RentBuddy Next Makes a Strong Impression During Successful Pre-Launch

For existing users of RentBuddy Rental Software, this afternoon marked a special first look at the successor to their trusted Windows application. It wasn’t a traditional software update, but a completely new platform that represents the next major step in RentBuddy’s development.

A surprising opening with a good dose of humor

It became clear right from the start that artificial intelligence (AI) will play a major role in RentBuddy Next. Geert van Erven, CEO of RentBuddy, surprised the audience with an AI-generated, catchy country song about RentBuddy Next, complete with a hilarious music video that was also produced using AI.

That immediately set the tone for the afternoon. But Van Erven warned his audience with a smile: “I can assure you of one thing: this is definitely not the last you’ll see of AI in RentBuddy Next this afternoon!” And that promise was more than fulfilled.

ChatGPT as a Digital Colleague in RentBuddy Next

One of the most striking moments of the afternoon came when Van Erven demonstrated how artificial intelligence can communicate directly with RentBuddy Next—not through complicated commands, technical screens, or extensive search functions, but simply by talking to a smartphone. From his car, Van Erven used ChatGPT to ask questions directly to the RentBuddy MCP server, which provides access to the company’s data within the ERP platform.

"Could you check how many DiGiCo SD11 mixing consoles we still have available this weekend? And could you also see right away who's available to deliver one to the Abe Lenstra Stadium in Heerenveen?"

What followed immediately demonstrated the potential of this technology. ChatGPT accessed the data in RentBuddy Next and provided an answer as if an experienced colleague were operating the system.

It turned out there was still one DiGiCo SD11 available. Next, the staff schedule was checked to see if Rubin could deliver the equipment. That turned out not to be possible, because he was off that weekend.

No need to manually search through different modules—just one spoken question that brings together information from both inventory management and staff scheduling.

With this demonstration, RentBuddy showed how AI can contribute to a completely new way of working in practice. An ERP system in which users no longer have to search for information on their own, but can simply ask questions and receive immediately actionable answers.

And with that, it became clear to those in attendance that RentBuddy Next is much more than just the online successor to a familiar software package. It is a platform that opens the door to a new generation of smart business automation.

From workforce planning to automated invoice processing

After a short break, it was time for the next major reveal: RentBuddy Next’s completely revamped staff scheduling feature. Timo van Gils gave attendees a detailed demonstration of the entire process—from requesting and scheduling staff to generating purchase orders and PO numbers. The new employee portal and the automatic recognition and processing of purchase invoices were also covered in detail. This once again highlighted how various business processes within RentBuddy Next integrate seamlessly with one another.

Of course, there was plenty of opportunity to ask questions during and after the demonstrations. And as expected, two key topics came up: “What does this mean for our licensing costs?” and “When can we actually start using RentBuddy Next?” The answer to the first question, in particular , brought visible relief to many attendees. RentBuddy emphasized that loyalty should be rewarded. For existing customers, the transition to RentBuddy Next therefore means no price increase and no change to the current licensing model. This is an important commitment to customers who have been loyal to RentBuddy—in some cases for more than fifteen years.

Clarity was also provided regarding the schedule.

RentBuddy Next will be officially launched at Festivak on November 18, 2026, after which a phased rollout to existing customers is expected in early 2027. With these concrete plans in place, many users began to get excited. There was a great deal of interest in getting started with the new platform themselves.

After-party: enthusiasm, memories, and—above all—high expectations

After the official program concluded, the guests made their way to the second floor of the King Willem II Stadium. With a view of the green field, they engaged in extensive discussions about everything that had been presented that afternoon while enjoying some snacks and drinks. And one thing quickly became clear: many customers could hardly wait to get started themselves. “Let us test it, Geert! We can’t wait. Especially now that we’ve heard from Van Ham that they’ve been working with part of RentBuddy Next to their full satisfaction for a while now,” the gentlemen from Hoevenaars Licht en Geluid said enthusiastically.

In addition to all the new technology, there was also time to look back on the long-standing partnership between RentBuddy and its customers. “I think it’s been over fifteen years now that we’ve been working with RentBuddy. We’ve known each other for just as long,” recalled Gaspard Eraly of The PowerShop in a conversation with RentBuddy Product Manager Seyar Narouzi.

It may have underscored the most important point of the afternoon: While RentBuddy Next has been completely redeveloped, our personal commitment and long-standing relationships with customers remain unchanged.

Heading home with a backpack full of expectations

Of course, a typical Tilburg-style finale was a must. After the guests were treated to the famous “Broodje Jantje” and received a well-stocked goodie bag from Jolanda and Nabila, a particularly successful afternoon slowly came to an end. But for some visitors, that’s when the excitement really began. “We’re going to sign up right away for the RentBuddy Next Experience Day, Timo! Because there’s still so much to discover. But first, we’re heading to that other stadium in Rotterdam for Feyenoord vs. Como!” laughed Thijs from VDP Events. And so the visitors headed home not only with a goodie bag, but above all with a backpack full of new impressions, ideas, and expectations.

For the RentBuddy team, this pre-launch meant much more than just presenting new software. It was a special moment when years of development, ambitions, and intensive collaboration were shared with a large group of loyal users for the first time. The enthusiastic responses, critical questions, and the trust of our customers made this afternoon unforgettable for us.

We would like to thank everyone who attended for coming, for their involvement, and for their valuable contribution to this successful Pre-Launch. We hope to see you again on November 18 and 19 at Festivak or at one of RentBuddy Next’s Experience Days.

Photography: Jules van Iperen