The Vandersanden family's Family Office has been known for years for its versatile investment strategy. What once began from a strong industrial core – the Vandersanden brickworks, with over 800 employees – evolved into a broad and international investment landscape through the Family Office Vansan Investments. Listed products, Private Equity, real estate, and direct investments are now part of the portfolio. With that growth came complexity. And precisely there arose the need for more structure, sharper insights, and above all: clear reporting. Enter elements.
An investment story with scale and depth
Today, the Family Office manages both financial and operational investments across various sectors and countries. The organizational structure remains deliberately lean: CEO Koen Vlayen, along with a compact team of specialists, oversees both direct and fund-driven investments.
The combination of scale, diversity, and international presence demands one thing: transparency. Decisions must be made quickly, substantiated, and with confidence. This is only possible with reporting that makes the complete picture visible.
The search for the right BI partner
The reasons for seeking a Business Intelligence partner were twofold. On one hand, there was a previous, exceptionally positive collaboration with Sylvio. On the other hand, direct participation in the United States brought new challenges.
Different continents, diverse data sources, varied financial and operational structures… Familiar Excel models were increasingly falling short. Oversight was lost, lead times grew longer, and complexity increased.
The question was clear: not another dashboard, but one clear story, driven by the right KPIs and ready for the future.
Digitalization as a lever
External factors also played a role. Digitalization and scalability became increasingly important, especially in an international context. Fortunately, the underlying systems proved to be well aligned: a P&L in the U.S. follows the same logic as in Belgium.
The uniformity made it possible to quickly establish a robust and consistent reporting structure, a solid foundation on which to build further.
More than just numbers
Today, reporting goes far beyond mere financial figures. Operational, financial, and strategic data are smartly combined into one coherent whole. This has also had an impact on management, forcing them to think about what truly matters as a steering parameter.
While the focus was initially mainly operational, the system quickly grew into a strategic instrument that guides future choices.
Why scapta?
What made the difference? Speed, subject matter expertise, and the ability to translate complexity into clarity. Despite time differences with the US, the project was scheduled within three weeks. The approach was pragmatic, the timing tight, and the turnaround time more than adequate.
A collaboration that works
The technical setup today connects various data sources: financial ERP systems and operational data flow together into one reporting environment. A large part of the implementation was independently set up by Sylvio, supplemented by targeted and efficient workshops. Result: a solution that stayed perfectly within time and budget and, above all, does what it's supposed to do.
The real added value
The biggest asset of collaborating with scapta? Think along. Don't just execute what's asked, but understand the complete business story and translate it into insights that are immediately clear even to non-IT profiles.
The combination of autonomy, in-depth content, and business insight makes the difference.
Looking ahead with confidence
Currently, the Family Office is strategically reviewing and looking at what the next phase will look like with the arrival of the next generation. Whatever direction it takes, one thing is certain: when there is a renewed need for clear reporting and strategic insight, scapta a logical partner to build on together.