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Naviva
How CLEVR and Naviva Created an Essential Digital Companion for Expecting Parents
In the world of maternity care, providing timely and reliable information is critical for both new and expecting parents. Recognizing this need, Naviva Kraamzorg embarked on a digital transformation journey to enhance its client engagement and information accessibility.
The result? The Nieuw Leven App — a Mendix Native Mobile application – available in the App Store and Google Play Store - developed in close collaboration with CLEVR.
The Vision: From Paper to Digital Excellence
For years, Naviva relied on newsletters, printed magazines, and website content to inform expecting parents. However, these methods inherently lacked interactivity and personalization. During the pandemic, face-to-face contact was restricted, further highlighting the need for a digital solution that could facilitate real-time engagement. Combined with an increasing number of digital-savvy parents and a growing demand for accessible information, Naviva saw an opportunity to innovate.
"Nine years ago, we envisioned an App that would serve as a one-stop platform for expecting parents," shares Marieke Kolthof, Marketing and Innovation Manager at Naviva. "However, the market wasn’t ready, and the budget was a challenge. It wasn’t until the pandemic accelerated the shift toward digital communication that we received the green light."
Naviva needed a flexible, scalable, and user-friendly mobile solution that could adapt to evolving client needs while seamlessly integrating with their existing systems. Enter CLEVR, a Mendix Platinum Partner known for its expertise in building powerful low code applications.
Collaborating for Digital Innovation in Maternity Care
The partnership between Naviva and CLEVR is built on mutual trust and innovation. Andries Smit, Senior Mendix Developer at CLEVR, recalls what set this project apart: "Naviva was fully committed to digital transformation, and the entire organization was supporting it. That level of involvement made a huge difference. They understood that a consumer app needs to be seamless—users won’t give it a second chance if it doesn’t meet their expectations."
Why Build the App with Mendix?
With the decision taken that a Native Mobile App was the best approach to meet their needs. CLEVR recommended building the app using Mendix, leveraging its low code capabilities to ensure rapid development, flexibility, and future scalability. Mendix offered several key advantages, particularly in terms of agility, co-creation, and adaptability:
- Offline usability, allowing parents to access critical information even without an internet connection.
Push notifications, ensuring timely updates and reminders. - Scalability and adaptability, enabling seamless integration with Naviva’s CRM system while allowing for future enhancements without extensive redevelopment.
- Agility and rapid iteration, ensuring that changes based on user feedback and evolving requirements can be implemented quickly.
- Co-creation and collaboration, empowering Naviva to be directly involved in the development process, refining features to meet real-world needs.
- App Store & Google Play Store availability, making it easily accessible for all users.
Overcoming Challenges
Building consumer-facing healthcare applications comes with unique hurdles, from regulatory requirements to seamless user experience. One of the biggest technical challenges in the development process was integrating with Naviva’s patient dossier system, which initially lacked APIs. This required project management to push for necessary developments to enable seamless data exchange. Through close collaboration, the teams navigated this challenge, ensuring a smooth user experience.
CLEVR also placed significant emphasis on user experience (UX). As Andries explains, "For consumer apps, 30% of the budget should be focused on UX and UI. If users don’t find the app intuitive and engaging, they simply won’t use it."
The Impact: Enhancing Maternity Care Quality
Since its launch, the Nieuw Leven App has exceeded expectations, becoming an indispensable tool for expecting parents. Key results include:
- More then 95% of first-time parents installing the app.
- Over 20,000 active clients using the app annually.
- Increased efficiency in client communication and engagement.
The app provides vital information on pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care, along with videos, checklists, and interactive features. By offering easily accessible guidance, the app significantly reduces the need for parents to consult maternity care professionals with common questions, allowing the professionals to focus more on hands-on care. This unburdens the care providers while ensuring parents receive high-quality, timely support. Importantly, it enhances self-reliance among parents by equipping them with trusted information, fostering confidence in newborn care, and improving overall maternity care quality.
"One of the things we appreciated most about working with CLEVR was their ability to take our ideas and make them better," says Amanda Weijenberg, Marketing and Innovation Advisor at Naviva. "They didn’t just build what we asked for—they challenged us, refined our vision, and helped us create something truly impactful."
What’s Next? The Future of the Nieuw Leven App
Looking ahead, Naviva is exploring further enhancements to the app, including:
- Chat functionality, allowing parents to interact with maternity care professionals directly.
