Interdean is 53 years old today! Here?s where our story began?
Back in 1959, when Fidel Castro arrived in Havana, the Barbie doll was born, and two monkeys ? Able and Miss Baker ? became the first animals to successfully return to earth from space, Dean Van Lines Germany was formed, the original removals company that went on to become Interdean International Relocation. ?Today, Interdean is a full service relocation company, helping organisations and their people to relocate globally.
It all started in 1959
Dean Van Lines in Germany was originally formed in 1959 as a moving company providing transport throughout Europe and moves overseas.
1959 : Dean Van Lines Germany was formed
Viktor Bondarenko, a Ukrainian-born entrepreneur, soon forged the Interdean brand and business. ?Viktor?s experience in freight-forwarding and international trade links meant that Interdean secured major international moving contracts, including the movement of US forces? household goods.? Viktor lead the company for nearly 40 years before selling the business in 1999.? Today, the company is owned by the Santa Fe Group and is run by Dale Collins, the company?s CEO.
Collins is the man who is realising Interdean?s vision to deliver sustainable value through innovation: ?The responsibility for such a well known brand in the industry is huge, but our vision is clearer than ever.? Our focus is to provide a service that our client base needs and to do this consistently and better than anyone else.? This means we always have to be ahead of the industry.?? Staying ahead certainly is something that Interdean has been good at in its fifty years of business.
1960s ? A Decade of Stellar Growth
?1961 : Interdean started its huge European expansion, starting in Paris, France
Just as the space race was really getting going, Interdean?s growth in Europe was stellar, as the company acquired the infrastructure necessary to expand its operations.? During 1961 alone, offices were opened in Paris, Barcelona and Madrid.? Expansion didn?t stop here though and throughout the 1960?s Interdean continued to open service centres to create the foundations of the service network we know today.? In fact by the time The Beatles had their first number one in the United States, Interdean had already set up additional offices in Europe including; Hamburg, Zurich, Hungary, Vienna and Brussels.
?1963 : The Beatles? first number one is Please Please Me
1970s ? The Decade of Diplomatic Relations
In 1971, Interdean was the first international moving company to provide an international moving service in Russia when its offices opened in the US Embassy in Moscow.??At the time where politics had made any interaction between the USSR and the West practically impossible, Interdean was providing a regular service in and out of the Soviet Union.? During this period, Interdean established itself as the leading provider in the region, acting as the primary conduit between the East and the West.
Interdean has never looked back and is still today the moving company of choice for families relocating to and from Russia and the former states of the USSR.?? This year Interdean will open a brand new 7,000 square metre warehouse and relocation service centre in Moscow.? Anatol Cebotaru, Director of Interdean Eastern Europe notes ?This is client lead and this level of investment demonstrates why Interdean remains the primary relocation service provider in this part of the world.?
The European Union increased to nine member states in 1973 when Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the community.? This was a time when EU regional policy began the distribution of financial incentives to create jobs and infrastructure in underdeveloped areas. ?Interdean experienced a substantial rise in relocations each year, with the increased movement of executives and public servants into new positions created under this policy.
1971 : Interdean provides the vital link between the West and the USSR
1980s ? A Decade of Innovation
As international trade increased, barriers were reduced significantly.? In Europe, the Schengen Agreement in 1985 was signed by Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany and The Netherlands.? This enabled much freer and faster movement across borders.
1985 : Interdean introduces IBM?s landmark System 3 into its business
After the first ever Personal Computer was introduced by IBM in 1981, Interdean was already looking at new ways of managing its business.? And in 1983, Interdean set the industry alight with its first computer system.? Interdean?s new system ran on IBM?s cutting edge System 3/4 mainframe.? With 128kb of memory and weighing the same as a family car, it required a team of operatives and its own room to house it in.? Despite its meagre capacity by today?s standards (it had less processing power than a modern mobile phone) it was capable of managing several international moving processes.
Throughout the 1980s Interdean developed its IT capabilities, by replacing mainframes with PCs and introducing Version 1.0 of its proprietary move management software in 1987, which enabled individual staff to manage individual moves. ?Interdean continued to keep pace with advancements in technology, and then something happened that would revolutionise international business and relocation forever.
In 1989, a CERN physicist called Tim Berners-Lee published a paper that would go on to define an information sharing system that he later named the World Wide Web.? Berners-Lee published the first ever website in 1990. Interdean saw the potential for this technology at an early stage and in 1995 introduced electronic move tracking for the first time.
Today, Interdean?s Shared Information System (ISIS) is capable of managing every aspect of an entire relocation.?ISIS utilises web technology to link all offices, suppliers and client offices worldwide to provide full management information reporting and tracking services.
?Today : Interdean?s Shared Information System (ISIS) is used to manage all aspects of a relocation programme
1990?s ? A United Europe
?1990 : The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for Interdean?s expansion
As Interdean neared the point of its one millionth move, it was at the forefront of innovation in the industry.? This didn?t stop with technology and in the 1990s Interdean continued to develop its international moving service that would offer greater support for the moving employee and their accompanying family.? Each year Interdean introduced new service innovations including; kids? packs, destination guides, settling-in assistance, handyman and maid services.
