Crunch Analytics: “Every firm is sitting on a mountain of data; we extract value from it”
Crunch Analytics helps to make businesses more efficient by providing two kinds of data services. On the one hand the Ghent startup outlines in detail just how companies can use digital data in order to grow or become more resilient. “Strategic data insights generate knowledge and perhaps competitive advantage,” points out Laurent Mainil, Crunch Analytics founder and CEO, explaining: “Depending on its stated goals, a firm that has a clear data strategy can obtain better insights into market developments and consumer behaviour and create smoother operational applications.”
AI & machine learning
On the other hand the Belgian data specialist also develops algorithms that support artificial intelligence and machine learning. They can be rolled out to a client firm step-by-step when the mapped-out data strategy is being implemented. “For example this is how we help retailers to work out the ideal sales price of their goods on an automated basis,” says Crunch Analytics co-founder and CTO Louis-Philippe Kerkhove. “Online stores can also use our technology to increase their market share, for example by comparing the prices and speed of sales of their items with those of their e-tail competitors.”
A unique market approach
So how does Crunch Analytics differentiate itself from other Belgian data specialists? Through its long-term collaboration with specific sectors: retail, consumer goods, glass construction and horticulture. These partnerships look beyond mere technology, taking account of a company’s business goals and cost efficiency. “We only deploy our solutions where we can argue that they will deliver clear added value,” stresses Laurent Mainil. “That’s why the applications we roll out have a solid return on investment. The financial added value often works out at ten times the original investment within one or two years,” he tells us.
Fast forward to 2025: future goals
Ever since Crunch Analytics was founded in 2016, it has doubled its turnover every year. The number of staff has also increased. Initially the company employed just two people – the founders. Today the workforce numbers 22. “In five years’ time we want to be the European market leader in the advanced data-analysis field in the sectors on which we’re focusing,” reveals Louis-Philippe Kerkhove, adding: “We realise of course that we’ll need to hire a lot of new talent and anchor them firmly within the company over the next few years.” For some of the required staff profiles there exist no direct educational qualifications. “So we train our people on the job and also provide them with both in-house and external training opportunities,” he underlines.