- Integration with patient records, further streamlining administrative processes and care planning.
- Personalized notifications, increasing engagement while avoiding information overload.
A Benchmark for Digital Healthcare Innovation
The Nieuw Leven App is more than just a digital resource—it’s a great example of how low-code technology, human-centered design, and strategic collaboration can drive innovation in healthcare. By leveraging Mendix Native Mobile, Naviva and CLEVR have set a new standard for maternity care, proving that digital transformation is not just about technology—it’s about enhancing real-life experiences.
Want to learn how CLEVR can help transform your industry with low code solutions? Let’s Build Tomorrow Together.
VodafoneZiggo
Field Tool 2.0: Enhancing Technician Efficiency with a Future-Proof Solution
VodafoneZiggo is dedicated to providing seamless connectivity to millions of customers. With a vast network spanning over 450,000 kilometers of cable and more than 450,000 street cabinets, the company’s hundreds of field technicians perform over 700,000 service, installation, and repair visits annually.
To optimize their workflow and ensure they can focus on delivering the best customer experience, VodafoneZiggo collaborated with CLEVR to develop the Field Tool 2.0, a Mendix low code application designed to streamline field service operations.
Maximizing Technician Efficiency, Minimizing Effort
The Field Tool 2.0 simplifies daily tasks for field service technicians, ensuring they have access to all necessary information at their fingertips. Built with a strong emphasis on usability, efficiency, and agility, the application allows technicians to focus on resolving customer issues rather than navigating complex systems.
Key Benefits:
- Technician-first design – Developed in close collaboration with technicians, ensuring seamless adoption and ease of use.
- Faster service resolution – Reduces administrative overhead, allowing technicians to focus on customer interactions.
- Real-time data access – Combines multiple data sources into a single, intuitive interface.
- Secure and scalable – Built with Privacy, Security, and Quality by Design principles.
- Future-ready architecture – Integrated into VodafoneZiggo’s IT roadmap and easy to iterate to accommodate market demands.
A Platform Built for Collaboration and Growth
Field Tool 2.0 exemplifies how co-creation between business and IT leads to highly effective digital solutions. Technicians actively participated in the design, development, and testing phases, ensuring the application truly meets their needs. This Agile, iterative approach allowed for rapid enhancements and fine-tuning, making the tool an indispensable part of their daily workflow.
With technicians saving an average of 10 minutes per truckroll, VodafoneZiggo has already seen significant efficiency gains. More importantly, happy technicians lead to happy customers, reinforcing VodafoneZiggo’s commitment to exceptional service.
The Power of Mendix Low Code
The development of Field Tool 2.0 highlights why Mendix low code is an efficient choice for building enterprise applications:
- Agility: Rapid development and deployment of new features.
- Easy Iteration: Continuous improvements based on real-time feedback.
- Seamless Integration: Connects effortlessly with existing IT systems and data sources; including legacy systems.
By leveraging Mendix low code, VodafoneZiggo and CLEVR have created a scalable, future-proof platform that empowers technicians, optimizes operations, and enhances customer service.
CLEVR & VodafoneZiggo: A Partnership for Success
This project shows the power of collaboration, turning ideas into real solutions through teamwork and innovation. With CLEVR’s expertise in low code development and process optimization, VodafoneZiggo has transformed its field service operations, ensuring its technicians have the right tools to deliver an outstanding customer experience—anytime, anywhere.
With Field Tool 2.0, VodafoneZiggo is ready for the future—maximizing efficiency, reducing effort, and delivering the best service possible.
Hanab Telecom Infra
Hanab Telecom Infra (Formerly known as VolkerWessels Telecom) is a cornerstone of the Netherlands’ digital society, tasked with designing, building, managing, and maintaining telecommunications infrastructure across the Netherlands.
Their work ensures millions of people have reliable internet, can study online, use smart devices, and stay connected in today’s digital world.
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At the heart of Hanab Telecom Infra’s operations is the Workflow Infratechniek, a powerful system that coordinates over 60,000 infrastructure projects —from the initial intake of project data to completion and feedback. This application is integral to every stage of all grid projects across the Netherlands, from onboarding and design to planning and delivery.
When a project begins, subcontractors hired by Hanab for a project provide details such as location, timelines, and personnel, which feed directly into Workflow’s system. The application then structures tasks, assigns roles, and checks every step is signed off before users can "advance” to the next phase of a specific project.
