For a farmer to fertilize their field, they need fertilizers. Whether that person is in the Netherlands or India, those fertilizers are likely purchased through Van Iperen – with a little help from LINKIT. Van Iperen International is a Dutch company specialising in specialized fertilizers and biostimulants.
To serve customers worldwide, the company employs sales agents who work with local dealers. LINKIT helped develop the My Iperen International quote application to support these sales agents. The system is built using a low-code platform; the system is designed to streamline sales processes so Van Iperen International employees in over a hundred different countries can generate and follow up on quotes consistently.
Seeking a Knowledge Partner
Fast-growing companies often reach a turning point – a moment when a particular process is no longer efficient as it was initially set up. It is especially true when the employees working with that process are located in different countries, using their own Excel sheets and having to combine information from various sources. It was high time to bring that together, the team at Van Iperen International decided. “Low-code was already in our architecture,” says Vincent, IT Manager at Van Iperen, explaining the choice for OutSystems. “Because we already have people working in it for Van Iperen Netherlands and because we want as little fragmentation as possible, that was also the most logical option for Van Iperen International. OutSystems has the advantage of allowing you to synchronize online with an offline app. So someone can, for example, work on a quote on a plane, and it goes out the door as soon as they land.” They found the connection with LINKIT through the OutSystems partner portal. “We were looking for extra capacity, but also for a party that can guarantee continuity, ensure the quality of the development team, and make sure that team remains flexible and scalable.” But it wasn’t just about the people. “It was also about us being able to steer on results,” adds Antonie, the scrum master from LINKIT. “Because we are involved as a knowledge partner, we are co-responsible for that.”
“We were looking for extra capacity, but also for a party that can guarantee continuity, ensure the quality of the development team, and make sure that team remains flexible and scalable.”
Working with a Quick Response Team
The collaboration between the two parties is going very well, according to both. Antonie explains: “Quick Response means that we can quickly make the necessary expertise available. We always have to balance budget, time, and functionality, which was sometimes challenging. Especially in the beginning, because there were still quite a few requirements to be gathered from the business.”
Vincent: “LINKIT has taken care of us by their approach. It was proactive and open so that we had our project and our way of working streamlined after a few weeks.” In addition to scrum master Antonie, a developer, a tester, and a designer from LINKIT were involved in the project. Product owner Yichi came from Van Iperen and was a logistics expert at the start of the project. Antonie guided her through the process. “That went great,” says Vincent. “As a result, she has learned an incredible amount quickly.”
Finding experienced people is difficult, even for Van Iperen. In this way, the experience stays within the company. “It’s important for us that these teams can keep going; that’s our job, too,” Antonie explains. “Van Iperen can move forward, even when we’re no longer involved.”
With or Without Design Sprints?
Unlike other projects, design sprints were not used in this assignment. However, in collaboration with the product owner, whether the designs matched the users’ needs was constantly checked. The sales agents were directly involved in the process, so they could indicate what they needed and expected. Yichi then worked with a designer from LINKIT to elaborate user stories, which the developers then discussed and developed. “Ultimately, we do use design sprints in other projects now because we’ve found that this streamlines the process. This way, we only work out what is needed and know if something will work before it’s even developed,” says Antonie. “That also works better for the team because there’s ultimately much less rework needed.”
“Ultimately, we do use design sprints in other projects now because we’ve found that this streamlines the process. This way, we only work out what is needed and know if something will work before it’s even developed.”
The sales agents were also involved in testing to see if everything was working as expected. About 30% of the company is now working with the new tool. Their experience? “It takes some getting used to, but they’re happy with the clear structure and information. They know how to reach us with complaints, so I think they’re saying this is a sign that we’ve listened well,” winks Vincent.
More Efficient and Less Error-Prone
In addition to the Van Iperen development team making great strides, the product is making a big contribution to the company’s further digitalization. The tool provides an efficiency boost, as information is automatically retrieved and loaded from various sources, including the company’s ERP system. It also significantly reduces the risk of errors and requires less coordination between team members. Where previously, a lot of communication was done by phone and email, resulting in the loss of certain information, the order flow is now secured within the new application. It allows everyone to work in a standard, uniform way. The application includes information on price updates, inventory indexation, and a blend tool. With the latter, specific fertilizers can be mixed in different proportions from various base fertilizers on request, after which a price can be set. Prices can be added with a single click instead of being entered separately, and everyone has simultaneous access to the same information.
The collaboration between LINKIT and Van Iperen can be considered a complete success on time and within budget by keeping communication open and jointly taking responsibility for delivery. As of October, everyone is working with the new system, and quotes are finding their way to the customer faster than ever. Whether in agriculture or sales, the right tools make your work much more efficient!
About Van Iperen:
Van Iperen has been active in the agricultural sector for a hundred years. They know the market like no other because they have visited customers since 1921. As a family business, they advise and support customers with challenges in their cultivation. They can add value to customers thanks to a wealth of experience and knowledge.
