ISS Belgium: 100 locations, zero blind spots.

How Eezytrace transformed HACCP compliance documents into a centralized, real-time management system.

Key Points

The challenge

ISS Belgium provides food services at over a hundred sites with very different profiles: hospitals, pharmaceutical facilities, offices, and automotive manufacturing plants. Food safety management relied entirely on paper—HACCP records, temperature logs, cleaning schedules—with the typical problems associated with such a large-scale operation: documents that were not always filled out, not always legible, and not always properly filed. The central food safety team (3 people) spent 90% of its time collecting data in the field, site by site, with only 10% dedicated to analysis and improvement. The lack of centralized visibility prevented effective oversight and exposed ISS to risks during health inspections and client audits.

The solution

Phased rollout of Eezytrace across the entire ISS Belgium network:

• Tablet app for field teams: structured self-checks , task-based notifications, full traceability
• Centralized dashboards for multi-site food safety management: compliance, non-compliances, and targeting of corrective actions
• Built-in prediction algorithm to identify recurring vulnerabilities at each site
• API integrations with partner systems: SGS (external audits and action plans), Olifresh (IoT temperature sensors), and the internal Power BI data platform
• Extending beyond food safety: automated supplier complaint management, time tracking, and integration of external audit reports
• Custom configuration by site
• A dedicated Customer Success Manager and a collaborative partnership spanning over four years

The benefits

The implementation of Eezytrace has made it possible to:

• A complete reversal of the data collection-to-analysis ratio: from 90% data collection and 10% analysis to 10% data collection and 90% analysis, with a focus on improvement and field interaction.
• A massive time savings for field teams: administrative tasks that used to take 1 to 1.5 hours a day are now down to 15–20 minutes.
• Reducing the central food safety team from 3 to 2 full-time equivalents, without compromising quality—on the contrary, by focusing efforts more precisely.
• Comprehensive and reliable traceability, recognized by Belgian health authorities and confirmed by external audit results.
• Centralizing all data in a Power BI data platform, enabling the definition of KPIs and SLAs, and allowing for the benchmarking of all sites and clients.
• A competitive advantage in tenders, as ISS is positioned as a pioneer in digital food safety.

Key results

• Reverse data collection/analysis ratio: 90% of the core team’s time is spent on on-site improvements.
• Administrative time on-site reduced by a factor of 4 to 6 (from 1–1.5 hours to 15–20 minutes per day).
• The central food safety team has been reduced from 3 to 2 full-time equivalents.
• 100% of sites deployed and managed from a centralized dashboard.

"If I had to shut down Eezytrace tomorrow, I think all my field staff would be up in arms. They can't do without it anymore." - Éric Thielemans, Director of Operations - Food Services & Healthcare at ISS.

Over 100 sites, one tool to manage it all

ISS is a global provider of business services. In Belgium, the Food Services division operates mass catering a network of more than 100 sites spanning a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, offices, and automotive manufacturing. Each site has its own infrastructure, its own customer expectations, and its own KPIs.

The project is led by Éric Thielemans, Director of Food Services for all of Belgium, supported by a "performance" support unit and a three-person central food safety team.

When 90% of the time is spent on data collection

Before digitization, food safety management relied on paper documents. In the kitchen, HACCP documents piled up—often incomplete, illegible, or disorganized. Omissions in data entry exposed ISS to penalties from both customers and health authorities.

The central food safety team had to visit each site individually to manually verify compliance with standards. The findings were clear: 90% of their time was spent collecting data, with only 10% dedicated to analysis and actual improvement. With just three people covering the entire network, the situation was unsustainable.

"Before, ISS spent 90% of its time collecting data for just 10% of interactions. We’ve shifted to 10% data collection and 90% interactions, modifications, and improvements in the field. That’s where the real value lies." — Éric Thielemans

From a three-site pilot to a nationwide rollout

The project began with Eezytrace at two pilot sites, then expanded to three. The initial focus was on digitizing self-checks replacing paper with a structured tablet app featuring predefined tasks and notifications to guide each manager in their daily work.