The Workflow application integrates with the Netherlands’ Digital Collaboration Platform (DSP), a standardized messaging system maintained by Mijn Aansluiting, to help keep things running smoothly. This platform establishes communication between firms like Hanab, subcontractors, and network operators, so important infrastructure projects like fiber optic installations and underground utility connections can be carried out as efficiently as possible.
However, maintaining and improving such a complex system requires third-party expertise from the digital sphere–which is where CLEVR comes in as a Platinum Partner for Mendix low code. Mendix is a platform that allows applications to be built quickly and flexibly without the need for extensive coding knowledge (hence the term “low code”). CLEVR has over 20 years of experience implementing Mendix solutions across industries, including the manufacturing, energy, utilities, and marine industries, and was tasked with working alongside Hanab to upgrade the Workflow application.
In this collaboration, CLEVR supported Hanab in a crucial upgrade to the DSP, which involved transitioning to more modern REST APIs and implementing advanced security protocols like OAuth 2.0 (which we’ll explain below). These upgrades allow Hanab to maintain the reliable and secure systems the Netherlands depends on.
The Challenge
The DSP 2.0 integration posed a set of challenges for Hanab Telecom Infra; at its core was the need to modernize the underlying technology of the Workflow application. Speaking to Hanab’s Citizen Developer, Roeland Drok, CLEVR was an easy choice when it came to creating a partnership; “We tried another supplier for a while and well, there was a difference in collaboration. CLEVR knows what to do; they understand the business, they understand us.”
Modernizing Communication: SOAP to REST APIs
It’s important to understand that APIs are like digital messengers that allow systems to talk to each other. Modernizing these messengers is like upgrading from a postal service to instant messaging, which is clearly more efficient and easier to manage when it comes to just sending written communications.
One of the critical changes involved transitioning from the outdated SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) to the more modern REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs. While SOAP relies on heavy, XML-based messaging, REST uses the lighter JSON format, making data exchanges faster and more efficient.
However, this shift was not just about adopting a new standard, it required a restructuring of how information flows between systems. This included remapping processes and ensuring that all parties in the network, from subcontractors to end users, could operate seamlessly under the new system.
Upgrading the Workflow Application: Mendix 8 to Mendix 10
Another challenge was upgrading the Workflow application, which had been in operation since 2017, to the latest version of the Mendix platform. This upgrade was far from straightforward, especially since it had to be executed without disrupting the management of thousands of ongoing projects. These projects represent a wide array of telecommunications and utility networks, all progressing through multiple phases such as intake, design, and execution.
“We upgraded from Mendix version 8 to version 10. I couldn’t do that myself—no one within Hanab could do that.”
Roeland Drok, Citizen Developer at Hanab Telecom Infra
Securing the System: OAuth 2.0
Security was another key point within the project. The existing system used certificate-based authentication, a method that had become outdated and less effective against modern cybersecurity threats. The transition to OAuth 2.0, a widely accepted security protocol, introduced a new level of protection for Hanab’s sensitive project information. However, implementing OAuth 2.0 was no small feat—it involved configuring secure access tokens, integrating identity verification systems, and making sure every user and system could authenticate seamlessly under the new framework.
Collaboration Across Teams
Along with the technical challenges, the DSP 2.0 integration required collaboration between Hanab’s internal teams, subcontractors, and CLEVR. This meant aligning priorities, coordinating schedules, and ensuring that all parties had the tools and knowledge needed to transition smoothly. Such a large-scale collaboration increased the complexity of the project, making it essential to have an experienced partner.
CLEVR’s Solution
“CLEVR has helped us since the beginning–they built it from scratch, and we don’t have to worry when CLEVR’s on the project. They know what to do.”
Roeland Drok, Citizen Developer at Hanab Telecom Infra
CLEVR helped the team at Hanab carry out the DSP 2.0 integration by using its vast Mendix expertise and management experience to keep the project on track and successful despite its complexity.
Transitioning to REST APIs
One of CLEVR’s key contributions was modernizing the data exchange system by transitioning from SOAP to REST APIs. This shift involved significant technical changes, including converting message formats from XML to JSON and redesigning how systems communicated. CLEVR’s team not only executed these changes but also made sure there was a seamless integration between the Workflow application and external systems like the Digital Collaboration Platform (DSP).
