When the Netherlands goes to the polls on October 29, every voter will take a piece of Groningen with them. The 6.5 million ballots for the election were printed at Data B. Mailservice in Leek, Groningen. Just before this ballot, NOM closed its shareholding in the company. Data B. remains firmly anchored in the northern Netherlands and continues to build on growth and digitalization.
From transaction mailer to digital service provider
NOM acted as investor in Data B., at the time already a reliable producer of printed materials for governments. Under the leadership of Liana Klaster-Willems, the company went through an impressive transformation: from transaction mailer to digital service provider in physical and digital document flows. Today Data B. is an indispensable partner for public organizations, from municipalities and provinces to water boards and the Chamber of Commerce.
"We focus mainly on small and medium-sized enterprises and governments," says Liana. "Our customers are looking for more than just printing: a total solution for their administrative processes. We offer that, for example by sending documents digitally via a secure environment. This saves them time and money."
Agile in elections
The elections illustrate the agility of Data B. "Elections are usually planned, except as now in the case of a fall of the government, when all kinds of things have to be organized within a very short time," Liana explains. "We have the experience and capacity to respond to that adequately."
"Data B. has shown with a compact organization that Northern Dutch companies can make a difference nationally," confirms Allard van der Horst, investment manager of the NOM. "The company knows how to realize what is needed every time, even under time pressure."
Sustainable growth
Data B. remains firmly anchored in the Northern Netherlands and continues to invest in innovation. NOM remains involved through a loan, which will allow the company to continue to grow and digitize in the coming years. "It is one of the beautiful pearls of our region," says Allard.
"We are proud that as a Northern Dutch company we can play a role in something that affects everyone," says Liana. "Meanwhile, we continue to grow, innovate continuously and keep doing what we love most: making complex processes simple."