is similar for gas contracts for which figures
![Office vacancy in Brussels: current situation](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1-900x600.jpg)
During the presentation of its annual report on the office vacancy rate in the Brussels region and its periphery, the regional development agency CITYDEV and Inventimmo reported a slight decrease
![Companies: be careful when moving out](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/press7-900x600.jpg)
Who wouldn’t be anxious about moving his business ? An issue for employees but also for employers. “A reduction of ten minutes travel time from home to work each day
![Offices: renegotiate your rent](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1462076537281-8b6ad187b75b-900x600.jpg)
6% vacant offices in the center of Brussels, but vacancy rate is three to four times higher in the suburbs. Pressure on rents is important. The center of Brussels has
![Planned obsolescence: is this for real or…?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1431321346354-f4ebb847aec2-900x600.jpg)
Introduction “Your printer just let you go ?” ” Want to buy a computer that lasts ten years ? “ Forgotten , Mother Denis and washing machine indestructible. At the
![Will the German green energy blow European fuses?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85-900x600.jpg)
It was nice this Sunday, June 16th, 2013 . Too good . So beautiful that electricity consumption in Europe has fallen, while solar and wind energy peaked. That day ,
![News : lifestream TEDxBrussels (Technology Entertainement Design)](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1444653614773-995cb1ef9efa-900x600.jpg)
The concept: The first year, the Belgian non-profit organization held its conference in the European Parliament building. But with the success they sought a larger venue, the Bozar in Brussels.
![Tip of the week: training cheques – user manual](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/3-900x600.jpg)
Because Belgium is a Federal state, that’s why training subsidies are regionalized. Here, therefore, an overview of the possibilities offered by the Brussels-Capital Region, Flanders and Wallonia. Training subsidies in
![The Blue Economy : the era of innovative solar panels !](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/02business-900x600.jpg)
Introduction: The Blue Economy began as a project to find 100 of the best nature-inspired technologies that could affect the economies of the world, while sustainably providing basic human needs
![Belgium : 6% VAT on Electricity a real tool to raise economy?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/22-900x600.jpg)
1. Interesting reminder about VAT in Belgium: -* 0 % newspapers, insurance, legal fees -* 1 % purchase gold at the end of the investment -* 6 % flowers, construction
![Companies without emails is that the brave new world?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1424894408462-1c89797f2305-900x600.jpg)
E -mail in figures: 72 emails are received and 33 are sent on average per day per company for each collaborator . Only 14 messages are identified by users as
![Scooter : tax and mobility winning game!](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/awhCbhLqRceCdjcPQUnn_IMG_0249-900x600.jpg)
Some key data: -* If 10% of car drivers passed the car to the bike or scooter on the commuting, we would see a decrease of 40% of the lines”
![Are you too nice with your social secretary?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/press1-900x600.jpg)
Why companies are reluctant to put their social secretary under pressure? Florent Hainaut: “It is first of all a strong ignorance from companies about the world of social secretariats. From
![Bridgewater is looking for a new office in Brussels!](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/44-900x600.jpg)
Bridgewater: -* Consultant specialized in Cost Efficiency Overhead (over 65 categories of costs, knowledge of more than 750 suppliers and implementation of more than 1,500 solutions for our clients) -*
![A bright ecological idea can be simple and innovative!](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2-900x600.jpg)
The liter of light, a simple and innovative idea: -* The carbon footprint of the manufacture of one incandescent bulb is 0.45kg CO2 -* A 50 Watt light bulb has
![Interview with Mr. Valery Perrier Electrabel’s CFO made by Stepstone.](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/55-900x600.jpg)
Mr. Valery Perrier CFO of Electrabel. Electrabel is part of GDF SUEZ , an industrial group active in international services in the areas of energy and environment. We (Stepstone) have
![Why your energy bills will go down in 2013?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1431605695381-f4a9c3cdd150-900x600.jpg)
The Commission for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas (CREG) has confirmed the news agency Belga, what the Minister of Budget and Institutional Reforms, Johan Vande Lanotte said a few
![Is absenteeism unavoidable?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/4-900x600.jpg)
Some key data: -* Workers main day of absence is on Monday (24%) -* One day decease: Employees: 30%, and Laborers: 17% -* Cost of waiting day: 500 MM EUR
![Meal vouchers validity from three months to one year!](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1-900x600.jpg)
