The real reasons why top companies choose an NBN subscription

More than access to standards: a reliable partner every step of the way

For many companies in Belgium, standards are an essential part of their daily operations. From safety to efficiency, from sustainability to customer satisfaction: standards support companies in realizing their strategic objectives. However, managing, updating and sharing standards within organizations often proves to be a challenge. A subscription to NBN not only offers a solution to these challenges, it mainly means: you are not alone.

Navigating the standards landscape

For many companies it is difficult to see the wood for the trees. They often need Belgian, European and international standards for products, processes, management systems and safety. Moreover, these standards are regularly adjusted, which means that internal working methods have to be adjusted. How do you work compliantly when standards are constantly evolving?

An NBN subscription offers not only access to the relevant standards but, crucially, guidance on managing and sharing them. Thanks to a personal point of contact at NBN, you get tailored advice on which formula best suits your organisation and your needs. So you are not alone. As our satisfied customer Jef Verelst, Vice President Compliance & Sustainability CTBA of Atlas Copco put it: "NBN offers the full range of standards and grows along with our Organisation and its needs. The contact is smooth and all problems are solved quickly."

One access, endless possibilities

Within companies, standards are often spread across different departments: R&D, production, quality, legal, safety, etc. Thanks to an NBN subscription, you give all your employees one central access to your standards library, without restrictions on the number of users. And if an employee has a question or gets stuck somewhere? Then there is no waiting time, but direct help.

"When we switched to the new NBN standards portal, there were some technical challenges. But the NBN team was always ready to follow up on our feedback and provide solutions. This personal contact really makes the difference," stated Kris Snauwaert, Head of Quality Strategy and Data Protection Officer at SGS Benelux.

At NBN, customer focus is central. You get a personal account manager and a team of experts who quickly and purposefully answer questions - whether it concerns a purchase, a translation, an update or a problem with the portal. According to many customers, that speed and proximity make all the difference.

So does Danny Geysels, Research & Innovation Manager at Reynaers Aluminium, "If we have any questions or comments about the platform, they are always addressed quickly. That customer-oriented approach makes all the difference."

Always up-to-date – without worries

Standards change. New versions, translations, addenda, withdrawals of standards are released... For companies that want to work compliantly, it is crucial to always work with the right version of the standard. With an NBN subscription, you don't have to worry about that; you will automatically receive a notification when something changes in your favorite standards. That way, you always know where you stand. And for your NBN prefix standards, you always get access to the latest version at no extra cost.

In addition, the NBN standards portal is available in four languages (NL, FR, EN, DE). This is particularly useful for Belgian companies with multilingual teams or foreign branches. Because everyone works with the same content, in their own language.

Danny Geysels puts it this way "The fact that NBN offers the available language versions of their standards at no extra cost is a huge advantage for us. For example, our colleagues in Switzerland like to use the German version of the standards, and thanks to NBN we can offer them it without any problems."

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Simplicity in management and budget

For companies, purchasing standards can quickly become complex and expensive. You have to take into account different departments, needs in different languages, foreign standards (such as DIN or NF), and changing projects. An NBN subscription gives you organisation structure and predictability as you build your standards collection that suits you organisation fits. You keep control over your budget, because there are different subscription models.

This way you avoid double purchases, confusion about who has access, or wasting time on individual orders. Everything is under one roof, with one point of contact.

As Vera De Glas , R&D engineer, Sioen puts it: “We have our own subscription. This allows us to use a personalized platform in which all the relevant standards we need are present. In all languages. We receive new standards almost within a minute. That is essential for us, for example for a tender. Then time is running out and we need to know the content of the standard very quickly in order to start concrete actions.”

Personal approach, Belgian proximity

What really sets NBN apart is the personal service. No anonymous helpdesk, no bots or long waiting times, but real people who help you Organisation know. NBN employees are available via email, telephone, Teams or live consultation - depending on what you prefer. Also greatly appreciated are the training courses to optimally use the portal.

You feel that NBN is not a commercial multinational, but a Belgian organisation with a clear mission: to help Belgian companies gain easy access to standards. As the only Belgian member of CEN and ISO, and with years of experience in standards development, NBN is a reliable partner for your standards management.

Conclusion: More than a supplier – a partner

For companies in Belgium, an NBN subscription is much more than a way to obtain standards. It is a strategic choice for simplicity, reliability and peace of mind. Thanks to a personal approach, fast support and multilingual service, NBN helps companies to manage their standards use professionally. Whether you are active in the chemical sector, food, construction, energy or another sector: NBN thinks along with you, from the first conversation until long after the purchase.

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