Accountmanager
Mathijs Elsinga
From transactional sales to real solutions
When Mathijs started at SMT, his work looked very different from today. He mainly sold smaller machines and contact with customers was largely transactional: supply, demand, deal. Since then, his role has deepened considerably. At SMT, he grew into a relationship manager who thinks along about complete solutions for customers, from financing and service contracts to maintenance and long-term cooperation. ''For him, that development typifies how SMT deals with people: if you show that you want to grow, you get the space to do so,'' he says.
The interview with Mathijs
What have you grown the most in since working at SMT?
When we asked Mathijs this question, he didn't have to think long. "When I started, my work was much more focused on individual sales. Since then, I have become much more of a consultant." He says SMT is not about selling a machine, but about offering a total solution. "You look together with the customer at what he needs, now and in the long term. That simply includes financing, maintenance and service." In addition to substantive growth, he has also made great strides personally. "Through development programmes and training courses, I have learned a lot about professional communication and advice." That combination makes his work richer in terms of content. "You build relationships. And that is much more satisfying than just signing an order."
What trait helps you most in this work?
"Communication and people skills," Mathijs says without hesitation. In his role, he deals with different types of customers, each with their own way of communicating. "You always remain yourself, but you learn to sense what a client needs and how best to respond to that." In addition, drive is important within SMT. "This attitude is also reflected in the organisation. "There is a lot of trust, but in return you have to put your own shoulders to the wheel."
What makes SMT more than 'just an employer' for you?
For Mathijs, the difference lies in how seriously development is taken. "There is a real investment in people here," he says. The atmosphere is positive and stimulating, development is actively encouraged and the framework conditions are well organised. "You feel you are not a number here," he explains. "People think with you about your future." That includes practical matters: a good salary, a decent pension and plenty of days off. "Everything is simply well regulated. And that gives peace of mind." That basis allows him to focus on his work and on growth. "You know: this is where I can continue to build."
This is what working at SMT feels like for Mathijs
If Mathijs had to summarise the atmosphere at SMT, he comes up with three words: ''Open, involved and stimulating.'' ''Open, because everyone is accessible and it's easy to drop in on each other. Involved, because colleagues really look out for each other and working together is a matter of course. And stimulating, because you are continuously challenged to get the best out of yourself, both personally and in terms of content." For Mathijs, it is exactly this combination that makes him feel at home here.
