This is how Blueprint works at Paul & Paul: control over the entire process

What started in 2002 as a small-scale initiative by brothers Joop and Arie Paul, in a shed in Bergschenhoek, has since grown into an established name in sun protection, window frames, canopies, window decoration, and insect screens. Paul & Paul now serves a broad customer base from three locations, with a service area that stretches from Utrecht to the Rijnmond region.

The company now has about 35 employees, supplemented by a flexible pool of self-employed contractors. Daily management is in the hands of Bas van der Dussen and Rob Schipper, who are steadily expanding the company step by step. That growth also brought new challenges, particularly in the area of efficiency and structure. The switch to Blueprint was therefore a conscious choice to enable further professionalization.

We spoke with Bas and Rob about their experiences with Blueprint and what the software delivers in practice.

Getting to Know Paul & Paul

• Can you briefly introduce Paul & Paul? What exactly do you do and where are you located?
  Paul & Paul, with our headquarters in Bergschenhoek and showrooms in Krimpen and Alphen aan den Rijn, focuses on the sale and installation of sun protection, window frames, canopies, window decoration, and insect screens. We advise customers in our showrooms and deliver tailor-made products from various suppliers in Europe and sometimes even beyond. We install these for both private individuals and B2B clients such as contractors and architects. We are a young, rapidly growing organization increasingly covering the region, with plans for further expansion.
• How did you get in touch with Blueprint? And how was this first contact?
  It’s actually a funny story. Lars from Blueprint contacted us a long time ago. At that time, we were working with another program, and initially, the contact was a bit stiff; there simply wasn’t an immediate need for a new digital program. Later, when some things changed internally and we were specifically looking for a planning system, Blueprint came our way again. A colleague had a positive conversation with Lars and advised us to take a look. Although we were initially reluctant to change everything again, the conversation with Lars turned out very positive. He came at exactly the right time. The contact, also later with the CodeFlex team at their location, was informal, easygoing, and at the same time serious and pleasant. That personal connection and the similar, young, and playful way of doing business gave us confidence.

The Switch to Blueprint

• What were your expectations before starting with Blueprint?
  To be honest, we were quite nervous. It was a big step. We mainly hoped for a user-friendly system that would improve our processes, especially planning. We also had some expectations in terms of data analysis at the management level; we saw room for improvement at first, although that is now getting better and we know more exciting developments are coming in that area. Some product configurations via the Logyx configurator weren’t perfect in the beginning, but ironically, that taught us a lot about our own products because it forced us to dive deeper into the details. Now, that’s working perfectly too. Sometimes, we even think something can or can’t be done, and the product configurator ends up knowing better.
• How did the switch to Blueprint go?
  The transition itself went surprisingly well, especially for the installers and the rest of the field service. In a previous system change, we had a gradual transition, but with Blueprint, we decided to switch everything – sales, purchasing, planning – all at once, except invoicing at first. The Sunday before, I couldn’t sleep from the nerves! But on day one, I was only called a few times by installers, and the only questions were: “What’s my password?” and “How do I click on a job?”. After that, we barely heard from anyone, and everything ran super smoothly. Everyone was immediately very satisfied.
• How do you look back on the transition?
  It was an exciting, major transition, but it worked out well. The logical terms and labels in Blueprint made it quickly understandable for everyone. In the beginning, the program was perhaps perfect for a smaller company, but we see it growing with us. Data analysis and steering needed more attention at first for a company of our size, but continuous progress is being made. The challenge now is how Blueprint will continue to fit as we grow further and start operating as a chain, but we see that as a positive, shared challenge.

Daily Impact

• What has concretely changed within your company due to Blueprint?
  Quite a lot has changed. Most visibly, our installers now work on tablets. This means they always have all the necessary information, including photos, at hand. Communication between departments has also improved significantly.
• What benefits does Blueprint bring you?
  The biggest benefits are fewer mistakes and faster action. Installers have said: “We have plenty of information with us.” The entire process, from quotation to installation, is now much more streamlined. The cogs between departments mesh better because everyone understands the program better. This has even improved job satisfaction in the departments. Colleagues who were sometimes skeptical about new systems have now come around. Everyone feels they can work more easily and effectively on the computer. I’m sometimes even faster than the system because I know exactly where to click!
• What do people in sales, accounting, and field service (separately) think of the program?
  • Sales & Field Service:
    As mentioned, the field service adapted quickly and is happy with it. Sales initially struggled a bit with the product configurations, but that often turned out to be a learning process about our own products. Now it’s going well. User-friendliness is a big plus.
  • Accounting:
    The accounting integration with Exact took some time, but it’s in place now! And the API link with Mollie for payments is a fantastic addition; it saves us an enormous amount of work! We even hope customers will pay via Mollie. Sending invoices is quick, and recent updates have brought even more nice additions in that area. The ability to invoice in three installments for our window frames department, added later, is also a major improvement.

