What does Chris Schlau actually do?

He is the coordinating hub between the Bremen headquarters and the many branches in his region: as the back office manager, Chris Schlau works behind-the-scenes to ensure that all the cogs are meshing perfectly. In the interview, he explains why he likes nothing better than covering his colleagues’ backs, how he is driving forward the digitalisation of HANSA FLEX and why his working day only really starts when he gets home.

Anyone who asks Chris Schlau about his work soon notices: it’s where everything comes together. As the back office manager for the Bremen and Hanover region, he is far more than a traditional administrator. He is a communicator, problem solver and the crucial link between the specialist departments in headquarters and the people on the spot in the branches. With his many years of experience in the company, he knows exactly where the problems lie and how processes can be coordinated so that, in the end, one person in particular benefits: the customer.

Basically, I am responsible for everything that happens commercially or technically in the region. You could describe me as a sort of connecting link: I communicate a lot with headquarters, sort out the information gained and pass it to the appropriate areas in our region. It may be a question on bookkeeping, something to do with purchasing, production or even international suppliers – almost every cog that turns in our organisation lands, at some time or other, on my desk in the form of an enquiry.

I see my main task as covering the backs of the people in our region. The back office is there to ensure that staff who work directly with customers or produce the goods in the workshop have the space and time to perform their core duties. I also discuss things with the other back office managers. We take care of the processes going on in the background, work together on problems and solutions so that everything up front runs smoothly.

 

I enjoy a healthy mixture, even if much of the action happens remotely. Thanks to modern communication tools, we can discuss and agree things by video in seconds or take a virtual walk through a workshop without having to allow four hours’ travelling time. That saves resources and makes us extremely quick.

I go out to deal with any trickier matters, situations where employees are absent, or we are implementing complex projects directly at the customer’s premises. For example, I am often at places where we have set up our operating base in the customer’s works. I act as the contact for both the customer and our sales team.
 

The introduction of EDI systems, automatic interfaces for orders, has been much in discussion recently. It sounds very technical at first, but is a huge benefit to staff: it relieves our colleagues on site of a great deal of manual order administration. We want to move away from “mountains of paperwork” towards digital platforms, for example, in the dispatch department. My goal is to simplify every process such that it results in the highest productivity for the lowest possible input of resources. We collate the information centrally in the back office so that all our colleagues in the region can access it at the touch of a button.

Obviously, the flat hierarchies and the trust placed in our own employees. Myself, I started work in internal sales. When the position of back office manager became available, what counted most was not paper qualifications but the practical skills and experience I had acquired working for the company. With us we look and ask: “Who can do that?” and then someone gets the opportunity. Today, in addition to my duties as back office manager, I am also deputy regional manager, which involves me temporarily stepping up to take responsibility for the branches in this part of Germany. We form the interface between the region and the HANSA‑FLEX headquarters.

This freedom for people to progress upwards in the organisation is quite normal to us. Many managers once worked on the shop floor or in internal sales. In addition, despite its size, the company has a family atmosphere: our doors are always open. You can speak about anything, even matters that might cause a little friction. This creates the energy that allows us to grow together as an organisation.
 

Yes – the clue is in the company’s name. We have 200 branches in Germany. If one of them finds itself snowed under with work, whether that be through the volume of orders or equipment breakdown, we can bring in additional resources immediately through our regional or country-wide channels. For example, I am also managing a second region on a temporary basis right now. This mutual exchange of roles works really well: “I’ll handle this project for you, and you can help me here with something else.” We are all in the same boat, whether we work in Munich, Hamburg or Hanover.

At home, things can often get really hectic, but in a very wonderful way. I have two small children; one is just a year old, the other is three. Therefore, “the day job” actually never stops, except that family surroundings provide me with essential grounding. In addition, I need sport to properly let off steam and clear my head.

Ask questions! Anyone who does not know who best to approach about a matter can always call us in the back office. We will find the right department or a suitable expert. And for everyone who would like to start work with us: Be open. The main way we develop here is by talking to one another. If you are prepared to get stuck in and assume responsibility, then all the doors in this place will be truly open to you.