Implementing OAuth 2.0 for Enhanced Security
As you’d expect from a nationwide digital project, security was the priority, and CLEVR led the charge by implementing OAuth 2.0, a modern authentication protocol designed to secure sensitive data. This involved creating secure access tokens and integrating identity verification processes to replace the outdated certificate-based authentication. CLEVR’s ability to adapt to these new requirements ensured Hanab’s systems met the latest security standards without disrupting operations.
“OAuth 2.0 was completely new for me… CLEVR took care of it for us, connecting with the right people and making it work.”
Roeland Drok, Citizen Developer at Hanab Telecom Infra
Upgrading to Mendix 10
The upgrade of Hanab’s Workflow application from Mendix version 8 to version 10 was a critical component of the project. This task demanded extensive knowledge of Mendix and the Workflow application itself, as the system handles over 60,000 projects across multiple stages of development. CLEVR’s team meticulously planned the upgrade to make sure that all existing features and integrations functioned as intended while introducing the new capabilities of Mendix 10.
Flexibility and Last-Minute Adaptation
CLEVR’s flexibility and responsiveness were critical in overcoming challenges and quick changes in direction. When Hanab needed new integrations at the last minute to align with a broader ERP migration, CLEVR quickly adjusted its plans and delivered the required updates on time. "It was really last-minute, but CLEVR helped us with their planning and willingness to move forward. They made sure the new integrations were completed,” said Drok.
Seamless Collaboration
CLEVR’s approach centered on an ability to collaborate seamlessly with both Hanab and its subcontractors. This extended beyond technical expertise; CLEVR’s familiarity with Hanab’s systems and processes meant they could anticipate needs and deliver solutions with minimal oversight. This not only saved time but also reduced the risk of errors, a critical factor given the project’s complexity. According to Drok, “Working with CLEVR proved to be a lot smoother [than with other suppliers].”
Impact and Future Outlook: Stronger Together
The DSP 2.0 integration has already delivered significant improvements to Hanab’s operations. By upgrading to modern REST APIs and implementing advanced security protocols like OAuth 2.0, CLEVR has enabled Hanab to streamline communication with subcontractors and improve the overall efficiency of their projects. This enhanced collaboration ensures that Hanab can deliver critical infrastructure projects, such as fiber optic installations, faster and with greater precision.
For Hanab, this isn’t just about technology—it’s about maintaining their role as a cornerstone of the Netherlands’ digital infrastructure. The Workflow Infratechniek, now upgraded to Mendix version 10, is better equipped to handle the evolving needs of over 60,000 active projects, ensuring that Dutch citizens and businesses continue to enjoy reliable, high-speed connectivity.
Tec4U Solutions
How CLEVR & Tec4U Drive Compliance for a Sustainable Future with Low Code
As businesses become more aware of their environmental footprint, many feel the pressure to go green and meet strict material standards. It's not just about being eco-friendly, it's about ensuring that every part of the process is compliant and sustainable. Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, it's something businesses need to seriously consider, especially with regulations like the CSRD pushing for transparency and accountability.
Recent reports highlight that a significant gap exists in the readiness of businesses in the EU, with only about 10% of large companies currently reporting their ESG data (Environmental, Social, and Governance). The challenges they face are not only regulatory but also involve a lack of effective tools for managing sustainability needs.
However, going green isn't easy. There are challenges to overcome, such as the high costs of launching sustainable initiatives and the complexities of managing a green supply chain. Many companies find themselves lacking the right tools or expertise to keep up with regulations on environmental and social impact reporting. Meanwhile, they face the added challenge of meeting supplier requirements and satisfying customers who demand eco-friendly products without a premium price.
To address these challenges head-on, Tec4U offers a solution that empowers businesses to manage sustainability with efficiency and ease. Through its DataCross platform, Tec4U has helped companies bridge the gap between compliance and actionable sustainability strategies. For years, the company has served as a trusted partner in material compliance, sustainable product design and supply chain due diligence. With expertise in material data communication, Tec4U oversees more than 400 projects annually, managing a network of over 40.000 suppliers and achieving a remarkable 167% increase in response rates for supplier queries!
What is DataCross?
