Brussels, 11 June 2024 – A responsible digital entrepreneur and pioneer of the circular economy in Europe, Econocom is thrilled to announce its inclusion in the Euronext Tech Leaders segment, as part of the initiative dedicated to fostering high-growth and leading tech companies.

To join the circle of more than 110 technology companies among more than 750 companies listed on Euronext in the Tech sector (CleanTech, HealthTech and General Tech), criteria for size and revenue growth, but also quality of the issuer’s technological offerings are retained.

Launched in June 2022, the Euronext Tech Leaders initiative is supported by a strong network of partners and aims to recognize and support top-tier tech companies listed on Euronext markets. It features a segment of over 110 European companies, an index, and a comprehensive suite of services designed to support participants throughout their listing journey. The Euronext Tech Leaders index will be updated after markets close on Friday 21 June 2024 with effect from Monday 24 June 2024.

By joining the Euronext Tech Leaders, Econocom gains access to an extensive ecosystem tailored to the tech sector. This includes engagement with a broad, international investor base financing tech companies of varying growth stages.

For more information on the specific criteria for companies to qualify for the Euronext Tech Leaders segment, please visit Euronext Tech Leaders criteria.

Econocom is excited about the opportunities this inclusion brings and looks forward to leveraging the resources and network provided by the Euronext Tech Leaders initiative to drive further growth and innovation in the tech sector.

Euronext Tech Leaders | euronext.com

When the Japanese chemicals giant KAO Corporation (with over 33,000 employees worldwide) turned to Econocom in Spain last November, it wanted more than just a change of supplier. KAO is involved in the production of cosmetics and needed a full digital transformation. The Japanese chemicals flagship was putting out a call for tenders to help it adopt a digital transformation of its hardware as well as its uses.

Jorge Osorio, who joined the company in 2006 acting as account manager at Econocom since 2024, recalls this period with a smile. «It was an unprecedented opportunity,» he says. «We saw beyond the initial challenges and were able to convince KAO to appreciate our service offering.»

The final response was a remarkable success, incorporating not only the Services offering but also a full range of IT solutions (including Lenovo desktops and laptops) as well as an innovative financial model through the use of TRO (Technology Refresh Option) technology.

One of the highlights of this collaboration was the way in which the Econocom teams worked hand in hand. «We were totally aligned on communication and strategy with my colleagues Eduardo Segura (P&S) et Joël Valtierra (TMF),» explains Jorge. «We acted as a single point of contact, a one stop shop for KAO, ensuring that every step was shared and validated internally before being presented to the client.»

But the real challenge was in fact the change itself! In order to meet this major challenge seamlessly, the Econocom teams involved in the project put in place a robust change management program including webinars, videos, training and even an internal marketing campaign to inform KAO employees of the need to move to Windows 11 and the rest of full Microsoft Office package. Twenty-five pioneer KAO employees were selected to test the project, forming a community of ambassadors ready to drive and support the transition.

«It was a very rewarding experience,» says Jorge. «We successfully deployed the new platform and it strengthened our position to win a new tender for a helpdesk service.»

The collaboration paid off, with an initial success in January and a solid position to win a second tender. «We don’t think in terms of isolated individuals,» concludes Jorge. «We’re so much more powerful together.»

And so the success of this collaboration with KAO Corporation perfectly illustrates Econocom’s vision: the «One Econocom» model, where each element (whether people, services or technologies) is more than just the sum of its parts.

Revenue of €634 million, up¹ 2.6%, driven by the continued growth of the finance leasing business (TMF), a gradual recovery of the Products & Solutions business and solid performance by Services

During the first three months of 2024, the businesses reported the following performances:

• Technology Management & Financing (TMF) continued to perform well, posting revenue of €207 million, an increase¹ of 10.6%, 10.2% organically, amid a continually tight credit market. Thanks to its flexible, innovative offering that addresses clients’ need for financing of digital or strategic assets, TMF maintains its positive trend after posting strong growth in 2023.
• Revenue for Products & Solutions (P&S) totalled €305 million, down¹5% (2.6% organic). Performance in the first quarter varied from country to country but overall posted a notable improvement on H2 2023. Furthermore, the organic decline in P&S during Q1 2024 is in line with trends in the European IT distribution market, which reported decreases of 2% for Workspace solutions and 7% for Infrastructures³.
• Services continued its recovery, reporting its fourth consecutive quarter of growth. Revenue for the first quarter was up (total¹ and organic²) 3.2%, standing at €122 million, driven mainly by Spain and France.

