Soprema NL
Credit management that grows with you: how Soprema NL stays in control with Onguard
Working smarter, acting faster, and staying in control: those are the goals Soprema NL set for itself. As the international company saw both its customer base and operational complexity grow in recent years, it became clear a new approach to credit management was needed. Together with Onguard, Soprema brought structure to its processes, automated its collections, and created peace of mind for the finance team. The result? Less manual work, improved customer communication, and more room for optimisation.
About
Soprema NL
Soprema NL, part of the globally active Soprema Group, is a leading manufacturer of high-quality roofing, insulation, and waterproofing solutions. Operating from IJlst, they serve the Dutch market with a comprehensive range of products for the construction and roofing industry.
From Outlook to overview
Eric Swartjes, Credit Manager at Soprema NL, shares: "We've been using credit management software since the early 2000s. Initially, we started with Credit Tools, which later became part of Onguard. Back then, we had a small credit management team, managing receivables manually via Outlook. Additionally, we worked with various source systems, making it challenging to get a comprehensive overview."
The implementation of CreditManager changed all that. "We rebuilt the credit management process from the ground up with standard workflows, automatic reminders, and, most importantly, much better control over the numbers. Instead of reacting after an action, we can now manage proactively," Eric explains.
A new challenge: too early, too much, too often
Since implementing the system, our contact with Onguard has remained warm and approachable, and for years the system ran smoothly. However, a new challenge emerged: automatically generated actions on outstanding payments that couldn't yet be matched with invoices. This behavior is part of the system's standard procedure. The software automatically executes configured actions without assuming whether a payment relates to a specific invoice, ensuring consistency and predictable processing. "Payments were received before the invoice was even in the system, yet follow-up actions were initiated immediately. This resulted in hundreds of irrelevant notifications. With a hundred thousand invoices annually, it quickly became unmanageable."
Customer communication that gets "read"
Together with Onguard, Soprema NL is not only focused on continuously improving internal processes. Recently, customer communication also received an update. "Where previously reminders were sent as attachments, they are now included directly in the email text. This way, customers have an overview of what's going on more quickly, without the hassle of opening attachments. It's a small change, but it has a big impact," Eric explains.
Automated workflow prevents "noise"
“That's why we turned back to Onguard to see if they had a solution for us. And they did," Eric explains.
Together with Onguard, an innovative solution was developed. By incorporating a technical cycle, certain actions are now temporarily 'parked.'
"These actions only resurface after eight days, by which time the matching process is usually complete. Instead of dealing with three hundred irrelevant notifications, I am left with actions that truly require my attention. The consultant from Onguard played a pivotal role in this. Thanks to their clear communication, flexibility, and ability to actively think along with us, the problem was resolved quickly and effectively," Eric adds.
The next step?
Even more automation
Eric is already looking ahead: "We want to automate even further: payment links, improved emails, smarter follow-ups. AI also presents opportunities that we'd love to explore together with Onguard."
Growing together
Why the partnership with Onguard works
"What we truly value about our partnership with Onguard is their ability to adapt alongside us. As our organisation has grown and our processes have become more complex, CreditManager remains the solid foundation we rely on. This makes them an invaluable partner for us. The collaboration is informal and enjoyable. Onguard is always open to our questions and genuinely collaborates with us, even when it goes beyond the standard," Eric concludes.
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