DataCross, built on the Mendix low-code platform, is a communication software that integrates supply chain information to meet sustainability requirements. As Stefan Nieser, CEO of Tec4U, explains, "Sustainability is not only an environmental question, sustainability is a very important economical question... many enterprises face increasing demands from both legal and customer sides, and that is why it's very, very important to fulfill these requirements.”
The platform’s ability to automate compliance processes is a game-changer, empowering businesses to meet regulatory requirements and reduce the risk of non-compliance. Nieser emphasizes, "What enterprises need is information from their suppliers to fulfill their own sustainability requirements."
Beyond compliance assurance, DataCross provides a strategic advantage, enabling businesses to adapt to both legal and customer expectations. Nieser describes it as "a specialized communication platform, rich with knowledge and functionality."
Supporting Compliance with CLEVR
“The challenges that our customers face are very broad, so they do have these legal requirements coming up more and more. The worldwide legislators are coming up with new ideas almost every month, customers have to monitor all these requirements,” explains Irina Messerschmidt, Key Account Manager at Tec4U. “DataCross not only helps them meet these challenges but also provides the assurance they need to maintain their market presence.”
Dominik Nieser, Head of Operational Services highlights the strength of their collaboration with CLEVR: “CLEVR is a key partner, turning our expertise in data services, sustainability and material compliance into one software solution”. Together, they developed DataCross, which merges communication and compliance needs, allowing companies to manage corporate, product, and material compliance seamlessly. "DataCross addresses all our clients' sustainability needs," Dominik notes, pointing to its modularity with features like the material compliance module, supply chain due diligence, and an upcoming CO2 footprint module.
Before collaborating with CLEVR, Tec4U faced challenges due to a small development team reliant on Java and PHP, which made their code-intensive system difficult to maintain. Partnering with CLEVR and Integrating Mendix low-code technology, transformed Tec4U’s approach to software development, enhancing flexibility and responsiveness to industry demands. “The measurable improvements include better performance and cybersecurity on our DataCross platform,” Dominik added, highlighting new features like automated status reporting that saves time and improves access to real-time compliance data.
Sven Jerusalem, Head of Sales & Business Development at CLEVR, emphasizes the value of this long-standing partnership: “What makes us unique is our 20+ years of experience managing complex projects and requirements. We translate these needs into effective software solutions on the Mendix platform. This is how we Build Tomorrow Together.”
Building a Robust Platform with Mendix
DataCross, now one of the largest Mendix applications focused on sustainability, benefits from Mendix’s built-in security features. Stefan Schulze, the Head of IT at Tec4U, explains, “Mendix has been a game-changer for us in terms of security and maintainability. With the built-in tools and the ability to configure security without deep dives into the source code, it’s much easier for us to keep everything secure and compliant.” This seamless integration reduces the need for complex code adjustments, making it easier to implement updates and maintain the platform.
The platform’s adaptability is another key advantage, particularly when it comes to meeting evolving regulatory requirements. “Mendix allows us to rapidly adapt to new legal demands and security updates,” Stefan notes. “Where we used to have to test the entire system after every change, now we can simply implement an update and configure it. The built-in tools make the process much more efficient, which saves us a lot of time and effort.”
Mendix Marketplace modules play an important role in enhancing DataCross’s functionality. Stefan continues, “One of the best things about Mendix is the Marketplace. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time we need a new feature. We can easily use existing modules and build on them, which accelerates our development process and reduces the amount of custom coding we need.”
CLEVR’s support has been instrumental throughout the process, ensuring timely implementation and quick resolution of technical challenges. Stefan adds, “CLEVR helped us from the very beginning, starting with the vision of the software and working with our team in the development phase. Their expertise in low-code solutions and their ongoing support have been invaluable in getting DataCross delivered in-time.”
Datacross: One of the largest Sustainability Solutions built on the Mendix Platform
Tec4U’s journey with DataCross, developed in collaboration with CLEVR, is a testament to innovation and industry leadership in compliance and sustainability. DataCross serves over 40.000 users, helping companies manage supply chain information, fulfill sustainability requirements, and strengthen market positioning. Irina notes, “The feedback from our clients has been very positive regarding DataCross, its speed, flexibility, and comprehensive capabilities. They are impressed by how much it can manage.”
Among its standout features are DataCross’s 24 compliance modules, twice the number delivered by most competitors, which enable users to meet diverse legal requirements with ease. Irina adds, “The platform’s ability to gather data from supply chains has led to impressive results. For example, response rates for suppliers have increased from 30% to 80%, which is great!”