Customer-Focused Work

• What do you notice about Blueprint in terms of communication between Paul & Paul and the customer?
  Customers respond surprisingly positively to the digital options, such as digitally signing quotations. In the sun protection and window frames industry, there are still many traditional working methods, so making such a digital step was exciting. But it’s well received. Even in the showroom, we get great reactions when customers see how easily a price can be calculated. You could almost let the customer do it themselves. The quotations look neat and polished. It’s foolproof: the price you see is the price the customer pays, without the hassle of price books.
• What do customers think of the automatic emails, installers with tablets, and digitally signing/paying for orders?
  Overall, very positive. Occasionally, we still get an email asking if a digital signature was received correctly, but usage is high. Documentation and communication via email are clear and neat. We do see that in proactive communication, such as sending text messages about the arrival time of an installer, we can still learn from major players like Coolblue. But for now, what Blueprint offers is absolutely more than sufficient and professional for our customers.

Financial and Business Effect

• Has Blueprint had an impact on your figures?
  That’s a question we can better answer after the summer, once we’ve completed a full year with Blueprint.
• If so, how can you express this in efficiency, error margin, and better internal communication?
  We feel we now make fewer mistakes when measuring on tablets and processing sales orders, partly thanks to the increasingly complete product configurations in Logyx. The error margin has therefore decreased. In terms of efficiency, Blueprint definitely pays off for me personally; I have more time and peace of mind, although during busy periods it’s still all hands on deck to check everything. But overall, less correction work is needed because everyone understands the system better. A good implementation and training of employees is crucial here; don’t start too quickly and make sure everyone understands it well.

Collaboration with the Blueprint Team

• How do you experience Blueprint’s service?
  The service, via the helpdesk and support requests, is good. We get quick and clear responses. Sometimes I can’t even remember exactly what my original question was, so it would be helpful if the original case was always repeated in the response, but the speed and quality of the answers are fine. We also understand that not every problem can be solved within 8 hours, especially when it concerns complex matters.
• And how do you experience working with the Blueprint/CodeFlex team?
  The cooperation is pleasant and good. Nothing is done haphazardly. Developments sometimes take a little longer, but once they’re there, they’re perfect. That’s worth a compliment. They think carefully about solutions. It’s nice that they are open to feedback and that developments from other customers can also benefit us, although it sometimes means that not everything can be exactly our way because it’s a standard package. But that balance is definitely there.

In Conclusion

• How do you see Blueprint and other custom software for you in the future?
  We see a lot of potential, especially in further developing chain functionality now that we work with multiple locations. Think about being able to switch between locations, but with separate data. Further wishes include warehouse management with scanning and booking of products, creating return forms, and sending SMS notifications to customers when an installer is on the way. More direct API connections with suppliers for automatic ordering are also welcome, or at least an email button in the system to send orders directly from Blueprint to suppliers, which also helps with status tracking. Every button that makes a manual action or status change unnecessary is a win.
• Would you recommend Blueprint to other craft specialists?
  Yes, absolutely yes! We’ve told Lars several times that he can always list us as a reference. We’ve already spoken to several fellow companies and shared our experiences, for example at trade fairs or when they call us. So yes, definitely recommended.

The story of Paul & Paul shows how smart digitalization really makes a difference. Thanks to Blueprint, they work more efficiently, make fewer mistakes, and have more peace of mind and oversight in the entire process, from quotation to delivery. At the same time, the customer remains central, with clear communication and a professional appearance.

We are proud to support Paul & Paul in their next phase. Their experiences confirm what Blueprint stands for: a practical, complete solution that truly helps craft specialists move forward.

Are you also ready to bring more oversight, control, and professionalism to your business?

Feel free to contact us for a no-obligation demo. Email us at [email protected] or call 040 782 0212.

We are happy to think along with you about the best solution for your unique situation.