Digital control at De Lelie thanks to collaboration with BOMA
De Lelie Schoonmaakdiensten is a family business with an impressive history dating back to 1919. Since 2012-2013, William and Antoine de Haas have been at the helm of the modern version of this Den Bosch-based company.
While Antoine focuses on operational activities on the work floor, William provides the solid backbone of the organization: the digital structure that ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
In the Den Bosch region, De Lelie distinguishes itself through its no-nonsense approach and strong focus on quality. What really characterizes the company is its social drive. They recently achieved PSO level 3, a high recognition for social entrepreneurship.
The partner for digital acceleration
The collaboration with BOMA began about four years ago when account manager Alex Verbugt literally walked in. Although De Lelie had been with another supplier for years, William felt that they were missing the boat when it came to digitization.
The connection with BOMA was immediate, thanks to its focus on efficiency combined with digitilization. For William, the BOMA app, BOMA in the Pocket (BiP), was the deciding factor. It solved a specific problem: the need to get maximum return from processes with as few manual actions as possible. William admits, "I regret not switching sooner."
"For us, BOMA is not just a supplier that delivers boxes, but a partner that really thinks along with us about our business operations."
Digital efficiency and sustainable products
De Lelie makes full use of BOMA's digital capabilities. Cleaners on the work floor can easily order their own materials via a barcode or photo in BiP. Although the transition from familiar products to the probiotic Greenspeed Probio and Trebio line took some time, employees are now very positive about their effectiveness.
Both partners also share the same values when it comes to sustainability. De Lelie actively contributes to a better environment by driving entirely "green" with electric vehicles, which significantly reduces the company's CO2 emissions. Because electric driving requires careful planning and a tight logistical range, BOMA's direct deliveries on site are essential to avoid empty runs and minimize the number of kilometers driven.
More time for customers and employees
The human factor has been crucial in the transition to working with BOMA. William praises the support provided by Alex (Account Manager) and Sales Support during implementation, which involved building a completely new database of purchase and sales prices.
The biggest advantage of the collaboration is the enormous time savings. Whereas Antoine used to unpack and distribute boxes himself, orders are now often delivered ready-made to each location. "It saves a lot of steps here," explains William. "There is now more time for inspections, customer meetings, and contact with our employees. That's pure efficiency."
"The significant time savings in our logistics mean that we now have more time for our customers and our people."
Sharing knowledge for future success
De Lelie looks ahead with great confidence. The focus is on healthy and controlled growth of the organization, with the continuity of the family business being paramount. At BOMA, we play a role that goes beyond that of a supplier; we also act as a knowledge partner. William enjoys attending the Boost by BOMA meetings to stay up to date on innovations such as robotization and to exchange ideas with other entrepreneurs. For De Lelie, the strength of this partnership is the basis for continued success in the future.
When asked for advice for other entrepreneurs, William is clear: "Look at the strength of your partners. We have matured in our partnerships, and that makes De Lelie the wonderful company it is today."