Building on these strengths, CLEVR has focused on ensuring that DataCross is not just effective today, but also adaptable to future needs. Gerrit Kiefer, Project Manager at CLEVR, elaborates on the platform’s future-proof architecture: “With the new architecture that we have implemented, we are able to also scale vertically so that it's possible to take one of the modules and build it in a microservice architecture. With that in mind, we are able to be future-proof for new requirements, open for new challenges, and able to extend the solution.”
Siemens Teamcenter Integration: Extending DataCross’s Capabilities
“We are now integrating DataCross into Siemens' Teamcenter PLM system to offer a unified solution that meets all sustainability requirements,” explains Stefan Nieser. “This integration covers material compliance, social sustainability aspects like LCSD, and sustainability reporting, providing a comprehensive solution for Siemens customers.”
By combining DataCross with Teamcenter, businesses benefit from an efficient, secure, and transparent product development process. The integration enhances compliance with evolving regulations while streamlining supplier communication and strengthening product marketability. Together, DataCross and Teamcenter create a powerful, future-proof system that positions companies to meet global sustainability challenges and drive innovation in product development.
Future Outlook: A Comprehensive Sustainability Platform
Looking to the future, Tec4U envisions DataCross evolving to become a full-spectrum sustainability platform. Planned expansions include new modules such as CO2 tracking, positioning DataCross to address the broader sustainability challenges faced by today’s businesses. As Stefan Schulze explains, “DataCross will transform into more than just a compliance tool, it will be a comprehensive sustainability platform. This will require the expertise and support of a strong, reliable partner like CLEVR to overcome technical challenges along the way.”
Tec4U’s leadership is strengthened by CLEVR’s partnership, which has enabled the DataCross platform to remain a versatile, reliable solution across various industries, from automotive to pharmaceuticals. "We are on our way to becoming a true sustainability partner, going beyond traditional compliance challenges," concludes Irina. This approach has solidified DataCross as a trusted solution for businesses committed to sustainability and compliance, with Tec4U and CLEVR driving this vision forward.
Donker Groep
Simplifying administration processes for hundreds of employees and making it easier to put new time-saving ideas into action.
THE GOAL
Donker Groep designs, builds and maintains gardens, grounds, neighbourhoods, playgrounds and parks, employing more than 800 gardeners. It was looking for a low-code development platform that it could train staff to use, to streamline its administrative processes and turn employees’ ideas into new applications fast.
THE APPROACH
Donker Groep knew it wanted to work with a well-established company that could provide a low-code platform and co-operate with Donker staff to help develop it. CLEVR, a low-code and no-code specialist, met these conditions and brought extensive knowledge and experience of relevant IT and administrative systems. Donker also liked the flexibility of Mendix, the applications platform used by CLEVR.
Donker staffer Beau followed a three-day rapid development training course at Mendix and became a core part of the development team from the outset. The first application was a timesheet system. Up until then, all gardeners had to fill in timesheets, which were then processed manually, which was time-consuming and open to error. Donker had already done a lot of homework on the design of the app, had made a process diagram and had collected internal requirements. This helped speed up the development process. Indeed, that homework and adopting CLEVR’s Agile sprint-based approach to the rest of the project meant the app was developed and launched at its first location within just three months. Within six months, all 18 branches of Donker Groep were using it.
The app itself has been integrated into Donker’s administrative systems such as invoicing and salaries. Meanwhile, Beau has continued to learn more about Mendix.
THE RESULTS
Some 500 employees now use the app to fill in their timesheets, significantly reducing the back-office administrative burden, saving time and money. Furthermore, Beau has become a confident low-code developer having learnt on the job with experienced CLEVR developers and Donker has plans to train another colleague for its next app – which will be contract management.
CUSTOMER QUOTE
“Developing in sprints was new to us, but it went very well. This is certainly a good approach towards the organisation. We can make a new change every time, and it feels less colossal”
Niels Hellinga, IT manager, Donker Groep
Retourplaza
Overcoming the challenge of matching unique orders with deliveries for an online start-up that resells damaged goods.
THE GOAL
Retourplaza is an online start-up that sells returned or damaged products from various suppliers at considerable discounts. It needed a solution to help it ensure every Retourplaza customer is guaranteed to receive the unique product they purchased.