2024 revenue growth guidance confirmed

After an altogether positive first-quarter performance, the group confirms its annual revenue growth guidance of between 3 and 5%, profiting from an IT asset distribution market expected to grow³ in the second half of 2024.

Find our more in the press release attached to this article. 

¹  At constant standards

²  At constant scope and standards

³ Context study for beginning of 2024.

As part of our One Econocom strategic plan and in order to support our organic growth objectives, we’re proud to announce the launch of our JUMP advertising campaign. It illustrates the great leap into entrepreneurship made by two salespeople who decide to become agents. This Europe-wide initiative marks a significant step forward in our recruitment strategy. Hélène Lory-Delambre, Director in charge of the sales team development programme, tells us more about this campaign and the impact it aims to have. 

INTERVIEW 

Hélène, can you tell us more about the launch of this JUMP advertising campaign?

Hélène Lory-Delambre: Firstly I’d like to express our enthusiasm for the launch of this campaign. It’s the result of a collaborative effort between the Josiane creative agency, the Group Communications department, the country teams and the Group Management Committee. JUMP is designed to support our plan to recruit 100 agents in 1,000 days, which is crucial to our organic growth strategy up to 2028. What’s special about this campaign is the extremely short period of time between the idea being born (in Marbella in November 2023) and its deployment just 5 months later!

How did this campaign come about?

Hélène Lory-Delambre : This synergy between independent agents and Econocom dates back almost to the company’s creation. This model has no equivalent in the sector. Through the multitude of benefits offered to agents, the company – and, of course, our customers – we’ve created a unique model which is now more than ever connected to developments in the professional world.

The benefits extend to agents, Econocom and customers. The independence of our agents, coupled with uncapped remuneration indexed to results, ensures stable commercial relationships and exceptional retention. For customers, it’s the guarantee of a long-term relationship with a trusted intermediary.

In short, it’s a win-win-win relationship for the agents, the company, and of course the customers.

What communication channels will be used for this campaign?

Hélène Lory-Delambre: The campaign will be deployed mainly on the LinkedIn and YouTube social networks, and in a more confidential manner via dynamic billboards in the La Défense district (close to our competitors’ offices), and the main railway stations in Northern Italy. We’ve planned several waves of communication over the coming months to maximise our visibility. The next one is scheduled for September. We’re also rolling out a landing page on our website dedicated to the project, with videos of testimonials from agents from several countries.

What are the main aims of this campaign?

Hélène Lory-Delambre: This campaign aims to highlight what makes Econocom unique and also contribute to our recruitment objective. We want to promote our commercial agent model and our willingness to work with entrepreneurs to stimulate the growth of our business.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone involved in the campaign, which was completed in record time. We encourage everyone to become ambassadors for this campaign and to use the communication tools provided. Who knows – maybe we’ll discover a future agent among your network? – and you might benefit from the special co-optation programme we’ve put in place.

Any final words, Hélène?

Hélène Lory-Delambre: This project as a whole (and the communication aspect in particular) is also an opportunity for us to redefine our identity as an employer on the European market. Faced with fierce competition to attract and retain sales talent, making our employer brand stand out from the crowd would be a major trump for us! Current developments in the labour market show that independence and freedom in the way you organise your daily affairs are strongly desired. We’re responding to this demand with the agents programme.

«Our employees are our best ambassadors»

Today, we’re pleased to share with you a special episode of Econocom Voices. On 2 April 2024, Chantal de Vrieze was appointed as a group board director. This 10-minute interview was a chance to look back at her career in detail.

From her childhood dreams to her professional rise and her return to Econocom as Managing Director of Econocom Belux, Chantal shares her attachment to Econocom’s vision and values, her convictions about the group’s employees, and her secrets for keeping a healthy balance between her working life and her private life.

Listen to Chantal de Vrieze on Econocom Voices.

Click on the image to start listening to the podcast.

Anne Bruchon

Group Communication Director