Meet Maxime, a Retail & Products consultant who gets the best out of data and people

Could you tell us a bit about yourself? 

My name is Maxime Welling, I’m 27 years old. I’m originally from Noordwijk, but I’ve been living in Rotterdam since my student years. I studied Business Administration and then completed the master's in business Analytics & Management at Erasmus University. I’ve now been working at IG&H for about 3.5 years in the Retail & Products team. 

What drew you to IG&H? 

What really attracted me to IG&H were the people. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do yet, so I decided to explore that further during my master’s degree. That’s why I started looking for a working student position. Through a recruitment agency, I got in touch with IG&H, and it immediately felt right. 

The way they spoke with me really stood out; it felt personal and open and there was something very familiar and welcoming about the company. I felt comfortable right away and that made the choice quite easy in the end! Everyone was friendly and open, but also had a good sense of humor. I had the feeling I could really be myself here while also learning a lot. It’s a place where people work hard, but also don’t take everything too seriously when it’s not needed. A bit like the saying we have in Rotterdam: 'Niet lullen, maar poetsen' (roughly: stop talking and start doing). 

What is your role and what does it involve? 

I’m currently a consultant in the Retail & Products team. The team gives you the freedom to explore what you find interesting and what you enjoy doing most. For me, it's working closely together with a team, not only with colleagues from IG&H, but especially with the client, to build something and make a difference together. 

Despite my analytical background, I quickly realized that connections with people are just as important to me. The shorter, purely strategic projects therefore attracted me a bit less. A few years ago, we started a partnership with RELEX solutions, a forecasting and replenishment tool that helps retailers predict demand more accurately and optimize their stock levels. That immediately caught my interest because it combined analytical skills with the retail knowledge I had already built up while also focusing on the human side of the work. 

What have you learned as a sector expert in making? 

Over time, I’ve learned a lot about everything that falls under forecasting and replenishment: KPIs, stock levels, the impact of external factors and how retailers can use data to make better decisions. What energizes me is being able to apply that knowledge in all my projects and that I now also support clients during the implementation of RELEX. 

You get to see first-hand how fast technology is moving and how retailers must adapt to keep up. Many processes are still very manual, which makes them time-consuming and quite error-prone. That’s why data and adoption are so important. A tool can only work properly if the data going into it is correct, and if the people using it understand what they are doing and what the tool can help them with. The tools are there, but people also need to feel comfortable and confident using them. 

That is often the biggest challenge. When someone has been working in the same way for many years, it can be quite difficult to suddenly tell them things will change. People are sometimes unsure whether they will understand the tool or whether they will be able to work with it. That uncertainty can create friction, which is why it’s so important to really take the time to explain things and listen to what someone needs to feel confident. For one person that might be a short explanation, for someone else it might be a walkthrough in the tool or simply the chance to share their concerns. I really enjoy being able to help people with that. 

For example, during a recent system implementation, we had discussions on how to include promotions in the forecast, while working with limited or imperfect data. The initial request from the business was a bit complex, but not everything was feasible from an IT or timeline perspective. 

By clearly explaining the impact of certain choices and what was realistically possible, we were able to move towards a simpler solution that still met the need. It’s always nice to see that moment when it clicks, when someone realizes there’s a more practical way that works just as well, or even better, within the constraints. 

What does a typical day at IG&H look like? 

My day usually starts with some music in the car to wake up a bit. When I arrive, I first take a moment to organize my tasks for the day and, if I’m lucky, grab an oat cappuccino before the day begins. We usually start with a daily stand-up, catching up on what we did the day before, what we’re working on today and if anyone needs help with something. Bonus: There’s always a good dose of humor in those meetings. 

After that I check my agenda for meetings, what I need to prepare and also look ahead a bit to the rest of the week to ensure I’m on track. Next up are emails, responding to a few Teams messages and often another meeting shortly after. 

For lunch we often go for a short walk together with the team while eating our sandwiches and after that it’s usually time for a cup of tea before getting back to work. The rest of the day is often a mix of preparing meetings, working out the results of previous sessions, facilitating meetings with the client and answering questions. Before you know it, the day is over and I’m back in the car to Rotterdam. 

What do you enjoy most about working at IG&H? 

Working together with others and really help. I like the fact that we don’t just give advice, but actually work together with clients to make something happen. It’s also very motivating to work on something that is tangible. In the retail sector, you really see the results in real life. Sometimes when I walk past a store of a client, I can’t help but go inside for a moment. For example, seeing a product on the shelf that we helped introduce, or noticing how an assortment change is implemented. It makes the work feel very real and you feel connected to it.  

What has been your proudest moment at IG&H? 

I’d say it’s about the moments along the way, like helping others and working together as a team. The moments that stand out most are when we achieve something together. For example, supporting the implementation of a forecasting & replenishment tool, or being involved in the go-live of a new warehouse setup. Those are the moments where everything comes together, from process to technology, and you really see the impact of the work.  Reaching those milestones and taking a moment to celebrate them as a team makes it really rewarding.