What does the Romanian construction market look like from ICCO Facility Management's point of view?
It's a market with a lot to offer. We are certainly going through a development boom, both on the civil and industrial side, a boom which for us means taking up the baton: increased efforts on the commercial side, but also on the production side. I am certain that the construction market is in our favor and we are taking steps to adapt to its pace.

What was the biggest challenge in your field this year?
Staff shortages, both skilled and unskilled. Due to the development of the residential segment, where a lot of developers have emerged, staff have been attracted to this segment. Although the effect of undeclared work had diminished, now, with the new real estate developments, we are again struggling with the same trends as in 2008.

You are also heavily involved in actions with a strong social impact. How much do these actions help you achieve your company's objectives?
Indeed, since 2016 we have been striving to help, through various charitable actions or educational and training initiatives. We have a good collaboration with the Transylvania Expres Association, as well as with the Faculty of Construction at the Transylvania University of Brasov. These are small steps towards a big goal, which is not to forget that we are people first and foremost.

We know that one of the pillars of the company is the desire to become a strategic partner for the big players in the market. How close are you to achieving this goal?
We already have long-term collaborations with companies that have invested in Romania. These include Autoliv Romania, a partner with whom we have been working for 12 years, both locally in Brasov and across the country. We believe we have achieved this objective, but it is a point that remains permanently open. Being a strategic partner requires continuous efforts and we are ready for that.

You collaborate with many specialists in the field. From your experiences so far, what do you consider to be the 3 most common mistakes made at the beginning of a project?
In the first place is poor budgeting, reporting is based on summary investigations in the market, which does not reflect reality. Then there is the project approval stage, with months of negotiations and optimizations, during which time prices are already changing. Thirdly, builders are seen as investors without adequate financial protection, often supporting projects with their own funds.

Deliver quality on time. How do you deliver fast and quality solutions?
It is more about delivery within the deadline set by the beneficiary. We want to have a quick response time, but we don't compromise on quality. So far, we have met our delivery deadlines and have never hindered the client's start of work, even if we are still laying lawns or doing parking lots outside.

What was your most ambitious project in 2017-2018?
Expansion of Industrial Park Brasov. We realized 4 new objectives: Sennheiser, PMG, Benchmark and Preh, totaling 24,000 sqm. It was a complex project that tested our coordination capacity.

How do you stay competitive? What is the strongest advantage of the company you represent?
Focus on customer objectives. If they are met, our mechanism is working. That means one thing - we have an ace up our sleeve.