The 90s also represented a significant change in global politics that would open new market opportunities.? Mikhail Gorbachev?s plans for Glasnost and Perestroika had signified the end to communism in Europe.
Through its transport capabilities in theUSSR and the Former Eastern Bloc, Interdean was already the primary conduit for moving household goods between Europe?s East and West.? The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990 meant that Interdean was best placed to begin a rapid expansion into the region.? Interdean was fast to react and within five years Interdean had? opened offices in 11 new locations across Central and Eastern Europe to provide what is today, the most comprehensive coverage of Europe.
Today ? A Full Service Relocation Company
After the turn of the millennium, multinational companies demanded a broader level of support for relocating employees.? This was met with a flurry of activity within the relocation market, as moving and relocation services were integrated.? Interdean extended its relocation capabilities, introducing a range of relocation services and shortly afterwards, handled its first home finding case.
Interdean continues to lead the market across Europe, with its Russia Direct service offering expedited moves into and out of the former Soviet states, which still have complex customs procedures.
Interdean is the relocation company of choice for 500 of the world?s most recognised brands and relocates 35,000 people per year.? Today, Interdean employs 1,500 employees worldwide and offers a full range of relocation services that can be viewed at www.interdean.com.
Today : Interdean offers the full range of relocation services
Building for the Future
?No business can ever stand still and continued investment and innovation are at the forefront of Interdean?s strategy?, says Dale Collins, Interdean?s CEO.
Dale shares Paul?s view that it is the people who work at Interdean who are key to the continuing success of the company and that it is vital to attract the most highly-skilled individuals in the business.
In 2007, Interdean introduced the Interdean Academy and opened its Interdean Academy training centre which is now located in Brussels, Belgium.?? The Interdean Academy?s training programmes have been written by Interdean?s HR and training team, who are also qualified FIDI trainers.? The programmes are designed to cover all areas of the relocation service and all areas of the business.? In a time where most businesses are cutting back, Interdean is bucking the trend.? With its entire staff enrolled at the Interdean Academy, and their own training and development schedules in place, Interdean is looking to the future.
Collins notes ?Interdean is a service provider.? The consistency and standards of our business are defined by the attitudes, knowledge and skills of our people.? The Interdean Academy, our processes and our M?bius Continual Improvement programme are therefore critical to ensuring long term customer satisfaction.?
Training and development is integral to Interdean?s strategy?
So What Does the Next 50 Years Hold In Store For Interdean?
?I don?t have a crystal ball, so I cannot predict what the next 50 years will hold for Interdean ? but I do know that our commitment to becoming the leader in the relocation market will hold firm,? says Collins.
Providing a high standard of service doesn?t just mean keeping an eye on your own business.? It is about how you manage the complete service delivery, which includes service providers.
?We will continue to build our global service network, and continue to provide better value for our customers year-on-year through doing things smarter, better and more efficiently.? This comes down to greater control of the supply chain, focus on quality and robust processes.?
When it comes to developing its global service, Interdean has been putting its money where its mouth is.? In the past year, Interdean has invested in excess of five million Euros across a range of initiatives to develop its service and global footprint.
Collins continues; ?This year we have invested in those areas that will continue to improve our global service provision.? Areas such as our World Link partner programme, management processes, technology and training through the Interdean Academy.? We will continue to invest in our infrastructure to ensure that the service we offer is second to none.
The Interdean Timeline
1959 The beginning
1961 Interdean sets up offices in Paris, Barcelona and Madrid
1962 The Beatles release their first single Love Me Do
1963 The Beatles first ever number one single Please Please Me
1963 The Beatles first number one single in the US ?I Want To Hold Your Hand?
1969 Neil Armstrong lands on the moon
1971 Interdean opens office in Moscow? the first moving company to do so
1973 EU increases to nine member states ?- increased number of moves throughout region
1983 Interdean introduces its first computer system
1984 Kids Programme developed
1985 Schengen Agreement signed
1987 Interdean?s proprietary move management software launched
1989 Tim Berners-Lee creates a universal browser-editor and coins the term World Wide Web.
1990 The Berlin Wall falls, Interdean opens 11 new offices in Eastern Europe
1991 Interdean introduces recycling programme
1995 Interdean tests online move tracking
1998 Interdean?s one millionth move
2002 First Home Search service provided
2007 Interdean launches Respect, its formal CSR plan
2007 Interdean introduces low emission vehicle fleet
2008 Interdean Academy training centre opened in Frankfurt, Perfect Move integrated into the business
2009 Russia Direct Service introduced
2011 Acquired by the Santa Fe Group
Part of the Santa Fe Group
Interdean is part of the Santa Fe Group; a quality-oriented organisation delivering relocation services to thousands of people around the world.
The Santa Fe Group provides the full range of relocation services to support businesses with international interests from diverse industry sectors.? The Santa Fe Group is located in 50 countries with 120 offices globally and offers holistic relocation solutions to support businesses and relocating employees.
Last year, we handled 110,000 relocations globally. Our core services are Immigration, Moving, Relocation, Real Estate and Records Management.
We make it easy.
Source: http://www.interdean.com/news/happy-53rd-birthday/
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