THE APPROACH
Retourplaza was founded as a way for a broad range of suppliers to sell goods that have a small defect or were damaged during original shipping at a discount rather than take a complete loss on them. Instead of suppliers needing to find buyers that would take these goods in bulk or to simply keep them in their warehouse to cannibalise for parts, Retourplaza provides an innovative way to resell them and eliminates a major logistical issue.
However, the challenge was to find a way to match the exact item bought by a customer with the item up for sale. For example, seven refrigerators might be available, each with a slightly different status, such the location of damage, rating and price. Retourplaza turned to low-code and no-code specialist CLEVR to assess its processes and work out how to digitalise the entire process. This meant everything from the supply of the damaged products to assessing the damage to each one, coming up with an appropriate price and recording the transaction.
THE RESULT
Two advanced developers and one expert Mendix Most Valuable Professional (MVP) from CLEVR worked together to create the architecture for the low-code Grading App+ in just two months. Grading App+ provides a single point of truth for all the different streams of data, including the suppliers, product types, damage, applicable discount, price and delivery status of products. It also allows Retourplaza to photograph, identify and rate all the products that it sells. Taken together, Grading App+ means Retourplaza can keep track of its stock, match the order with the product and be sure it is sending out the correct item every time.
CUSTOMER QUOTE
“In CLEVR I have found a reliable and quality partner. Not only through the way they approached the project and their ability to collaborate with us to simplify the process as much as possible, but also through the commitment and efforts of the team to make sure that deliverables were delivered on time. CLEVR provided ongoing good and clear information and realistic goals, both of which are key to successfully guide a project like this”
Jan Minnee, Co-Founder, Retourplaza
Nexans
Helping one of the world’s largest cable suppliers deliver better products in a more efficient manner.
THE GOAL
Nexans is one of the world’s largest cable suppliers, with 25,000 employees in 40 countries. It supplies all kinds of cables, for aerospace, wind farms, data and telecoms, and many other uses. In Norway, where Nexans has 1,550 employees, the company’s Halden facility supplies high-voltage and control cables for the offshore oil and gas industry. Most cables manufactured at Halden are custom solutions and often consist not only of the cable itself, but also the connective equipment at either end.
The company was using several different IT systems to manage its construction and development process, some of which were outdated legacy systems. Data was often unreliable and needed to be double-checked. Nexans needed a better way to manage information such as drawings and product descriptions so they would be easy to share throughout the organisation. The company approached low-code and no-code expert CLEVR to handle this project and move the company’s processes on to Siemens Teamcenter product lifecycle management (PLM) platform.
THE APPROACH
The first step was to get a clear idea of exactly how the existing system worked. Many people used different methods to accomplish the same task, which made it hard to determine the best way to do things. CLEVR worked with Nexans to analyse its processes and determine where changes would be most beneficial. It interviewed employees to gain a greater understanding of what works well and what should be improved. Meanwhile, Nexans worked with Accenture consultants to analyse its whole organisation, from management to operations, with a focus on maintaining quality and competitiveness.
These projects allowed CLEVR to achieve a detailed understanding of Nexans and helped test and verify Teamcenter as the ideal solution. The next phase involved workshops with Nexans employees at various levels of the organisation, both to determine the best order in which to implement the project and to begin to establish new working methods that would fit with a PLM system.
Teamcenter will be used primarily by Nexans engineers, but some project organisers will use it too, while other staff will need it on a read-only basis. The software will roll out to all staff at the same time, but it will take two years to complete the transition because only certain parts of the system will be used at first. As each new function is successfully adapted into the workflow, more will be added.
THE RESULTS
Teamcenter will bring Nexans better access to information for staff across the whole organisation. It will improve data quality and reliability, eliminating the need to double-check information. The new system also standardises working methods, so everybody accomplishes tasks in the same way. This eliminates potential problems that can arise when staff take unexpected shortcuts and provides a simple paper trail for all tasks. Overall, it will allow Nexans to work faster, with greater accuracy, and deliver better products in a more efficient way.
CUSTOMER QUOTE
“We need to remain at the highest level when it comes to quality and competitiveness. With the high costs in Norway, it is absolutely essential that we find ways to produce the cables as efficiently as possible. Only in so doing will our customers continue to find us attractive”
Jon Arne Häll, project engineering director, Nexans
Welkoop
Giving the retail brand better control over, and insight into, data by automating and simplifying the promotion process as part of a successful and sustainable collaboration.
