THINKING BIG ELMAR VAN DIJK

by Luca Marotta

With a background in high finance and roots in IT gained from Silicon Valley, meeting with this eclectic and free minded man, who’s specialized in accompanying startups and one-of-a-kind ideas, was a breathtaking moment. Aiming to develop new concepts and exploratory objects obviously resonating with Force ONE...

F.O. : What’s the primary purpose of the WCP Group, and when was it founded?

EVD: The WCP Group has its roots in the Swiss Jura. We are naturally active in sectors ranging from watchmaking, our core business and primary focus, to micro-mechanics and medtech, to name but a few areas of application. In a more general sense, we focus on newly created organisations or those in the process of being created, working in the field of the infinitely small, serving the infinitely precise, while not neglecting innovation in a broader sense and the domains of digitalization.

Operating since 2016, the group is located in La Chauxde-Fonds. As a platform for nurturing these budding companies, it always involves creating value and relevance. We operate both on the basis of internal developments and external mandates. In all cases, our goal is to develop the entities we represent through active management in the short and medium term. Our support ends once they reach a level of autonomy that allows them to continue their journey independently or under the auspices of new owners.

F.O. : What's the group's vision?

EVD: Our vision is to become an essential player by creating value and fostering sustainable growth. We’d like to be recognized for our commitment to excellence and our role as a catalyst for innovation in these sectors, while remaining true to our roots in the Jura Mountains and the Swiss watchmaking industry.

F.O. : How do you manage a group like this?

EVD: First and foremost, through a structure that makes us fully operational and cross-functional, operating with a work model both innovative and engaging. We have a core team made up of professionals from various backgrounds, grouped around our activities: Services & Management (covering economic, financial, or legal aspects, among others), Watch design (including design and technical office), Sales, Marketing, and R&D.

F.O. : Does this mean the group’s destined to grow rapidly?

EVD: Absolutely not. We aim to stay with our fluid, agile organizational model with cutting-edge expertise. We’re not looking to become an industrial platform engaged in mass production. Once again, our mission is to support initiatives, projects, and concepts initiated by individuals, companies or brands, or start-ups at the beginning of a realization process, rather than absorbing them by managing their production from A to Z. Moreover, we can rely on a network of highly competent external professionals in the region to cover the watchmaking manufacturing sectors, among others.

F.O. : What do you specifically do within the watch division?

EVD: We work on a portfolio of current or upcoming brands. This includes product development, prototyping, or making the first series viable, among other tasks. Our watchmakers are also deployed for online and offline training purposes. We also serve as a consulting platform and intervene at all stages required by customers who commission us for private label work. All this while developing our activities related to after-sales services at the same time.

F.O. : What about the R&D division?

EVD: This is the broadest division in terms of the sectors it covers. To date, we have research focused on the processing of mass data (or big data) applied to industrialization. We are present in sectors such as metaverse, AI, linguistics, and other areas related to the world of digitization. We continue our efforts in developing new watch complications and related patents.

F.O. : An example of all these capabilities?

EVD: Through our SOOON organisation, active in the innovative digital marketing sector, we can, for example, offer customers who desire it the conceptualization of a digital watch, its online and offline communication platforms, potentially its metaverse ecosystem, cryptocurrency payment solutions if desired, as well as branding and the entire brand universe. Straddling watchmaking, supply chain, digital, and marketing. The offer is complete.

F.O. : What elements distinguish your watch products in this highly competitive market?

EVD: Emerging and developing brands all have a strong point of singularity, often related to technical value (meaning patents), a unique manufacturing process, or an as-yet-unexploited artistic direction, or even a combination of several elements. Of course, at the heart of this approach are the aspirations surrounding the genesis of the product or its history, if you prefer. This is entrusted to us by the project initiator. In general, we are committed to launching or assisting in the development of entities that can thrive independently after our support. In a saturated market, it’s crucial to offer sustainable solutions. We certainly don’t seek to be all things to all people, or create redundancy.

F.O. : How does your group integrate cutting-edge technology while preserving craftsmanship and aesthetics in watchmaking?

EVD: This theme is as old as watchmaking itself! Throughout history, this challenge has been taken up by watchmakers and manufacturers who had to develop new complications, find new materials, and meet new needs, such as the emergence of wristwatches replacing pocket watches.

These two aspects are not antithetical but complementary, even necessary, to keep the industry as attractive as ever. This question is often intimately linked to the luxury sector. That being said, the group is organized like a campus, bringing together a small, highly agile structure that encompasses a wide range of professions and skills. Our proximity and work philosophy allow for daily exchanges between collaborators active in craftsmanship and/ or research and development. This fosters the healthy emergence of projects and collective emulation. wcp.swiss

F.O. : How does your group anticipate changing consumer taste trends in watches, and how does it guide your R&D efforts?

EVD: We represent emerging brands in various price segments, so we escape mass production and, consequently, the dictates of sales and trends. This allows us to focus on the DNA of the brands we seek to nurture—a DNA that always finds its audience when translated with authenticity, product respect, and uniqueness. This is our carte blanche for R&D.

F.O. : What emerging technologies could potentially revolutionize the watch industry, and how is your company preparing to integrate them?

EVD: The use of big data coupled with artificial intelligence and industrial evolution will represent a major turning point in the industry of the future. We are actively working on this through our R&D division and have already established bridges between research entities and the industry. This is the true strength of the WCP Group. The success of such operations, conducted over several years, will also benefit the portfolio of brands we manage.

F.O. : Do you consider yourselves independent?

EVD: Yes, absolutely. We are not owned by any group, whether it be in watchmaking or other industries. Most of our investors come from the world of industry and technology, which gives us valuable support in terms of expertise and networks

F.O. : What is your strategy for attracting and retaining exceptional talents in the areas that concern you?

EVD: Without hesitation, I would say the working environment. We place great importance on the research process, which we actively support. We strive to create supportive workspaces where it’s a pleasure to work.

Integrating new employees is a phase we give special attention to, promoting inclusion, and put a strong emphasis on fairness towards all our employees. Everyone must be able to find their place while coexisting peacefully with others. We also apply competitive, attractive, and unconventional compensation schemes.

Finally, we grant a lot of freedom to our teams in organizing their work, especially in terms of working hours, and wherever possible give them the choice of working remotely and/or in-person, to balance personal and professional life. We believe that the group's success is inseparably linked to the success and well-being of our collaborators. By valuing flexibility and freedom, we attract and retain talents by supporting their personal and professional development and growth.