Putting customers first – why matrix organisations work

Holman is a local business with a global footprint. This has been the basis of our growth for over a century. We’re constantly innovating internally and have adopted a matrix organisational structure. This gives us the freedom and flexibility to deliver for our customers today and in the future. It’s critical to tackle the issues affecting fleets, including the transition to sustainable fuels and efficient operations.

What is a matrix organisation, and how can our structure contribute to your growth?

The value of a matrix organisation

In traditional organisational hierarchies, everyone is a member of one team with one boss in charge of directing the workload, setting objectives, and sharing a vision. This works in organisations where employees tackle simple tasks, but a matrix structure is more effective for more complex challenges, such as optimising fleets.

Matrix organisations work flexibly, with each team member free to collaborate with colleagues on projects. A shared culture of putting customers’ interests first is critical to the success of matrix organisations. We call this our one-voice model.

What does this one voice model mean in practice for Holman?

Operating as a matrix organisation binds us together under a shared vision. It enables us to incorporate multiple voices, views, and perspectives into every project.

For example, when exploring new vehicle purchases, many fleet operators rely on their perspectives and experience to make decisions. While this experience and insights are valid, listening to just one voice in a decision is dangerous and can lead to blind spots.

Operating as a matrix organisation enables us to build virtual teams that provide multiple views and perspectives for our customers. In this example, we can provide best practices and expert perspectives on purchasing, finance, management, and maintenance to help our customers develop a broader perspective. These viewpoints add value for our customers helping to ensure the optimal fleet strategy for purchasing and operation.

Futureproofing your fleet

Holman customers have become part of a global family. Our matrix structure stretches across borders, with a cross-pollination of ideas shared across the business. As a result, every innovation can be shared between global teams and can be applied to all customers.

We have a huge strength in our service offering and skills set, developed over a century of operation. Inside the business, we pride ourselves on our culture of innovation.

This promotes joint problem-solving, where industry experts collaborate to tackle the defining challenges. While markets across the world may differ, there is a commonality in the challenges fleets face. They want to run the best vehicles, support drivers, and increase the availability of products. They’re also considering how best to transition fleets to hybrids, EVs, and even (in time) hydrogen.

Holman operates as a problem-solver for our partners. Operating a matrix structure enables us to leverage that knowledge through our single model. As a result, we can rapidly share knowledge with multiple partners, supporting them to drive what’s right.

Holman has grown our global footprint so that we can help you to increase your global fleet. With offices in the UK, Germany and North America and boasting trusted partners worldwide, we’re proud to offer in-market expertise alongside the same consistent, integrated set of services you can expect from us whether you deploy a local, national, or international fleet.

Read more about our Global Fleet Management Services today.