Fritz and Macziol unveils new office in Makati

MANILA, Philippines - World-class systems integrator Fritz and Macziol Asia Inc. (F&M Asia) recently moved office from the Net One Center building of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City to the 22nd floor of the new Zuellig building at the corner of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas in Makati City.

The company, which has roots in Germany, “provides end-to-end IT solutions through cutting-edge technology, partnerships with leading IT market leaders, and its pool of highly skilled and trained technical consultants.”

F&M Asia first opened shop seven years ago, establishing the Manila office as its Asia-Pacific headquarters. In an audio-visual presentation at the office inauguration, F&M Asia president and managing director Lutz Kunack said the firm brings innovation through “vendor-independent architectural approach to more fully address problems and needs of clients,” and that F&M Asia is the “most highly decorated partner of IBM worldwide” with total revenue exceeding $380 million.

Ralf Grundmann, vice president for strategy and expansion, told NetWorks that moving to the new, LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and PEZA-certified Zuellig building ties in with the company ethos of innovation and creativity.

“The building represents, for me, a new way of business architecture for the Philippines. This is (a venue for our) next phase of growth,” he said. “We are happy to be here.”

The new office is more than three times bigger than the previous one, and features bright interiors, dark wood-colored flooring, and transparent paneling. Shared white tables make up the various workstations, while “breakout” or meeting rooms are available for greater privacy.

The objective, continued Grundmann, was to “create an interesting working area for people. We think that we need to offer something to employees for motivation.”

Departing from traditional office plans highlighted by staff cubicles and closed-off managers’ rooms, Grundmann stressed that F&M Asia wanted to be different. “We try to not only have a good business, but also a good business in harmony with design, environment, and people.”

The transparent partitions, for instance, represent the openness in how the business is conducted. “The leadership sits openly in the middle — visible to all employees. We are not here to hide; our doors are open,” he said. “Similarly, I see our employees and I want them to be visible and transparent also.”

Grundmann shared that management encourages people in various departments to sit together, saying, “They need to understand each other and learn from each other day to day. I don’t want to have silos in the business. I want to fluid interaction of best ideas without boundaries.”

This not only promotes interaction, he posited, but quick, on-the-spot decisions spurred by discussions.

“In the past, a lot of companies tried to do the bare minimum for the employees. But we fully disagree,” shared Grundmann. “The IT business is evolving and getting more complex, and with creative minds who openly think and challenge the status quo. (We want to) present clients with new ways of doing things.”

Warmly received by F&M Asia’s almost 100 employees, the new office, said the German executive, is about giving freedom to the people. “The freedom to be different and creative. Boundaries have been taken down. Creativity is key in this kind of business.”

Grundmann expressed hope that the new office will help continue the company’s five consecutive years of growth and even pave the way to giving more jobs to the country’s rich wellspring of IT talents. “Our aspiration is to have a very clear growth path going forward,” he concluded.