Full RSDB annual report for 2008 - Roto Smeets Group

in line with these developments. As a result, MediaPartners
is able to operate much more efficiently and is ready
to conquer a larger share of the market.
In the meantime, the price sensitivity of existing customers
has shot up in a very short time. Euros, and than
mostly those from communication budgets, are spent
only very reluctantly, and orders are delayed. We expect
a shift to take place from television and newspapers to
loyalty communication. Business relations realise that
in these economically strenuous times it is even more
important for them to hang on to their existing customers
and properly performing employees.
Although the pressure on prices will have its effect on
margins, at the same time it presents opportunities to
make use of the shifting of communications budgets.
ACTIVITIES IN 2008
In 2008, the new labels MediaPartners LoyaliteitsCommunicatie
(in Amstelveen and Brussels), MediaPartners
ActieCommunicatie and MediaPartners Interne Communicatie,
presented in 2007, strengthened their position in
the market.
The new organisational structure is now fully operational.
The renovation of our existing sites has been
completed, and the rental contract has been renewed.
Although the credit crisis became increasingly fierce
during 2008, MediaPartners Group was able to maintain
its services on a high level, both with regard to quality
and quantity. We managed to extend our activities in
2008 at our existing customers. Within the Netherlands,
MediaPartners Group works for companies such as ABN
AMRO, Albert Heijn, Bastion, Deloitte, Draka, Etos, Eurail,
FBTO, Holland Casino, ING, KLM, La Place, Nuon, Philips,
Shell, Staatsbosbeheer, T-Mobile, TNT Post, VacanceSelect
and Vitae. In Belgium, customers include Ethias,
Unilever and Ernst & Young.
Leads to Loyals
Leads to Loyals made a disappointing start in 2008, but
improved its performance structurally in the second half
of the year. It is clear in the market that customers are
at the moment very reluctant regarding investments in
the solutions offered by Leads to Loyals: the optimising
of the customer dialogue by means of marketing and
process automation.
Social responsibility
RSDB has for years reported separately regarding its
company policies in the fields of people, environment
and added value (people, planet and profit). Fifteen years
ago we published our first Social Report, 10 years ago
our first Environmental Report. Since 2004, both reports
have been joined in the RSDB Social Report.
People
As a result of internal reorganisations, the total number
of employees fell from 2,257 ftes at year-end 2007 to
2,189 as at December 31, 2008. The disability absence
policy, introduced two years ago, whereby case managers
are used who support and advise managers in the
management of disability absence, proved again to be
very effective in 2008. The average absence ratio came in
at 4.26% (2007: 4.38%).
At the end of 2008, all employees received their first
annual Persoonlijk Inkomen en Voorzieningen Overzicht
(PIVO, a personal income and provisions review). This
shows each employee how much they earn, directly
and indirectly, for their work at one of the operating
companies of RSDB. It contains individual information
regarding income, pension, personnel provisions etc.
In 2008, a CD-ROM was added to the PIVO, making it
possible to calculate labour related income.
The clear labour conditions for the group are based on
the Grafimedia CAO (central labour agreement). Employees
of the MediaPartners Group are bound by the CAO
of the Magazine and Book Publishers and the Journalist
CAO, as a result of which problems ensued with market
RSDB Annual Report 2008 13