Inside OPP: Opening a foreign office during the coronacrisis

The decision was made: we are going to expand into Germany! Then the pandemic broke out in full force. Do you then put your plans through or on hold? Our CEO Maurice went for the former and shares what obstacles he encountered when opening an office for Online Payment Platform in Berlin.

Why was Germany a logical choice for international expansion?

"We think it's important to support our customers locally. For them it is nice to be able to communicate with us in their own language and with people who know the culture. Since we are already doing business with some parties in Germany and the platform economy is also developing rapidly there, it was obvious to have a physical presence. Moreover, a major German customer was due to join us in the near future so it was not an option for us to shelve the plans.

How do you find office space during the height of the pandemic?

"This was still quite a challenge. We were looking for a special space that fit our organization and had clear criteria for this. For example, we are not fans of multi-tenant buildings. This also does not fit in with our business and security policies. Eventually, after much online searching, we found a very nice and modern office in the city center."

"However, when we contacted the broker, communication was a bit difficult. You notice that there is a language barrier and the contact is a bit distant. Then I discovered that a real estate agent in Germany works a little differently than with us. For example, there was no floor plan with the dimensions of the space available. Also, the drawings differed from what we saw in the pictures. When we tried to get a floor plan with dimensions we met with resistance. There was no choice but to travel to Berlin to see (and measure) the space with our own eyes."

How did you corona-proof the trip to Berlin?

"I weighed up various transportation options. In the end, flying was the best choice, but of course with a mouthguard. It was a strange sensation though. You arrive at an almost empty Schiphol Airport and take the only KLM flight of the day to Berlin. In the plane I had a full row of seats at my disposal. Upon arrival, the military police asked what I had come to do and whether my trip was really necessary. In addition, in Germany at the time they had stricter rules regarding mouth masks and it was also mandatory to wear them in stores."

"The same afternoon I visited the office and measured up and got acquainted with the rental company. You notice that even though you can't shake hands, this helps incredibly in the contact and it immediately makes communication a lot more pleasant. Then, after a night in a hotel, I flew back to the Netherlands."

Was it difficult to get the office up and running?

"Fortunately, the paperwork could all be handled perfectly remotely, although the rental contract still had to be sent to Germany by courier. We received the key on July 1. To make sure we could get started right away, we had ordered all the furnishings in the Netherlands and had them brought to the office. Then we drove to Berlin in a van. Together with our office manager and operations manager, I received the key and set up the office. We also immediately started conducting job interviews."

How did you hire and train employees?

"We had hired Janneke in the Netherlands who was going to move to Berlin and run the office. She speaks German and is familiar with both cultures and our corporate culture. On the spot, we hired two more local employees. The induction of these colleagues is different than we would normally do, but here we have found a good way with digital means among others.''

''Naturally, we observe the corona measures and we also follow the news about corona and the advice that is given closely in Germany. We have also found a good balance between working at home and in the office. The social aspect is simply also very important in our company. Of course, we choose to travel outside the rush hour so that people who have to come by public transport don't have to sit on a packed train unnecessarily."

What is the most important insight you have gained from this experience?

"You see that although you can arrange a lot of things digitally these days, face-to-face contact is ultimately indispensable. At least when closing these kinds of larger transactions in Germany. In that sense, this experience is a great confirmation of the need for our organization to have a presence on the ground as well."


Would you like to read more about opening our new office in berlin? Go and read this blog!