Minimizing risk with real-time data

The company has been monitoring the creditworthiness of customers for many years. They did this up to five years ago by requesting separate credit reports. But that changed. Requesting individual reports was no longer suitable in the digital era, according to Julius Lurvink, director at Carel Lurvink B.V.

Carel Lurvink

125

years of experience

1993

national supplier since 1993

4

generations

What if I did not have any data and had delivered to a customer who is now bankrupt?” It is not possible to express in figures what this successful collaboration with Altares Dun & Bradstreet has yielded us."

Julius Lurvink
Julius Lurvink
Directeur

1.    The Challenge

Responding rapidly in the digital era

"The individual reports were inconvenient and could only be used once, because a credit score can be different a week later."

Since 1993, Carel Lurvink B.V. has been allowed to bear the title ‘By Royal Appointment Purveyor to the Court’. This title is reserved for family businesses that have existed for at least 100 years. With more than 12,500 m2 of warehouse space and more than 80 brands in its range, Carel Lurvink B.V. has for 125 years been a constant factor in the market for safety products, cleaning articles and painting supplies. With the fourth generation at the helm, the company continues to grow.

The company has been monitoring the creditworthiness of customers for many years. They did this up to five years ago by requesting separate credit reports. But that changed. Requesting individual reports was no longer suitable in the digital era, according to Julius Lurvink, director at Carel Lurvink B.V: “The individual reports were inconvenient and could only be used once, because a credit score can be different a week later. We supply customers on account and there is a lot of trust involved. So we want to know if a customer is financially sound. Not only today, but also tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and next week. Speed is essential in this process.”

2 The solution

Real-time insight into the creditworthiness of customers in our ERP system

“We invited the three largest data parties in the Netherlands to talk about real-time data and an integration in our ERP system. As a family business, trust in our partners is very important, we have to feel this. And that’s the area in which Altares Dun & Bradstreet impressed us. They were clear about how the link between their database and our ERP system in a Microsoft Dynamics environment could be realized, and that reassured us enormously. The price was also convincing, and so the collaboration was born. “

125

years of experience

1993

national supplier since

4

generations

Prospects and existing customers

“With new customers we always look at the bankruptcy and payment score. Together with a visit to the potential customer, this provides a total picture, and we ask ourselves if we want to work with this customer. An alarm sounds among the office staff if something changes in the scores of existing customers. Recently, for example, we suddenly saw the score of an existing customer deteriorate. We contacted him and it turned out that his accountant had not yet submitted the annual figures. He was very happy that we pointed out the score. In short: by entering into a dialogue we strengthen the customer relationship.”

3. The result

Waardevolle samenwerking

“Wat if.... With this successful collaboration I sometimes think ‘what if I did not have any data and had delivered to a customer who is now bankrupt?’. It is not possible to express in figures what the collaboration with Altares Dun & Bradstreet has yielded us, but I do know that the peace it brings us is very valuable. We know that we have the right numbers and can make sound decisions. The trust that we gave to Altares Dun & Bradstreet 5 years ago has been rewarded with a valuable collaboration in which we are close to the data.” 


What other customers say

Looking up a company or D-U-N-S number?

Looking up an article or topic?

Suggestions

Your choice