The meal vouchers validity from three months to a year. The law, passed a few months ago, has just been published in the Official Monitor, reported thursday the Union of
![What you should know about Teleworking ?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/press7-900x600.jpg)
Telework in figures: -* Every sixth person work regularly at home. -* 16% of Belgian telework. -* 56% of employees would like to take advantage of this alternative. -* 2%
![Tip of the Week: save up to 14% fuel by checking tire pressure!](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1462076537281-8b6ad187b75b-900x600.jpg)
Every 6th driver cleans his windows, every 22th controls the oil level, but only about every 40th checks tire pressure. Regular monitoring is particularly important that the correct pressure has
![Tip of the week: Tap Water: save up to 200 times compared to bottled water!](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Embedded-BI-900x600.jpg)
Tap water: Ecological, economical and high quality water: • Tap water is a very economical product, on average between 50 and 200 times cheaper than bottled water (in function of
![Tip of the week: check your telecoms bills !](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1431321346354-f4ebb847aec2-900x600.jpg)
Check your telecoms bills! Did you know that due to lack of time, resources or skills, 85% of companies never check their telecom bills while the error rate is 5
![Tip of the week: where to find the cheapest gas station?](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85-900x600.jpg)
Find the cheapest gas station on your road trip via (FR) http://carbu.vroom.be/route.php or (NL) http://brandstofprijzen.vroom.be/route.php. Users at you service to spare money !
![Gimv and SRIW invest in green energy supplier Lampiris](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1444653614773-995cb1ef9efa-900x600.jpg)
Gimv and SRIW together invest EUR 40 million in green energy supplier Lampiris. This capital will be used by Lampiris not only to strengthen its balance sheet and finance future
![Bridgewater welcomes a new Business Developer](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/3-900x600.jpg)
Bridgewater team welcomes Sebastien Van Passel in his new role. We wish you a lot of a success in your new function of Business Developer
![Gas consumption in Belgium up 11.5% in 2010](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/02business-900x600.jpg)
The total volumes of natural gas transported in 2010 by Fluxys rose 7% compared to 2009, said the Belgian network at the presentation of its annual results. Consumption on the
![Tip of the week: group expenses with companies in your neighbourhood](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/22-900x600.jpg)
Providers love large contracts. Volume is obviously a very efficient tool to negotiate the best prices. Don’t stay alone with your tiny volume that won’t probably represent a sufficient volume
![Tip of the week: End your contracts on the same date](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1424894408462-1c89797f2305-900x600.jpg)
You are now working with the same provider for a couple of years. Your company has grown recently and new contracts with different end dates have been added to the
![Tip of the week: driver responsibilities](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1430165558479-de3cf8cf1478-900x600.jpg)
Competition on the car leasing market is very though. Companies often decide to work with a leasing company which will offer the best monthly rent. This doesn’t mean every time
![Bridgewater welcomes a new project manager](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/photo-1445102451117-84e2b4f715c6-900x600.jpg)
Bridgewater reinforces its project manager team and welcomes Basil Jacob who will lead new challenges. We are looking forward to see him evolve within Bridgewater and we wish him a
![Bridgewater wish you a happy new year for 2013](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/55-900x600.jpg)
After a year 2012 full of new challenges and results above our expectations, the Bridgewater team wishes to thank all its customers, suppliers, partners and experts who contributed to this
![Profacility Magazine](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/press3-900x600.jpg)
In times of crisis, facility services are also under pressure. Mission: to reduce the operating costs of the company. To implement this operation of cost killing, external companies can provide
![Le Soir (Références)](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/press6-900x600.jpg)
References magazine, supplement “Career” of the newspaper Le Soir, published this Saturday, April 24 a large survey on cost reduction in Belgium. The hunt is open for savings Unnecessary extra
![Trends Tendances](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/press5-900x600.jpg)
Consultants with a rigorous approach to the unprofessional websites, advices for companies to save money in overhead costs are increasing. Consequence of the crisis or new management style? Read full
![Ecomatin (RTBF)](https://www.bridgewater.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/press7-900x600.jpg)
Trends in cost reduction for companies Interview of Michel Gassée on the radio show Ecomatin on La Première (RTBF), 11 January 2012 at 7:34. Chasing savings: Companies must increasingly be