Ironclad in digitization and sustainability

For over thirty years, Testas has been a leading, stock-based wholesaler of semi-finished aluminum, stainless steel and copper alloys on the Belgian market. Thanks to a wide stock assortment and worldwide network of partners, Testas has become the one-stop shop for metal processing companies. Today, digitalization and sustainability are high on the company's agenda. Gilles Heymans, change manager at Testas, explains.

As part of the Dutch MCB Group, Testas, located in Wommelgem, has for many years guaranteed a smooth delivery process to customers, a corresponding customized service and competitive pricing. 

"With our wide range of plates, bars, tubes and profiles, we are the privileged supplier of many companies from various sectors in the manufacturing industry," confirms Gilles Heymans. "Thanks to a good spread of our customer portfolio, we are turning a nice, stable turnover today. Our experienced commercial team is happy to guide our customers through our product range."

Investing in ERP system

"With personal, professional advice and optimal service, we make the difference," indicates Heymans. "A personalized approach tailored to the customer is possible because we spare no expense to digitize and automate our internal business processes to the maximum extent. Two years ago - in full corona pandemic - we made the switch to SAP as our new ERP system. This step from a paper-driven and time-intensive planning system to a high-performance software package already ensures optimal cooperation between Testas and the parent company on the one hand and the clients on the other. Thanks to the use of SAP, we can link data on purchasing and sales, logistics, administration and accounting, so that these processes are automatically controlled and thus run more efficiently. More than ever, we can meet our customers' questions and requirements to the maximum extent."

Customer-oriented web portal

That focus on customer communication is being realized in practice through the new Testas web portal launched in November 2021. 

"Our new web portal is much more than just a web shop," explains Heymans. "In our portal, a customer can create a personal account. This allows him, among other things, to calculate prices, place orders and monitor delivery dates. The portal also allows them to consult order history, view invoices and even link their own article numbers. We have noticed that many customers and prospects have discovered the many advantages of our web portal, with speed, simplicity and a clear insight into our stocks as the most important assets. After just one year, almost a quarter of our business is already done digitally. Moreover, through EDI - Electronic Data Interchange - we want to go one step further, by allowing our ERP system to communicate one-to-one with that of the customer. The first EDI collaborations have already started."

Creating real added value

So this digital way of working is what the Testas team wants to roll out in full in 2023. "We notice that through all the digitalization developments we are also strengthening the customer experience. Our employees can free up extra time for more complex requests and customized advice. Our customers experience this as real added value."

Focus on sustainability

In addition to digitalization, corporate sustainability is also ticked off as a priority at Testas. "Sustainability is a topic that is gaining in importance in our sector as well," says Gilles Heymans. "Efficient energy management, circular entrepreneurship, well-being at work, healthy and safe working conditions, sustainable partnerships...: the list of strategic objectives is long. Because we do not always have the necessary expertise in this area in-house, we started up a VCDO track with Voka in October 2022. In 2023, we want to work concretely on specific sustainable objectives, starting from a baseline measurement report that Voka already carried out in our company."

In order to roll out this sustainable strategy and accompanying plan as consciously as possible, broad internal support is needed from all Testas employees. Heymans explains how this will be approached: "Within each department - from finance to warehouse - an employee will be delegated to help steer the project in the right direction. This creates a tight team of about ten colleagues who, through recurrent consultation, will guarantee all necessary sustainability actions within Testas. They are the ambassadors within the company, who will enthuse other colleagues and allow the company to eventually grow into a leader in sustainability."