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."
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
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
"To make sure we are sourcing good, reliable dealers everywhere, we need the expertise of Altares Dun & Bradstreet"
"We can now act proactively when it comes to credit risk"
"We had another business information provider, but in testing we found that with their data we were only covering 45 percent of our customers"
"Doing business based on current, complete and accurate data"
"Only by automating can we make substantial gains"
"Improved customer insight and optimal service"
"'For Barco, it is important to support your strategy and decisions with market data"
"Altares Dun & Bradstreet's Marketing Insight solutions have provided ten times higher conversion from 'suspects' to 'prospects' in the Benelux"
"Altares Dun & Bradstreet understands the data and the business. Together we will take steps toward the sustainable future"
"We obviously don't want to do business with individuals or organizations that are subject to sanctions"
"We used to spend 100,000 euros or even 150,000 euros, on writing off bad debt every year"
"Our data partner therefore needed to have international data"
