Just Eat Takeaway to cut 200 Dutch jobs at Thuisbezorgd after AI reorganization
Just Eat Takeaway, known as Thuisbezorgd in the Netherlands, has announced plans to use AI to automate tasks within the company’s customer service, which will lead to the loss of around 200 jobs in the Netherlands. Most of the employees are currently working at the company’s offices in Enschede, according to the local media outlet Tubantia.
According to a company spokesperson, a large part of the tasks will now be done by computers, artificial intelligence, and the restaurants that are connected to the company. “When a restaurant changes a menu, the owner passes the information on to our customer service employees, and then our colleagues would alter it on our website. The restaurant owners are now going to do that themselves.”
The reorganization will occur in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. The offices in Amsterdam will also be affected by the changes. Temporary contracts will not be extended, while a social plan has been drawn up for employees with a permanent contract.
Just Eat Takeaway was recently taken over by the investment company Prosus for 4.1 billion euros. Prosus promised to invest in technology, logistics, and better relationships with customers and delivery personnel. “Our ambition is clear: we want to build a European tech champion,” said CEO Fabricio Bloisi.
Thuisbezorgd was founded in 1999 in the student room of Jitse Groen in Enschede. It grew into a global delivery empire with more than 10,000 employees in 17 countries. Groen reportedly earned 311 million euros from the sale to Prosus. He is still CEO of the company.
The Enschede municipal executive expressed disappointment with the news: “The planned reorganization is a heavy blow for employees facing job losses. Our primary concern as a municipality is for those affected.”
At the same time, the executive stressed the company’s ongoing importance in Enschede. “Thuisbezorgd.nl has significantly contributed to local employment over the years and continues to do so. Relations with Just Eat Takeaway, Thuisbezorgd’s parent company, are generally positive. We aim to maintain constructive discussions about the future impact on the city.”
