Two childcare organisations, one integrated whole.
How Helan Kinderopvang integrated the Komma group, with attention to both the people and the systems.
The challenge
In May 2022 Helan Kinderopvang acquired the Komma group, in Helan’s words “just about the largest acquisition ever in Flemish childcare”. Helan itself operated 45 childcare locations. Komma’s 200 employees joined Helan’s 400: 600 in total.
The organisation chart, the structure, the lines of communication and the way of working changed for both sides. The integration touched everything, from contracts and accounting to staff, buildings and IT.
This took place in a climate in which the professionalisation of childcare was receiving a lot of public attention. The children’s well-being could not be compromised, while the Komma locations themselves needed a professionalisation drive.
My approach
I coordinated the entire merger across all domains, with a change approach for the employees of both organisations. I took on the IT integration myself: data, tools, processes and hardware aligned with the Helan landscape.
The result
Within one year, everything came together:
Is a merger or reorganisation on the horizon?
I’m happy to help shape an approach that works for your people and systems.