For referees, by referees
January, 5th 2024
Enya KeuterickxCustomer support specialist
RefAssist’s team goes above and beyond for our partners, listening to their feedback and considering their needs every day. We anticipate possible challenges and try to tackle them before they can even grow out to become issues. Our secret? Having actual referees in almost every branch of our company, who know the struggles and the frustrations match officials deal with on a daily basis. Meet Dieter, Koen and Gregory, current or former soccer referees who use their hands-on experience daily to make the difference.
Dieter De Naeyer is RefAssist’s co-founder and CEO. Although he stopped officiating matches in 2016, he’s still a valued member of the Belgian soccer society. He is VAR project manager at the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) and created the RefAssist platform at the federation’s request. Ever since, he has witnessed the company’s growth and the increased need for this software all over the world - in just one year, our platform was used during the world championship for football in Qatar, but also in the AFL Grand Final in Australia and in the French Basketball Federation Cup.
One of the key people in our company is our Senior Project Manager, Koen De Smet. Having started officiating in 2009, he’s currently in his fifteenth season. As Project Manager, he sees how RefAssist’s algorithm allows for a quicker and more meticulous planning of referees and the consequent decrease in costs for the RBFA. As a referee, he’s relieved to have a clear and exhaustive overview of his appointments and the other officials assigned to the same matches.
Having a versatile and user-friendly product is great, but we still need to show its advantages to potential clients. That’s where Gregory Delhougne, our Business Development Manager, comes in. He became a referee at the young age of 16 and quit officiating in 2018. He particularly loved resolving difficult situations and making split-second decisions. This refereeing experience now allows him to listen to your challenges and needs, while anticipating how our software will facilitate your work, by for example collecting all necessary information in one single platform.
Thanks to this mix of referee experience and professionalism, we can ensure reduced costs and work hours, but also peace of mind – after all, we’ll be with you every step of the way. From the adoption of the software to years later, you will always have the opportunity to share feedback and request support. We also offer extensive training sessions and support services.
Of course, actions speak louder than words. Let our colleagues convince you by scheduling a free demo, no strings attached. We’ll take you through the system and show its functionality, answering any questions you may have.