Business Central offered the flexibility and process logic that Bokort needed. Through customization, all steps—from sales quotes to purchasing, logistics, and invoicing—are fully integrated. As a result, Bokort has a single, centralized overview for each order that includes all related purchasing documents, delivery dates, items, and incoming goods. The entire process is transparent, reproducible, and easy to explain to new employees.
The reason: growth, complexity, and too much Excel
Bokort started small (literally from an attic room), where Robert handled everything himself: purchasing, sales, quotes, and invoicing. Excel provided enough structure at first, but as Bokort grew, so did the complexity.
“It was becoming more and more a matter of cutting and pasting. The risk of errors was increasing. And when I wanted to hire someone to help me, I realized that my Excel structure was simply too complicated to explain.”
A centralized system for suppliers, customers, products, historical orders, and processes became necessary. Exact Online initially seemed like a solution, but it turned out not to be the ideal one after all.
- Bokort does not keep inventory; Exact had a hard time dealing with that.
- Customizations were not possible: updates were generic and not tailored to specific needs.
- All sorts of workarounds emerged that slowed down the process.
That was the signal for Robert to start looking again for an ERP system that would actually be a good fit for a project-based maritime service provider.
Business Central has made our process clearer, more professional, and scalable.
Robert Kort – Owner of Bokort Trading Company
The Decision to Choose Business Central and Alistar
During his search for a maritime ERP system Alistar quickly stood out with Business Central.
“On your website, I saw, among other things, the Kotug case study. The process description there was almost a perfect fit for what I was looking for for our organization.”
During the initial meetings, Business Central’s flexibility really stood out.
“The people who came here for the demo immediately showed that anything we want is possible. It sometimes took a little effort, but they always contributed their ideas. That’s what sealed the deal for me.”
The solution: a single, integrated process
Bokort has implemented a great deal of customization to tightly integrate the entire quoting, purchasing, and sales process. This is essential because Bokort spends the entire day requesting quotes from suppliers and then issuing quotes to customers itself.
“The entire process needs to be integrated. Sales quote → purchasing → logistics → invoicing. And it really works efficiently now.”
Examples Robert mentions:
- All linked purchase documents are displayed for each sales order.
- Delivery dates and incoming goods are closely monitored.
- Everything is recorded centrally and is immediately visible.
- New employees can get up to speed easily thanks to the step-by-step process flow.
Thanks to Business Central, we were able to handle a much higher volume. We received more orders, generated more revenue, and as a result, we grew significantly.
Robert Kort – Owner of Bokort Trading Company
Results since May 2022
Since going live, Bokort has seen clear, measurable improvements:
A more professional look
“The documentation we’re now sending to customers is much more professional. That conveys a sense of trust. We’re seeing that reflected immediately in the number of orders.”
Efficiency & Agility
• Processes run faster.
• Everything is transparent and standardized.
• The team can respond to customers more quickly.
Growth Accelerator
“Now that the process is clear, it’s much easier to train new employees. That gave us room to grow.”
Future Plans
With Business Central as a solid foundation, Robert sees stability and manageable growth as the main priorities for the future. “The software is solid. That means we can easily bring on someone new when needed. My ambition is to continue growing professionally.” He’s also curious about the opportunities offered by AI: “I’m curious to see what AI can do in combination with Business Central. Microsoft is a major global player, so I’m confident this will yield significant results.”
About Bokort
Bokort Trading Company BV was founded about fifteen years ago by Robert Kort. With a background in the port area, he identified a gap in the market: international project teams working on major shipbuilding and offshore projects in the Netherlands or Antwerp lacked a reliable local point of contact for technical materials and services.
Robert decided to do things differently: dedicated service, quick responses, and complete peace of mind. “We’re basically always available. Even in the evenings or on weekends, we respond right away. That peace of mind is exactly what our customers value.’
Bokort supplies technical materials on a project basis worldwide upon request, with a small but highly experienced team that excels at coordinating, managing, and maintaining a broad network of suppliers.
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