The management assistant explains: Right at the beginning, we hired an external consultant from the Facility Cooperative. They know a lot about tenders for cleaners, security or photocopiers, for example. We immediately started looking where we could make savings by buying centrally." This is not possible with all contracts: "Sometimes, a library is in a multifunctional accommodation with a theatre or a café. In that case, you have already paid the telephone contract or security through the rent." In other cases, however, the foundation can conclude contracts for several branches: "We already had the energy contracts pretty much in sight. First you check whether the tariffs are favourable. If that's the case, you conclude a contract for several years. Eventually you end up saving a lot of money."

What are the results after two years of using a simple contract management tool? "Our objective was to save on facility costs. We absolutely succeeded in doing that. We have cheaper energy security and cleaning contracts. In total, I think it's as much as a third of our facilities budget. And that's structural."