In the family business and total maritime supplier A. Nobel & Zn. the third generation is already at the helm. A generation that is looking for opportunities to improve processes. Founded in 1967, the company has built up an excellent reputation in shipping over the years. Many a shipping company and ship owner not only bunkers there, but also buys ship supplies and all kinds of filters, in which they occupy a strong position as market leader. Customers appreciate the high level of knowledge of employees and their appropriate advice.
Aart Nobel, general manager: “Our company, which now consists of forty employees, is growing. We are in the process of professionalization. For example, we have gone from a classic organizational model to a modern organization with departmental managers. In this, the process with Datawerf came at an excellent time.”
Under the guidance of expert Henk van der Burgh, who has worked as a Business Process Specialist at Royal IHC, among other things, the company set to work on mapping out the processes. Working toward process optimization became a mission on which all employees worked with great dedication.
The basis for a requirements package for a new ERP system was then laid. Nobel talks enthusiastically about what the Datawerf process brought about. “A new dynamic emerged in the organization. In an open atmosphere, we all started thinking about our processes. Why do we do what we do this way and could it be done better in another way? Everything was put on the table. In this way you determine the right way together, which manifested itself in, for example, a uniform language and a uniform working method for our purchasing, sales and financial process.”
In busy times yet reflecting
At a maritime event, Nobel was informed of opportunities for participation in the Datawerf project. ” We were busier than ever at that time. Then the choice is justifiable to say; that doesn’t fit the schedule. Because although a course with Datawerf is financially attractive – two-thirds of the cost is subsidized – it also takes quite a bit of time for six weeks. Still, we took on the challenge in December 2023. You can keep plodding along, closing one busy week after another. But we saw that in several areas things could be done better, differently, more efficiently. Then a moment of reflection is the best investment you can make.”
Datawarf expert as Critical Friend
A “Critical Friend,” Nobel calls Datawerf expert Henk van der Burgh. “In our experience, Datawerf’s experts are not ‘fast guys.’ They really take the time to get to know and understand your business down to the wire. Moreover, they bring a fresh perspective and a backpack of experience and knowledge. With Henk we really got a process going within our organization, which is actually still going on now. We are going to continue with our process optimization at our own expense with him, because we feel that we are on the right track to give shape to our vision ‘The best speed into the future’. A lot comes together in our vision and of course the trends of digitalization and sustainability play a prominent role in it.”
Streamlining applications
A very concrete example of process optimization is streamlining requests and orders. Nobel: ” Many requests come in through our infobox. We have made a senior employee responsible for reviewing, assessing and distributing the requests several times a day. In this way, the right requests quickly reach the right people, saving a lot of time within our organization. There has been more calmness and focus. The senior staff only deal with the difficult requests, while the others handle the requests that are more standard and can be done directly for the customer.”
Pilot
With its current ERP system, the Zwijndrecht-based company is now running a pilot to connect it to a client’s ERP system. The webshop of A. Nobel & Zn. is hereby linked to the ERP system of the client, so that with a few presses of a button, they could immediately order the supplies for the ship. Nobel: “The role of our webshop is becoming increasingly important in our organization, although we notice that customers still appreciate personal contact around an order. The maritime sector is not at the forefront when it comes to digitalization, but it is also moving more and more on the digital highway.”
Nobel would certainly recommend that other SMEs consider a journey with Datawerf. “Accept the challenge, make time, the investment will definitely pay off.”
For A. Nobel & Zn., Datawerf has provided a real culture change within the organization. Discover here what Datawerf can do for you.