In practice, every morning, the kitchen manager would find a list of all his tasks on his tablet: checking refrigerator temperatures, inspecting deliveries, verifying the condition of the fryer oil, and dozens of other checks. At the end of the day, management knew exactly what had been done—and what hadn’t.

Once the model was validated at the pilot sites, the rollout was expanded to the entire network. Installation is simple, and configuration is customized—each checklist is tailored to the specific needs of the site. Field teams pick it up quickly: generally, users are able to work independently within an hour.

"Once the configuration is complete, the system can be installed in a week at most. The interface is very intuitive. Generally, users are able to work independently after just an hour." - Éric Thielemans

From Raw Data to Strategic Decision-Making

The challenge for ISS wasn't simply to digitize paper forms. The goal was to use the collected data to manage food safety across the entire network.

Once 50% of the sites were connected, ISS was able to begin actively analyzing the data. A centralized dashboard provides an overview of each site’s status: non-compliant tasks, compliance status, and recurring weaknesses. The predictive algorithm built into Eezytrace helps identify issues before they escalate and targets corrective actions.

At the same time, ISS has built its own data platform. Through the Eezytrace API, all data is retrieved, processed, and integrated into Power BI dashboards. The company can define its own KPIs and SLAs, and benchmark all its sites and clients. This data is accessible at every level—from the head chef to the contract manager, and even the clients themselves.

"We don't speak in terms of impressions; we speak in terms of facts and figures. This transforms the conversation." - Éric Thielemans

A platform that goes beyond food safety

As the project progressed, ISS expanded the use of Eezytrace far beyond self-checks .

Supplier complaints are now handled directly within the application: the complaint is logged, and an email is automatically sent to the supplier, the procurement team, and the relevant departments. A central dashboard allows you to track and hold suppliers accountable based on factual data.

Employee time tracking has been integrated into the tablet. External audit reports (conducted by SGS, ISS’s auditor) are consolidated within the system: teams can view the reports and complete their action plans all in one place, without having to switch between two tools.

Olifresh's IoT sensors—a partner of Eezytrace—automatically upload temperature readings to the app, eliminating a daily manual task.

The goal is clear: to limit the number of tools on site and simplify the teams' daily work.

"The advantage of these flexible systems is that the only limit is our own ambition." - Éric Thielemans

An impact recognized both internally and externally

The results are measurable at every level.

On the ground, the time spent on administrative tasks has dropped from 1 to 1.5 hours a day to just 15 minutes. Teams can now focus on their core responsibilities: cooking, serving, and customer service.

At the corporate level, the food safety team has been reduced from 3 to 2 full-time equivalents, resulting in increased efficiency. Training and coaching needs are now targeted more precisely: sites facing challenges are identified and given priority support.

During health inspections in Belgium, the authorities praised the system. The results of external audits consistently match the system’s internal data, which reinforces ISS’s confidence in the tool’s reliability.

Finally, Eezytrace has become a key competitive advantage. ISS includes it in its bids to demonstrate its leadership in digital food safety—a level of integration that few competitors can match.

"When health authorities see our system, they tell us they'd like everyone to have access to the same tool." - Éric Thielemans

Why it worked

Three key factors account for this success.

First, a phased and structured approach. The rollout was carried out in clear stages, with custom configurations for each contract. This phased approach allowed for continuous system adjustments and ensured buy-in from field teams.

Second, an open and interconnected platform. Thanks to APIs, Eezytrace integrates with ISS’s existing tools—external auditors, IoT sensors, ERP systems, and the Power BI data platform. The tool does not replace the ecosystem; rather, it fits into it and simplifies it.

Third, a sustainable partnership. Over the course of more than four years of collaboration, ISS and Eezytrace have worked together to develop new features, expand the platform’s applications, and adapt it to the evolving needs on the ground.

"Over the four years we've worked with Eezytrace, we've built a strong, trusting relationship. All of our ideas have always been welcomed. This relationship is priceless." - Éric Thielemans