Laurien Van Nieuwenhove, Content Officer BDO Marketing & Communication

BDO Belgium has connected with the Living Tomorrow innovation campus as an exclusive partner for the coming 5 years. With this partnership, we are highlighting our growing and future-oriented advisory services. And we want to attract the coveted talent so that we can build a more innovative, sustainable and inclusive future together.

After more than a year and a half of the corona pandemic, one thing is certain: digitalisation is continuing apace. And BDO is no exception. Even before COVID-19, we had already boarded the digitalisation train. And under pressure from the corona crisis, that train has shifted up a gear.

For a long time now, BDO has been a consultant that offers much more than financial and legal expertise. During this time, we have evolved significantly and now have some 200 Advisory consultants (also read ‘Multidisciplinary expertise for all your business challenges’) who assist organisations in the most diverse business challenges (including digital ones), from risk management and IT projects to practical AI and drone technology applications.

Of course, the digital innovation also influences our familiar services. Just think of the use of AI and digital image processing for stock counting during an audit. Or even automatic data capture in real-time accounting (also read ‘Real-time accounting: Digital link between manager and accountant’ in To The Point 01/2021) or the calculation of growth subsidies for SMEs. In today’s highly competitive world, cross-business innovation is a very strong weapon.

In addition, the ‘war for talent’ is once again breaking loose. “COVID-19 has not made the fight any easier,” says Peter Van Laer, CEO BDO Belgium. “Yet the pandemic has also opened up a world of new possibilities. To maintain our competitive advantage, we are vigorously targeting the inflow of young people. And also the expertise and development of experienced employees who are essential for sustainable and qualitative growth.”

Last year, BDO entered into a partnership with Vlerick Business School to familiarise the finance experts of tomorrow with the latest technologies (also read ‘The CFO’s future starts today’ in To The Point 02/2020). Today, thanks to the partnership with Living Tomorrow, we are strengthening our market position as an innovative player and business challenger.

Living Tomorrow (formerly the ‘House of the Future’) has been living in the future for decades now. To predict it, of course, but also (and above all) to create it. Joachim De Vos, CEO Living Tomorrow: “Science and technology are evolving at lightning speed. How we deal with it is up to us. You can stand aside and undergo the changes, or you can ride the wave of developments and turn them to your own advantage.”

To make this future a reality, Living Tomorrow can count on an extensive arsenal of partners. BDO’s ‘sweet spot’? A holistic view of innovative business solutions. “As an exclusive partner, our great asset lies in our advisory services, which go way beyond merely implementing business solutions,” says Walter Vanherle, Digital expert BDO Belgium. “Thanks to this partnership, we can immerse our clients and BDO colleagues alike in the world of innovation, so that, together, they are even better equipped to implement innovative, sustainable and future-proof solutions.”

Together with Living Tomorrow, BDO wants to:

The strength of our partnership lies in:

1. Future & innovation experience

Catch a glimpse of the future at one of Living Tomorrow’s many workshops, open days and events. A number of BDO partners will soon also be offering a fixed value by preparing customers and visitors for the innovative trends in the sectors in which BDO operates: namely, Real Estate, Healthcare, Transport & Logistics and Technology.

2. Inspiring meeting place

With Living Tomorrow, BDO has a new meeting place for customers and employees. There are auditoria for workshops, networking events with partners or recruitment days. And also for strategy meetings or C-level gatherings. And, of course, they are easily accessible by car and by public transport.

3. Unique ecosystem of partners

“Living Tomorrow is a unique ecosystem of partners in which, together, they formulate feasible solutions for the challenges of tomorrow. Together we are stronger and are building a sustainable and smart future,” says Gert Maris, Sales Director BDO Belgium.

The Living Tomorrow knowledge platform is based on 5 ‘smart’ categories around living, healthcare, mobility, real estate and smart cities. These categories reflect the current changes in the B2B world and fit in seamlessly with the sectors and themes on which BDO is fully engaged. “It is practically impossible to tackle these social challenges alone. With Living Tomorrow, BDO wants to be one step ahead of the future. Because, as the American management writer Peter Drucker once said: ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself’,” concludes Peter Van Laer.

Living Tomorrow is a social demonstration and innovation project that aims to prepare and inform organisations and people about the future. They accomplish this by providing research & development support to dozens of government institutions and companies in the form of open innovation, vision and strategy guidance, piloting and experimentation.