THE GOAL
Welkoop sells products for gardens and animals. Based in the Netherlands, it has 149 retail locations, an online shop and around 1,500 employees. Originally established for the agricultural market, it now mainly focuses on consumers.
Welkoop’s immediate need was to optimise and automate the company’s business process organisation and tracking. The existing system was felt to be inadequate because it involved many disciplines, the necessary data was not centrally available and, being a manual process, it was prone to errors.
Welkoop wanted to create a high-quality folder which could contain all the necessary data – and it wanted a solution within two months. It turned to low-code and no-code solutions expert CLEVR and the close collaboration of the two companies led to the development of a CLEVR Promotion Manager application.
THE APPROACH
Welkoop saw a future based on low code, so CLEVR was its ideal partner. Based on CLEVR’s application expertise and Welkoop’s knowledge of its business, they were together able to develop the Promotion Manager application. This led the way for other retail organisations to adopt similar systems.
The implementation of the Promotion Manager benefits many departments involved in the promotion process – from marketing to category management and promotion managers. As many communication systems as possible have been automated to minimise errors.
Promotions are now automatically transferred from the Promotion Manager to the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, the POS system and the online shop. The demand planning department also works with the Promotion Manager to ensure the right products are in store at the right time.
THE RESULTS
CLEVR’s expert Mendix developers and extensive knowledge of the retail market have greatly supported Welkoop and this successful collaboration has resulted in the needs of the business being converted into effective IT solutions.
A further improvement that Welkoop notes is the insights it has gained from its promotion data. This is now centralised so the company can better plan what to do in the future based on past results. In addition to consolidating its data, Welkoop now also has a digital marketing calendar. From planning to results, the entire process is centrally visible.
Several years on, CLEVR and Welkoop are still working together. As Welkoop wants to focus on optimising its business, it has outsourced operational activities as much as possible. The management of the Promotion Manager – which has been updated over the years – therefore rests entirely with CLEVR.
Welkoop is currently working on a major project to better support its business processes through IT. The first step is the phased implementation of a new ERP system. All processes from purchasing to in-store sales will be optimised and automated in turn.
Ultimately, success comes from teamwork and it is the shared vision, common goals and co-operation of these two companies that has led to such a successful and sustainable collaboration.
CUSTOMER QUOTE
“We keep each other on our toes. At the start of our collaboration, CLEVR proved it could do this translation, which immediately created trust. CLEVR has also built up a lot of knowledge in the retail market, which we also benefit from"
Carel van Rijsewijk, ICT manager, Welkoop
CED
Automating processes to make claims settlement 50 per cent faster and helping IT become the ‘beating heart of CED’.
THE GOAL
CED is a European specialist in claims management within the insurance industry. It handles approximately one million claims – worth more than €2.5 billion – and approached CLEVR to help it become more efficient through automation. In particular, it wanted a comprehensive system that could handle everything from initial damage report to payout with minimal manual input.
THE APPROACH
CED had already developed an input wizard based on the low-code platform Mendix. However, this solution only covered claim-entry. Handling a claim still involved a lot of paper, manual processes and duplicated work. Collaborating with low-code and no-code specialist CLEVR, CED redesigned and re-engineered the input wizard. It also undertook a critical review of its internal processes to see how the input wizard could best be extended to include settlement.
THE RESULTS
Entering a claim is now an intuitive process, making it far more user-friendly. In addition, CLEVR extended the input wizard to create an Automatic Damage Settlement Platform (ADSP), which can handle all the process flows related to a claim. In terms of efficiency, the new system takes 50 per cent less time to cover the entire claim handling process.
In addition to making the claims process more efficient, working with CLEVR has also made CED’s IT department more efficient and effective. It now develops in short sprints and continuously coordinates with the rest of the business. Learning from CLEVR’s Agile development method, the IT department can quickly build solutions to better meet the full business needs. For example, work is now being done on connecting multi-tenancy insurers and policyholders to the platform. The ADSP platform has also been used by a CED customer. This made CED a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution for claim management, opening up a new revenue stream with IT at its heart.
CUSTOMER QUOTE
“IT is not only a cost item for CED, but a way to provide specific services and even generate direct sales. IT is increasingly the beating heart of CED”
Jan Rubingh, IT director, CED
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