Municipality of Moerdijk | Building a futureproof way of working

Note: This article is about the Municipality of Moerdijk and is unrelated to recent news concerning the village of Moerdijk.

The Municipality of Moerdijk is known for its short communication lines, engaged employees, and strong focus on collaboration. Projects and plans are developed together wherever possible, and transparency is a key principle. This requires an environment that enables collaboration – both physically and digitally – and supports transparent and reliable decision-making. However… the existing technology no longer aligned with the way they wanted to work. A transformation was needed, and it had to be done properly.

Building a future-proof way of working together

When a municipality modernises its way of working, it is never a coincidence. It is the result of ambition, strategic choices, and above all: people who want to move forward. The same applied in Moerdijk. Spread across eleven characteristic villages, the municipality wanted to take the next step in professionalising its decision-making processes and supporting the hybrid workstyle that had become firmly embedded in the organisation. With a planned renovation of the town hall, a unique opportunity arose to elevate not only the building but also the audiovisual environment.

A municipality that looks ahead

Moerdijk is known as an organisation with short lines of communication, dedicated employees, and a strong focus on collaboration. Projects and plans are developed together wherever possible, and transparency is a key principle. This requires an environment that enables collaboration – physically and digitally – and supports transparent and reliable decision-making.

However, the council chamber was outdated both structurally and audiovisually. The technology no longer supported the modern meeting and decision-making process Moerdijk envisioned. Regular meeting rooms also no longer matched the new hybrid way of working. The audiovisual infrastructure lacked stability, quality, and above all simplicity: starting a meeting, presenting, or joining a hybrid session without technical knowledge was far from easy. And that was exactly what the organisation needed.

Lex Venema, Facility Manager at the Municipality of Moerdijk, explains: “The technology we had simply no longer matched the way we wanted to work: open, efficient, hybrid, and transparent. We needed to take a big step forward, and it had to be done right.”

A partner that looks further

The municipality sought a partner who could do more than simply deliver equipment. They needed an audiovisual expert who could think along with the complete user experience, who understood the decision-making process, and who could integrate the technology in a way that keeps the user central and makes every solution “effortless” to use. In addition, the management of all installations had to be taken completely out of their hands so the municipality would not be faced with daily technical questions or unexpected notifications.

They found that expert in BIS|Econocom. The fact that BIS|Econocom had already successfully delivered hybrid-meeting projects instilled confidence. Alexander Hartmans, Senior Account Manager at BIS|Econocom, recalls the first conversations: “What struck me from the start was Moerdijk’s drive to do things properly. No quick fixes, but building a future-proof environment that everyone can work with. That fits our vision and aligns perfectly with how we approach projects.”

From vision to design: jointly creating the best solution

For BIS|Econocom, the assignment began with careful listening. What exactly needed to be done? What were the wishes of the Council, the Clerk’s Office, the attendants, the facility managers, and the employees who use hybrid meetings every day? Conversations were held, needs were gathered, and expectations were clearly defined.

These discussions formed the basis for an integrated design that aligned the council chamber, the hybrid meeting rooms, and even the room booking process. The construction team was involved from the beginning as well: cable routing, electrical installations, and timelines had to be perfectly coordinated to meet the strict three-month deadline. For Moerdijk, this represented exactly the collaboration they were looking for: substantive expertise, practical thinking, and realistic planning.

A council chamber aligned with today’s way of working

The council chamber received a complete audiovisual overhaul. The objective: creating an environment in which council members, the executive board, and employees can meet, vote, present, and stream – without requiring technical expertise. The room was equipped with a modern discussion system, automatic camera tracking that follows speakers instantly, and intuitive controls available at both the front and back of the chamber.

In addition, a smart data integration was implemented with the iBabs council information system, allowing meetings to be loaded directly into the meeting software. To automatically and reliably stream debates, meetings, and other sessions in the council chamber, we partnered with Company Webcast. To optimise intelligibility, audio quality was significantly improved – both in the room and in the public gallery. Custom-built furniture discreetly integrated confidence monitors, ensuring that form and function reinforce each other. The result is a space where transparency, clarity, and simplicity take centre stage. Exactly as the Municipality of Moerdijk intended.

Hybrid meetings that actually work

In addition to the council chamber, no fewer than thirty meeting rooms were completely renovated. The municipality wanted every employee – from policy advisor to project manager – to start a hybrid meeting without hesitation. Therefore, all rooms were configured as Microsoft Teams Rooms, using the same control logic everywhere. Whether you are having a quick stand-up in a small room or a brainstorming session in an interactive space: the experience is always consistent.

Employees no longer need to figure out how a room works. It just works. This creates calmness and confidence across the organisation. Lex Venema sees it every day: “We notice that people now use the rooms more easily, even for short meetings. They walk in, press a single button, and the meeting starts. It sounds simple, but it makes a world of difference.”

Control and oversight with smart room booking

Meeting room booking and management were also redesigned. Humly panels outside each room show immediately whether the room is available or occupied. Thanks to the integration with Microsoft 365, rooms can also be booked via Outlook, and no-shows automatically disappear from the schedule: if a meeting is not started within ten minutes, the room becomes available again. It may sound like a small detail, but for the municipality it results in much more efficient room utilisation and eliminates frustration about incorrectly booked spaces.

Not delivering and walking away, but staying involved

One of the municipality’s most important requirements was continuity. The technology must always work. Updates, security, incidents, or faults must not fall on the desks of facility or ICT colleagues. That is why Moerdijk opted for an AV-as-a-Service model: a subscription-based approach in which all equipment, software, security, updates, and monitoring are managed by BIS|Econocom. No large investments upfront, but a predictable monthly fee that ensures the technology remains up to date. For Moerdijk, this means peace of mind, clarity, and a single point of contact. As Alexander puts it: “We do not deliver boxes. We deliver an experience. And that experience must work every single day.”

The result: an organisation ready for the future

Today, the Municipality of Moerdijk works in an environment that reflects its ambitions. The council chamber embodies professionalism and transparency, hybrid meetings run smoothly and reliably, and employees experience technology as supportive rather than disruptive. The most important gain? Confidence, simplicity, and work satisfaction. As Lex summarises: “We wanted a solution that matched how we want to operate as a municipality. That is exactly what we received – and more. My colleagues now come to work with renewed enthusiasm.”

Ready for the next step?

Are you, as a facility manager, IT professional, or project lead, looking to future-proof your meeting or decision-making environment? Curious how AV-as-a-Service can help unburden and professionalise your organisation? Contact BIS|Econocom. We are happy to assist.

Call BIS|Econocom at 015 287 487 or use the contact options at the top right.